<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why isn't Pietrus a starting SG? There's been a logjam at his positions on the team all along, and now there's an opening where he fits.</div> He's fundamentally unsound. His basketball IQ is very low. He's been in the league 5 years now and still makes the same bonehead mistakes over and over again. He's very athletic, brings a lot of energy (when motivated), has a great personality, and can score and defend. Sure, he can start, but I wouldn't want him in crunch time. He's been put in certain situations here and there but for the most part, he rides the bench when it really matters.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kensaku @ Jul 1 2008, 08:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why isn't Pietrus a starting SG? There's been a logjam at his positions on the team all along, and now there's an opening where he fits.</div> He's fundamentally unsound. His basketball IQ is very low. He's been in the league 5 years now and still makes the same bonehead mistakes over and over again. He's very athletic, brings a lot of energy (when motivated), has a great personality, and can score and defend. Sure, he can start, but I wouldn't want him in crunch time. He's been put in certain situations here and there but for the most part, he rides the bench when it really matters. </div> I haven't seen him play more than 10 games or so, but the skinny on him is that the Warriors were hot and cold on him. When they played him, they were a much tougher team and won a lot. They didn't play him, for reasons I don't understand, and they didn't do so well. Up until last season (before this past one) when they made the playoffs. Stephen Jackson played SG for Indy and was downright amazing at the spot. FWIW.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kensaku @ Jul 1 2008, 08:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why isn't Pietrus a starting SG? There's been a logjam at his positions on the team all along, and now there's an opening where he fits.</div> He's fundamentally unsound. His basketball IQ is very low. He's been in the league 5 years now and still makes the same bonehead mistakes over and over again. He's very athletic, brings a lot of energy (when motivated), has a great personality, and can score and defend. Sure, he can start, but I wouldn't want him in crunch time. He's been put in certain situations here and there but for the most part, he rides the bench when it really matters. </div> I haven't seen him play more than 10 games or so, but the skinny on him is that the Warriors were hot and cold on him. When they played him, they were a much tougher team and won a lot. They didn't play him, for reasons I don't understand, and they didn't do so well. Up until last season (before this past one) when they made the playoffs. Stephen Jackson played SG for Indy and was downright amazing at the spot. FWIW. </div> It was a little more complicated than that. Pietrus expressed that he didn't want to be on the team because he wasn't getting PT, but at the same time, he wasn't earning it. After the trade deadline passed, Nellie gave him a shot and he played extremely well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kensaku @ Jul 1 2008, 10:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why isn't Pietrus a starting SG? There's been a logjam at his positions on the team all along, and now there's an opening where he fits.</div> He's fundamentally unsound. His basketball IQ is very low. He's been in the league 5 years now and still makes the same bonehead mistakes over and over again. He's very athletic, brings a lot of energy (when motivated), has a great personality, and can score and defend. Sure, he can start, but I wouldn't want him in crunch time. He's been put in certain situations here and there but for the most part, he rides the bench when it really matters. </div> Just to add to this, his offensive repertoire is quite limited - he can either set up for a 3 point shot (usually in the corner), or he can drive left, making him quite easy to defend. Further, he has no midrange game, and he shoots free-throws very poorly (around 65%). He handles the ball poorly for a guard, and makes poor decisions. Defensively, he's good but occasionally loses focus. I won't really bash him on that, but altogether I wouldn't say that is the package of a starting SG unless he can be put into that Trenton Hassel/Bruce Bowen role. It's too bad that he also has a lot of confidence and believes that he can take over a game offensively, leading to many of these mistakes. Apparently 4 or so teams have offered Mickael a significant portion or all of the mid-level exception (about 4 years, 32 million). I would let him go if this is true. Edit: I would basically say the reason he wasn't playing was a combination of the chemistry issue (him wanting to be traded, feeling under appreciated) and him getting injured (which hadn't been mentioned) at a time when Nelly finally did decide to give him more minutes.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (philsmith75 @ Jul 1 2008, 08:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Not that big a deal in the long run. I would have liked to see the Warriors get something in a sign and trade but so be it. Baron was a pretty good Warrior for his stay but let's not forget he got paid a MAX deal for three years when he did not make one All-Star team and was hurt most of the first year. Thanks Baron for helping making the Warriors relevant again. But I will not be heartbroken because the reality is that he's 29, he's not in his prime and the Clippers are going to be wondering what they are doing in 2-3 years when they still have to pay him $30M+ and he's injury prone.