<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">THE NBA's 13-DAY negotiating period ended on Wednesday, setting off a flurry of activity around the league. The question the Warriors now face is this: What to do with Erick Dampier? How Chris Mullin handles this transaction with Dampier will determine if next season the Warriors will break their decade long streak of not making the playoffs. If Mullin is able to work a sign-and-trade deal for Dampier that brings a talented player or two in return, then Golden State will turn into a playoff team next year. If he doesn't get quality talent or if he allows Dampier to walk away without compensation, the Warriors will likely fall short of the playoffs once again.</div> http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cf...71604sp_krueger
I don't know Dampier will make or break for Warriors. However, it will decide Mullin's reputation as a GM...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If Mullin is able to work a sign-and-trade deal for Dampier that brings a talented player or two in return, then Golden State will turn into a playoff team next year.</div> Do you guys believe this statement? I am planning on starting a thread about our playoff chances when we have most of these deals worked out and have a somewhat final roster, but I am still curious on your thoughts. Obviously this depends on who we get back in return for Damp.
Does it occur to L Kruger that there might not be any 'quality talent' being offered? To say that Mullin has to do something 'good' and in the same breath imply that doing nothing is worse is not only bad basketball management, but bad journalism. If Damp wants to walk, it seems that he'll have only one road to travel, and that's in the footsteps of Sherman to Atlanta. If this is the final result, perhaps the real mistake was made by Dampier and his agent (Fegan?) for overvalueing himself in the first place. But who knows, maybe he wanted to end up there all along.
Why would Damp want to end up in Atlanta? They are in worse shape than the Warriors. Sure they have made some nice offseason deals but there is no garauntee that they will be successful next year. I guess its all about the money with him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting meshgearfox:</div><div class="quote_post"> But who knows, maybe he wanted to end up there all along.</div> If that was the case, he would have already signed a contract on Wednesday.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you guys believe this statement? I am planning on starting a thread about our playoff chances when we have most of these deals worked out and have a somewhat final roster, but I am still curious on your thoughts. Obviously this depends on who we get back in return for Damp.</div> I also agree that it's way too early to measure our chance of making PO at this point. But, this is what I think at this moment. Teams like Spurs, Kings, Dallas, Wolves are lock to make PO, unless their airplane crashes. And, while their teams are in the middle of rapid roster changes, Nuggets and Houston probably have a good chance of making PO. Logically, we probably have to compete against teams like Hornets, Lakers, Suns (vastly improved), Jazz (improved quite a bit), Blazers, Clips and Sonics. And, unfortunately, there is no clear loser in West, so we have to fight stiff competition yet again. I do think losing Dampier is big for this club. By losing him, we lose a defense presence in the middle, some low post offense and easy inside score. Foyle is a great shot blocker, but he does not make other players to think twice before they drive to the hoop like Dampier did. I just wish Foyle can hold his own and emulate some of what Dampier did last year. So, I agree with the statement in certain extent. Since, Foyle will not be last year's Dampier, we have to improve other aspect of the game by adding an impact player. That player may come from Dampier trade or other trade, Biedrins or existing players by improvement. If we stay as we are, I believe we have no chance of making seemingly tougher West. But, I am curious of what Montgomary will do to the club. Can he do the magic and get more from this club? Or, will he totally be flamed and go back to 20 wins again? Just talent alone on the paper, we had no shot at making PO starting from 2 seasons ago, and it seems like this year is no exception. But, for some reason, we managed to be close to make 8th seed last two seasons. So, 75% of our chance probably is dependent on Montgomary and how well he can handle. We can be either Memphis or Hawks. Right at this moment, I think we have 30% of making PO next season...
Exactly my point. Hence the reference to Shermans march and the hell it would be to make that trek. I have a problem with Kruger's assumption. Ultimately Damp has nowhere to go, but Atlanta, or work something in the market that is to the Warriors liking. The possibilty of teams not being able or willing to give up a package that is to the Warriors liking must be acknowledged as fact. If that's the case, then doing nothing at all could be the best option for the Warriors (not Dampier).
Those are good points fellas. I think at this point, we need a seasoned big man to control the middle if Foyle can't stop these 7 foot+ and heavier mismatches. I've praised Foyle for being a good center when the running game is the tempo of choice, but if the warriors aren't in control of the tempo, we'll need a safety net against the slowed half court game with the ball going to the low post mismatch. We will definitely need a bruiser to stop a low post threat like Duncan or Brand and is fairly quick/crafty to stop those with fancy footwork and quickness. Out of all the candidates I think Pryzbilla is our man if he can control his tendency to get into foul trouble. Maybe Atlanta wants to do a sign and trade? I mean Damp could get his wish of being the man and being an allstar in the East if he wanted to and we could get Pryzbilla who is a defensive presence with that size and shotblocking skills. He could also score a bit too with more time (big men always take a long time to develop anyway, look at Dampier). The other guy I would seriously consider is Zeljko Rebraca. (Both Przybilla and Rebraca are injury prone, belong to Atlanta (although I think Rebraca is an UFA) but these two are quite the underrated big men that are over 7 feet tall). It's possible we could also get Dampier and NVE to the Mavs for that 7'5" project + maybe Walker off the bench. I personally don't like the deal but Walker has a lot of value at this time since he comes off the books immediately and he's an allstar (overrated allstar).
I personally think that the Walker for Damp trade is being held up by Pavel. Nelson doesn't want to give Pavel up, and Mullin won't take that chump Walker without getting potential in return.
