Warriors update: Pietrus looks like he?s back, I keep typing and typing <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> I?m putting this up almost solely because I just did a Q&A with the Warriorsworld.net forum and in the middle of it talked about something I haven?t written yet (*added correction to one of my Q&A answers below): I?ve heard that Mickael Pietrus, lacking other realistic options, has all but decided to come back to the Warriors this season either for the one-year, $3.4-million qualifying offer or possibly for a two-year deal at about the same terms. I?ve heard that the Warriors are fine with that. I?m not saying the deal is done?and you never know what could screw something up until it is actually done?but I?ve heard both sides understand what the terms will be. I don?t know what?s delaying the announcement/signing, but if you?re thinking Chris Mullin is keeping things in his back pocket while waiting for further Kevin Garnett developments, you might not be incorrect. The Warriors played this one tough with Pietrus, but very correctly: * Pietrus was a restricted free agent and even if it hurt his feelings, Mullin had no incentive to toss out a long-term deal unless and until Pietrus landed a big offer (which Mullin probably would?ve matched or moved in a sign-and-trade); * Pietrus isn?t that valuable to the Warriors, by the way. He does something no other Warrior wingman does, yes?play physical defense, at times, and get some rebounds in bunches. Don Nelson likes him just for that. He played Pietrus through some incredibly rough patches because Pietrus ran the floor every night and occasionally really helped out on defense/rebounding. But Pietrus has always been incredibly erratic, and he seemed to think he was on the verge of landing $40M. Which he was most certainly not. (The Warriors keep talking about how well Toby Bailey shot the ball in Las Vegas. He?ll surely be brought to Hawaii for camp in October. What Bailey brings, if he keeps shooting it, isn?t that far down from what Pietrus could bring.) Pietrus definitely wasn?t going to hit the F/A lotto as a restricted free agent. There was no reason for the Warriors to pretend that he was. I guess Miami, Dallas and a few other teams had some interest, but not if Mullin was going to match and not if they had to give up players in a sign-and-trade. If Pietrus signs the one-year deal with the GSWs, then plays his butt off this season, he can hit unrestricted F/A as a rising player next summer. If he believes in himself, he has to do it this way?not the most fun way, but the way the NBA has set up. Nobody was willing to bet it all on him this summer. So there?s his value on the market, and the Warriors played it right, and VERY differently than they played the same situation a few years ago with Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson. This is better. And if Pietrus is mad about it? He should use that to focus his game and figure out to become a player worth $40M instead of a player who thinks he?s worth $40M. http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/kawakami/20...ing-and-typing/ </div>knowing who the author is pietrus will probably be in new orleans tomorrow or some destination never mentioned before.
Pietrus thinks he is worth $40m? What a laugh! It's good to see Chris Mullin learning the game outside the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Warriorfansnc93 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I have no problem bringing Pietrus back for 2 years at that price. Same goes for Barnes...</div> I generally agree but I'd sure like it if the number was closer to 2.5mils/year. And a little off-topic, but i wish they had signed Azubuike for more years....i think that guy's a keeper
Thanks for the post boog. I don't mind Pietrus back if he's getting paid what he's worth. He's had some good plays for us. I just worried about him getting Adonal Foyle money where if he were to ever lose his athleticism, he'd be just another one-dimensional defensive guy who is barely a basketball player. Actually, Pietrus does have more offensive game than Foyle for their respective positions, but Pietrus is just such a dumb basketball player... I can see him blowing it for us if the coach puts him in a situation where we need smart guys like Baron to play for us... or somebody that at least knows the game enough to anticipate most plays rather than just react, react, react.
<div class="quote_poster">DTKennedy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I generally agree but I'd sure like it if the number was closer to 2.5mils/year. And a little off-topic, but i wish they had signed Azubuike for more years....i think that guy's a keeper</div> I totally agree -- in 1 season, Azibuike showed more consistency than Pietrus ever did in his 4 some odd seasons. You know what you'll get with Az. He's strong, super athletic, a Kentucky prodigy. He led the NBDL in scoring, both with relentless attack of the rim combined with a very high % from three point land. He, like JRich, is a shooting guard with a small forward mentality. He rebounds extremely well for his position. He can handle the ball very well. In his first NBA game with the Warriors ever, the day he got called up, he had a half court steal for a dunk, a few aggressive rebounds and some nice made baskets. The best part? He didn't make any mistakes. Az has a level head and he seems to be an ideal teammate. I agree, he'd be a great low-priced reserve to have for 4-5 years. I'll bet his agent didn't want a low priced long-term offer, like 5years 10 mils, because he probably figures in a few years Az will command at least the mid-level. It would be a good guess.
Nellieball-to be most effective-uses the speed/transition guys,Monta,Azu.Baron-but also J Rich-Pietrus-Barnes. Losing J Rich AND Pietrus not only removes 27 pt from last years lineup but also some of our speed matchup assets. Rookies won't replace that right away.
Pietrus has the sort of natural tools that mean an almost unlimited ceiling--IF you can add a refined skillset. I do NOT buy into the idea Pietrus is a dummy. Rather he's a guy who got his "fundamentals" as a kid from the Carribean who was a Euro project,playing PT in Euro Ball...then a off the bench utility guy here-under 3 coaches so far. A lot of guys play big time HS ball-start a few years in college,start for a stable NBA team. They accumulate skills and "smarts" Pietrus has had to "unlearn" a lot of what he's learned and has landed on an NBA team that has not proven it's willing to make development a priority.