</div> Agree with you here. The Baron Era is officially over and while I'll think back of it fondly for the sole playoff run it yielded I'm also far from heartbroken that its over. Baron's nice but I wouldn't want him on a 5 year contract. Like I said earlier I think Baron would have walked next offseason anyway so its not a big deal if we have to re-build right now. I don't think its worth it to sign Arenas, Mags, Ricky Davis, etc. at this point. There are so many good teams in the west now and I think there's no one available who could lock us into a playoff birth right now. You have all the teams in the mix last year plus Portland and LAC. IMO its full-on rebuild mode right now. I think I will be a fan of the Clips though because I've always been a big Elton Brand fan, I still like BD, and I liked both Eric Gordon and Al Thornton since their days in college. They looks to have a pretty damn good team with Baron/Mobley/Thornton/Brand/Kaman plus Eric Gordon, Brevin Knight, Tim Thomas off the bench and whoever else they get in free agency. So where do we go now? Do we commit Monta to the PG spot? Sign a stop gap type PG like Duhon? Trade for a legit starting PG? Do we get rid of Al and give Wright the starting PF job this year? Are we going to make a splash in free agency? My stance would be that there aren't any good UFAs available so we should just lock up Monta/Beans/Azu and then either a) try to trade for a star at the all-star break or b) sign one next offseason (Joe Johnson is a UFA). I wouldn't mind going after some RFAs like Okafor, Iguodala, Josh Childress, etc. but they'd be hard to land. Full on youth movement next year with Monta, Jack, Wright, Beans, Azu, Beli, etc. getting a lot of minutes.
How does losing Baron affect some of the older members of this team (Nellie, SJax, etc.)? It looks like its officially a rebuilding period for this team and you never know how veterans will react to that.
Basically there's 2 courses of action for rebuilding. Option One is to commit to a big name, young FA this year and keep developing. This basically only comes down to 4-5 names, the 2004 guys who weren't extended, and now are all restricted FA. Okafor, Gordon, Childress, Deng, Igoudala, and Smith. Is this enough to keep us in the playoffs? Assuming we resign Biedrins/Ellis for $15-20 per year, and one of those aforementioned FA for $12 million, and possibly use the midlevel, this eats up all of the cap roomfor 2 years, until 2010. (Harrington and Jackson are on the books til 2010, combined about $17 million). At 2010, we can re-evaluate. Option Two is to just focus on developing the guys this year and make a splash next year. Assuming that there are no big/long term FA signings and that resigning the Biedrins/Ellis combo costs $15-20 million a year, and factoring in Foyle's finally-off-the-cap $10 million, that leaves the Warriors with somewhere between $34 and $40 million in guaranteed contracts, and thus $26-30 million in cap space. We use that to seriously contend for two 2005 free agents (a few I listed earlier) and work with our 2009 draft pick (almost certainly lotto if we don't make any moves this year). (We don't have a 2009 2nd rounder due to the Zarko deal). Again, 2010 we have Harrington and Jackson's contracts end, thus opening up probably at least another $10 million in cap space in that year to sign 2010 free agents.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jul 1 2008, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does losing Baron affect some of the older members of this team (Nellie, SJax, etc.)? It looks like its officially a rebuilding period for this team and you never know how veterans will react to that.</div> It's pretty obvious they'll be all disappointed. Nellie, in comments immediately after Baron opted out, specifically stated that he really hoped Baron would be back, but he understood that it is a business. Nellie was only going to stay one season anyway (as a coach, he'll stay on as a consultant per his deal I believe after this season). SJax loves Nellie, and I think likes being the veteran/captain on this team, but it's a big step backwards for someone who wants to win. I don't think he'd mind being traded during or after the season (he'd be valuable as an expiring contract, I'm sure).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jul 1 2008, 07:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does losing Baron affect some of the older members of this team (Nellie, SJax, etc.)? It looks like its officially a rebuilding period for this team and you never know how veterans will react to that.</div> I think everyone is bummed Baron won't be here, but it also gives 40+ minutes allocable to other players. So yeah, it's a big challenge for the young guys and veterans alike, but one they should embrace. They're competitors so I don't think they're going to lose hope...they'll just have to step up their game. I expect a big year from Captain Jack. That being said, I wouldn't mind seeing Arenas back on the team (unlikely). It locks in the PG position long-term, which is always comforting. Arenas is only 26 so he's still got a lot of room to improve. It would be pretty exciting.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jul 1 2008, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does losing Baron affect some of the older members of this team (Nellie, SJax, etc.)? It looks like its officially a rebuilding period for this team and you never know how veterans will react to that.</div> Its hard to say but I think they'll both stick around and not complain. SJax has found a home where he is dearly loved and hes turning his image around. I know he wants to win but I think he'll also be willing to wait it out at least as long as Nellie is here because he doesn't know how he'll be welcomed by other teams. I don't think Nellie will bail because the last few times I've heard him talk about his presumed retirement at the end of 08-09 he always gives an answer that indicates that he is thinking of coaching beyond next year and he often cites that guys like Sloan and Larry Brown are still coaching. I think Nellie is disappointed that Baron is gone but at the same time I think he always likes building talented teams from the ground up. I think Nellie could get this good team to be competitive pretty quickly if he stays around beyond this season. Also keep in mind he seemed genuinely ecstatic at the last two drafts so I think he does want to stick around and develop these guys.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zhone @ Jul 1 2008, 07:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Basically there's 2 courses of action for rebuilding. Option One is to commit to a big name, young FA this year and keep developing. This basically only comes down to 4-5 names, the 2004 guys who weren't extended, and now are all restricted FA. Okafor, Gordon, Childress, Deng, Igoudala, and Smith. Is this enough to keep us in the playoffs? Assuming we resign Biedrins/Ellis for $15-20 per year, and one of those aforementioned FA for $12 million, and possibly use the midlevel, this eats up all of the cap roomfor 2 years, until 2010. (Harrington and Jackson are on the books til 2010, combined about $17 million). At 2010, we can re-evaluate. Option Two is to just focus on developing the guys this year and make a splash next year. Assuming that there are no big/long term FA signings and that resigning the Biedrins/Ellis combo costs $15-20 million a year, and factoring in Foyle's finally-off-the-cap $10 million, that leaves the Warriors with somewhere between $34 and $40 million in guaranteed contracts, and thus $26-30 million in cap space. We use that to seriously contend for two 2005 free agents (a few I listed earlier) and work with our 2009 draft pick (almost certainly lotto if we don't make any moves this year). (We don't have a 2009 2nd rounder due to the Zarko deal). Again, 2010 we have Harrington and Jackson's contracts end, thus opening up probably at least another $10 million in cap space in that year to sign 2010 free agents.</div> Wow, thanks for posting the numbers. Having cap space to have options is great but nothing is ever for sure. I don't know I trust the Warriors front office to go into rebuild mode and sign big name free agents in a couple years...when is the last time they've done that and had success? I mean, will the Warriors have the same allure that some big name FA is going to say, "I want to play for the Warriors." I don't think so, not even with Monta becoming a potential superstar. He's a SG, no matter what anyone says and he needs a PG to compliment his game. I don't consider Arenas a true PG either but I definitely feel more confident with Arenas at PG. We had a good thing going this year up till Baron's opt out. Baron would continue being Baron while Monta, Beans, Wright, Bellinelli, and the rookie develop and help fill our weaknesses from last year. Now, we don't have that mainstay. It's too uncertain if the current roster has anyone that can become that player who can run the ship night in and night out. We need someone who can compliment and elevate performance in guys like SJax, Monta, Beans because success is also a great way to develop. I don't know if saving money in the future is the best way to build for the future.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kensaku @ Jul 1 2008, 08:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kensaku @ Jul 1 2008, 08:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why isn't Pietrus a starting SG? There's been a logjam at his positions on the team all along, and now there's an opening where he fits.</div> He's fundamentally unsound. His basketball IQ is very low. He's been in the league 5 years now and still makes the same bonehead mistakes over and over again. He's very athletic, brings a lot of energy (when motivated), has a great personality, and can score and defend. Sure, he can start, but I wouldn't want him in crunch time. He's been put in certain situations here and there but for the most part, he rides the bench when it really matters. </div> I haven't seen him play more than 10 games or so, but the skinny on him is that the Warriors were hot and cold on him. When they played him, they were a much tougher team and won a lot. They didn't play him, for reasons I don't understand, and they didn't do so well. Up until last season (before this past one) when they made the playoffs. Stephen Jackson played SG for Indy and was downright amazing at the spot. FWIW. </div> It was a little more complicated than that. Pietrus expressed that he didn't want to be on the team because he wasn't getting PT, but at the same time, he wasn't earning it. After the trade deadline passed, Nellie gave him a shot and he played extremely well. </div> I didn't mean just this season. When he's played decent minutes in any season, he's really helped the team win.