<div class="quote_poster">Char Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Pietrus thinks he is worth $40m? What a laugh!</div> BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I needed to get that out. MP has been very frustrating. Some people think he can break out and be an above average player. Look at the top teams that were trying to get him for part of the MLE. However, Pietrus is not smart enough, i.e. his basketball IQ is low. What was a bit surprising (for me) last season was Nellie went to Pietrus and kept him in there until he played himself out of the game. Sure enough, those times happened, but Nellie brought him back and let him play. Sometimes in the same game and in tight situations. He must be seeing things that I'm not seeing. MP's stongest suit is his rebounding and athleticism. I'm not sure what his second is. It could be personal D or 3-pt shooting. It's not really good, but it's not poor. Maybe it's around average. The other thing that bugs me about MP is his handles. He can go straight and take it to rack fine, but put some defenders in his way and it's turnover time. He looks like he can be a better player, but his low basketball IQ holds him back. <div class="quote_poster">REREM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Pietrus has the sort of natural tools that mean an almost unlimited ceiling--IF you can add a refined skillset. I do NOT buy into the idea Pietrus is a dummy. Rather he's a guy who got his "fundamentals" as a kid from the Carribean who was a Euro project,playing PT in Euro Ball...then a off the bench utility guy here-under 3 coaches so far. A lot of guys play big time HS ball-start a few years in college,start for a stable NBA team. They accumulate skills and "smarts" Pietrus has had to "unlearn" a lot of what he's learned and has landed on an NBA team that has not proven it's willing to make development a priority.</div> We can only hope Rerem. That said, I'm not sure what game you're watching. Sure MP looks great, but he has some limitations. His shooting is streaky at best. Next, I'm not sure if he's on the same page as the rest of the team sometimes. Oh well, let's see if he's improved next season.
I don't really want him back for 3.4 mil. First thats overpaying him IMO and second, if he is back Nelson will play Pietrus more than Azubuike. And I personally thing Azubuike is way better and rather have him getting more PT.
The LAtest : Pietrus Would Rather Play For Miami July 28, 2007 - 12:52 pm Sun-Sentinel - One Heat target, Warriors swingman Mickael Pietrus, is looking less likely. "He's not going to take half the mid-level," said Pietrus' agent, Happy Walters. Pietrus' qualifying offer from the Warriors is $3.5 million, above what the Heat can offer. Walters did, however, add that Pietrus would rather play for the Heat. Pietrus' arrival in South Florida would have to be through a sign-and-trade, possibly with unrestricted free agent James Posey. [READ] I will be damned if i give MP what he wants just to accomodate him so he can play where "he wants to" in Miami. Mullin better not back down and succumb to this. I don't want to read that posey is now a Warrior for what MP gets in a sign and trade. I dont want Posey here for one, too slow, old and inury prone. There is no plus or upside to him and a contract we dont need. But what really pisses me off is that if he really wants to play in Miami then sign with them for what they can afford. He has no leverage, but is really turning me off as a fan of his. His agent should shut up. He should be happy getting half the mid level.
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't really want him back for 3.4 mil. First thats overpaying him IMO and second, if he is back Nelson will play Pietrus more than Azubuike. And I personally thing Azubuike is way better and rather have him getting more PT.</div> Couldn't agree more! Too bad the deadline has passed to rescind the qualifying offer...
MP is here for now, but realgm had news today that the Heat and Warriors are still talking. About what who knows? It sounds like the same-o same-o except since Matt Barnes is off the market, the Heat have one less option. BTW here's something else I found. I couldn't believe my eyes until my brain caught up :
How many rosters are the Warriors trying to make here? After the signings of Croshere, Barnes, Marco, Azubuike, the rights to Lasme I don't know where Pietrus fits. Well I guess if he can get his defense up to being very strong for a whole season, then I can see him somewhat fitting in. But the NBA refs don't like his physical defensive style. Perhaps he got a break against Steve Francis when he took him out of the game by being very physical and staying in front of him. But perhaps only Bruce Bowen gets the permission to be that physical with players by the NBA. But oh yeah, I guess the Warriors already made the qualifying offer so I guess they can't say no now if Pietrus accepts that money. Pietrus has been an important player when he is in the proper zone, which is not all the time, but usually in different stretches of time. Now if Pietrus returns then I guess the Warriors will have to decide what to do with their roster. I guess it's better to have too many players than not enough.
<div class="quote_poster">jason voorhees Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">MP is here for now, but realgm had news today that the Heat and Warriors are still talking. About what who knows? It sounds like the same-o same-o except since Matt Barnes is off the market, the Heat have one less option. BTW here's something else I found. I couldn't believe my eyes until my brain caught up :
Pietrus forced to play waiting game <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As small forwards with similar skills, Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus filled many of the same roles for the Warriors last season, knocking down open 3-pointers, collecting the odd rebound and expending as much energy defensively as they could. Now, the pair has shared similar offseason fates, as well. Barnes, who was an unrestricted free agent, signed a one-year contract with the Warriors worth $3.5 million on Monday, matching practically dollar for dollar the amount Pietrus is slated to make next season thanks to the qualifying offer the team locked in last month. It's a far cry from the $5 million-plus each man had hoped to snag as a starting salary on a long-term deal. "Mickael's in a tough situation," said Barnes, who had been hoping to earn the Warriors' entire midlevel exception of $5.36 million. "I'm sure I'm not the only one the market got up on."</div> Source: Contra Costa Times