Yeah, it's pretty obvious that Mullin went with option 1 with Arenas as his free agent pick. But, since Arenas is likely to return to the Wizards, he probably has a different backup plan. I really don't know what that is, it's hard to read Mullin. As for as Ellis is concerned, Nelson stated flat out that he wasn't ready for fulltime PG duties, but sometimes there's just no other option. I guess we have to wait and see what Arenas' reaction is.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 08:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kensaku @ Jul 1 2008, 08:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kensaku @ Jul 1 2008, 08:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jul 1 2008, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why isn't Pietrus a starting SG? There's been a logjam at his positions on the team all along, and now there's an opening where he fits.</div> He's fundamentally unsound. His basketball IQ is very low. He's been in the league 5 years now and still makes the same bonehead mistakes over and over again. He's very athletic, brings a lot of energy (when motivated), has a great personality, and can score and defend. Sure, he can start, but I wouldn't want him in crunch time. He's been put in certain situations here and there but for the most part, he rides the bench when it really matters. </div> I haven't seen him play more than 10 games or so, but the skinny on him is that the Warriors were hot and cold on him. When they played him, they were a much tougher team and won a lot. They didn't play him, for reasons I don't understand, and they didn't do so well. Up until last season (before this past one) when they made the playoffs. Stephen Jackson played SG for Indy and was downright amazing at the spot. FWIW. </div> It was a little more complicated than that. Pietrus expressed that he didn't want to be on the team because he wasn't getting PT, but at the same time, he wasn't earning it. After the trade deadline passed, Nellie gave him a shot and he played extremely well. </div> I didn't mean just this season. When he's played decent minutes in any season, he's really helped the team win. </div> Right, but that doesn't take away all the things we have mentioned that don't make him starting SG material. He's a great contributor off the bench who will sometimes get assigned a starting role and sometimes be played in crunch time. Emphasis on "sometimes."
I just saw the video of Baron on ESPN saying "thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." A lot of emotions swirled through my head. First I was pissed. Pissed that he would just abandon the franchise and fans that allowed him to resurrect his career by playing in a system that catered to his strengths. Pissed that he does this after the draft and after our mid-level exception expired. Now I'm thinking the Warriors completely and totally low-balled him, so I'm pissed at the front office for screwing that one up. But seriously, what could the Warriors do? They had the most favorable position at hand with having just one-year left on his contract. They could only hope he would live up to his word...HIS WORD! Words mean nothing. I guess we just have to thank Ghandi that we have Monta...well, so we think. Man, wouldn't that suck if Monta decided to sign with another team. Yeah, we'd be back where we were pre-Baron. Hopeless.
I wouldn't mind putting Monta at the PG. Bellinelli starting SG anyone? I'm sure he can do much better than he did last year as long as he gets some playing time. He showed his potential a lot when he got minutes in the final half of the season. Also what about go after Josh Smith? ESPN is reporting that we have enough money to pursue him and I might be biased because he's a lefty and gets major blocks.
Well, I'd like to offer some bulleted points on what has been going on and what currently is going on with the Warriors. * Baron revitalized this organization. If Mullin hadn't pulled off that COUP of a deal with NO, and then the trade with Indy, where would GS be? Who knows. Baron put this team back on the map. And saved us from the downward spiral of Dunmurphy. He gave GS some credibility and excitement, and he lit a fire under many of our players. He helped Biedrins become one of the top centers in the league (yes, one of the top). He played hard for GS, and for that I'm grateful. Baron Davis changed the shape of the franchise, and we're so much better off for it. * It was probably time to go. He would have been gone anyway next year. Davis is a weird player. He's 29 years of age but he's an old 29. His style of play puts a ton of wear and tear on that body. Who knows if he'll ever have a season like the past 1 or 2 he's had. By next year, GS would have been emerging their young players, and I doubt Mully had any plans to resign him next year for what he was asking. Davis knew that NOW was his shot to cash in and get a good deal, and he wasn't getting the offer he wanted from GS. * Mully has stockpiled a ridiculous collection of young talent and that doesn't really jive with such a dominant ego star like Baron. Honestly, Baron would hamper the emergent/development process of our young talent by demanding the spotlight. I know that's easy to say. I'm not saying he wouldn't be a great player if he stayed here. But, he would nonetheless control the ball for 90% of the time he's on the court, and that just never gives the young players a chance to fully jump in the pool with both feet. Yes, Monta is finally coming along, and Biedrins has been helped greatly by having Baron as the PG. But Baron is such a dominant personality, it seems to me like nobody else on the team can ever share that, can ever also feel fully dominant, fully confident, like they own the building. At least now, the stage is open for anybody on the team to step up show they are a star. * The Warriors are not rebuilding. They are emerging. The playoffs were a taste of what they could be. It will be different without Baron. But honestly, in that playoff year, Andris Biedrins was my team MVP anyway. He was the only player on the team to play all 82 games, averaging 9/9, along with being the only interior defensive presence on the squad. Nellie would sometimes play him alongside Barnes at the PF and ask Biedrins to tangle with Boozer and Okur. The Warriors are different now. It's in the management, the coaches, the fans, the building. There is a taste of success here. It is more than any one player. It's a change in the atmosphere of the franchise, and Monta/Beans and company are ready to carry the torch. * This is now the coach's team. Last year, even with Nellie, a hall-of-famer and one of the greatest coaches of all time, this was still Baron's team. The proof? He could jack up 5 ill-advised threes in a row and still be left on the court. For all the great games Baron had under Nellie, I still believe Nelson never had full command over the team. He knew it was a dangerous fine-line with Baron and he played it masterfully. But it was always still a bit on edge. Baron had the green light to call his own number any time, no matter the circumstances. -- Don't forget, Nellie is a genius. He's probably more to credit for the Warriors' turnaround than any combination of players. I know he doesn't like to rebuild -- but you watch -- he's going to find some gems in this roster and he's going to design some nasty plays for them. * Jackson will be perfect for this situation. I think Jackson will be better off without Baron. Why? I don't think he'll put up career numbers like he did last year. I mean he'll be better off for this team. Because he won't have the temptation to fall into street ball like he did with Baron. When Jackson wants to be, he can be a defensive stopper and a genius when passing the ball. He can be the ideal teammate. And he loved to roll with Baron. However, he also got lulled into laziness with Baron, too. Jacking ill-advised threes, reaching instead of moving his feet and otherwise setting a bad example for the young players. Now? I think Jackson will embrace being the only real veteran leader left on the team. As great as their friendship was, he will no longer have to "compete" with Baron's ego in the subtle ways he nonetheless had to do last year. He will be the unquestioned sheriff of the team, even though he won't be the most important. A perfect "big brother" for the younger players, because in basketball the best leaders are the ones who play defense and pass well (see: SJAX). * Anthony Randolph is the BEST potential player on this roster. For all the hype surrounding the JRich trade for Brandon Wright last year, are people not seeing how the fact that Randolph slipped to GS is not SO MUCH more exciting? It's funny to read writers like Tim Kawakami say how Wright and Randolph are nearly identical because they are both tall, skinny left handers. How sad. These two players couldn't be more different, given their similarities. Totally different games: Wright is an actual big man -- a PF or C type interior player. Skinny, yes, but a face-up player who gets his goodies on alley-oops, put packs and loose boards. Randolph is SO different in his game. He can handle like nobody's business for his size. He can take defenders off the dribble, cross over and hit a pull-up jumper. He looks like a guard doing it (if you didn't see him play at LSU, or haven't seen video, you should stop what you're doing and find him on you tube right now). Wright has good solid big man potential. Randolph has SUPERSTAR potential. He is an athletic FREAK. Despite being skinny, his body is already NBA ready given they type of game he plays. He can come in and play SF on opening day. He has the potential to be a Tayshaun Prince/KG/Bosh type player with some nasty handles. He can already rebound the ball and take it the length of the court as well as most SFs in the game. He has as much star-potential as anyone in that draft, and probably the most, IMO. He's only 19, still growing, and as a freshman he dominated the SEC with his acrobatic spider-like game. Plus, he's got an attitude, something Brandon Wright has not shown. * Brandon Wright is also awesome. For all I just wrote about Randolph, Wright is finally going to have a full season to showcase his game. Even from the first time he hit the court, he looked like he was ready to be in the NBA. Many big men look shaky of uncertain, but from the get-go Wright just looked like he was in the moment, just playing basketball and not even thinking about it. That is pretty awesome for a kid his age, and he showed some marked improvement, too, in his offensive game over the course of the year. * Cap Space -- Mullin has done such a masterful job at cleaning this organization up after his blunders with Dunleavy, Foyle, Fisher and Murphy. He has totally learned from his mistakes, it appears, and he is really playing his cards close to the vest and securing a nice position from which to maneuver. I;m sure many GMs are jealous of the situation Mullin has created for us here in GS. We are *SET* -- A ton of young talent, no albatross contracts, an exciting buzz in the NBA community, a few young emerging potential stars, plenty of cap space, and the best fans in the NBA. It's an exciting time to be a GS fan.
Man... Things went horribly wrong in just one day. We thought we desperately need a back up PG to relieve Davis' minutes. Now, we need PGs period, and PGs are being signed very quickly. At this rate, we may have to bring Hudson back for starting duty... Will we find Avery Johnson like 94? I guess only the time will tell. Another frustrating thing is that Davis really didn't sign with Clippers for unbelievable amount of money. 13 mils / 5 years aren't unreasonable amount of $ for Davis type of player, and we should have paid that much without a hesitation. Either we really lowballed Davis or once Davis realized that he can't get a close to max contract, he just decided to get a 'paycut' by going to LA. Anyway... First thing is first, we gotta find a starting and also a back up PGs. Arenas seems like a pipe dream, and I really don't want him for 20 mils per year. Also the way FA markets are going, I doubt we will get any proven PG either. Since, we have over 10 mils caproom, I guess we can get a decent PG via trading market or get a young/unproven PG, who is looking for an opportunity. So... Is Livingston healthy enough to play? Can we get any of 3 pgs from Memphis? Does Mullin still have Higgin's phone number for Felton? Will Philly trade Miller for basically nothing, so that they will gain extra caproom? J. Williams, Francis, or even Marbury? Although we haver over 10 mils caproom, I doubt we will replace Davis with half a good PG. There are so many concerns, and one wrong move may sink the team for a while. Hope Mullin will navigate this situation well...
I just heard the news that Baron has already signed with the Clips. I can accept that because 5yrs/$65 M would be overpaying Baron. What's eating me more is why didn't Mullin have a backup plan or had been exploring other options such as signing and trading Baron? I think he assumed Baron wouldn't leave $17.5M on the table and just got taken by surprise like we all did when Baron opted out. He never saw it coming til the last minute. Next, the Warriors make some ridiculous offer to Arenas that doesn't make any sense whatsoever because Arenas doesn't fit well with Monta. Arenas is the kind of plan you have as plan A and do not want to sign Baron. Instead, it's ridiculous to make such an offer as a knee jerk reaction to Baron leaving. Not only that, it's more a token effort at saving face because it's not even close enough to get Arenas. Clearly, the Warriors weren't ready for this development and blew it. So what do we do now? I dunno, but I'm kinda leaning towards re-building with the youngsters now instead of trying to get a free agent point guard for big bucks. I would've gone for Calderon or Beno, but those guys are locked up by their teams now. I wouldn't mind going for a young pg like Mike Conley or Javaris Crittenton, but we don't have Baron as a trading piece anymore .
