<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jason Richardson is none too happy with a report that appeared in Monday's Chicago Tribune, which stated that Richardson expects to be traded in the offseason because of the Warriors' "infatuation with Monta Ellis." According to the report, Richardson hopes to be traded to the Pistons or Bulls. "I don't even have family in Chicago, so I don't know how they got that. That's not true at all," said Richardson, a Michigan native. "I mean, everybody's playing good and we're trying to make the playoffs and you throw something like that out there? People are calling me, my teammates, like, 'Where did that come from?' "It's kind of messed up, whoever ran that story. I've never said anything close to that." Richardson, who just bought a new house in Oakland, says he not only wants to be there next season, but for the rest of his playing days. He is the second-longest tenured Warrior behind 10-year veteran Adonal Foyle. "I've been here for six years, I love it here," Richardson said. "I mean, it's very seldom a player starts his career here and ends his career here, but I'd like to do that here, change things around." The issue for the Warriors will be managing their payroll, with Richardson making $10 million this season and due $50 million over the next four years.</div> Source Good to have this taken care off.
I hope Jrich stays here. The problem with the Warriors ain't Jrich, it's lack of quality big men, 4th quarter experience/mental toughness, and lack of pure point guard depth. After Baron, there's not many backups that are even of Speedy Claxton or Earl Boykins caliber for pure point guard. I guess what I mean to say is that our bench isn't really that great at any position, not just backup point guard in particular. We're starting to figure out Powell, Azubuike, Barnes, Pietrus, Cabbages and others over a period of time. What we need is some consistency cold off the bench that can just produce in many ways that the coach could use in his strategies. The problem is if we got no stars or plays to run off of, we tend to stand around and guys that could be very consistent in certain things like catch and shoot like Cheaney and Fisher become very problematic because they aren't playmakers and they don't make anyone better because they just keep shooting. Baron is the only guy that really makes others perform above their level because he can create his shot at will. The other dudes are either inconsistent, still learning, or just aren't that good for their positions. I figure if we can create offense and take good shots, our %'s will go up. This year % hasn't been a problem compared to last year, but we have no rebounding or defense and I attribute that to the fact we're a small team and small teams typically don't play very strong defense inside or out and they can't rebound over taller, stronger players who play really physical down low to get the inside position. To top that off, our only way to create offense is through dribble penetration, when we really should be mixing up inside by isolating one of our big players down the block... But there lies another problem, very few of our decent big men are strong enough to handle the bigger positions Nelson wants them to play, and they don't have the footwork or skillset just yet. Plus, Nelson wants to do his strategy by dumping a whole bunch of guards in the mix, which only leads to perimeter shots IMO... unless the calls are going our way and our big men are rebounding like Pietrus or Jrich on a good night... Biedrins is awesome, but he's just too undersized and between power forward and center. Harrington is no power forward. I guess we all know that. But then that's the other thing... besides lack of decent to above average big men depth, how many genuine star players do we really have that play almost an entire season at pretty much full health? Baron is that only guy that can do the things to make others better. I don't see any other players exhibit franchise level qualities yet. Especially not on the glass or on defense or creating a shot and passing, getting to the foul line, etc.
Since when has "Friends" of a player been a reliable source. Whomever wrote that blurb doesn't deserve to be a journalist.
I am relieved to have this cleared up. I could see him going to Detriot since he is from Michigan though.
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> The problem with the Warriors ain't Jrich, it's lack of quality big men, </div> Agree 100%. I said before the trade deadline that they were not done dealing. Obviously, with their new players being virtually untradable before the offseason, it was going to really difficult to make another mid-season deal. As such, there's no way they can go into next season so incredibly thin on the front line and they know it, so i think it's a no-brainer there's another big deal coming in the offseason.
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> The problem with the Warriors ain't Jrich, it's lack of quality big men, </div> Agree 100%. I said before the trade deadline that they were not done dealing. Obviously, with their new players being virtually untradable before the offseason, it was going to really difficult to make another mid-season deal. As such, there's no way they can go into next season so incredibly thin on the front line and they know it, so i think it's a no-brainer there's another big deal coming in the offseason.
<div class="quote_poster">DTKennedy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Agree 100%. I said before the trade deadline that they were not done dealing. Obviously, with their new players being virtually untradable before the offseason, it was going to really difficult to make another mid-season deal. As such, there's no way they can go into next season so incredibly thin on the front line and they know it, so i think it's a no-brainer there's another big deal coming in the offseason.</div> Well maybe Kosta, Patrick O'Bryant, and who knows, Chris Taft? can help out Andris Biedrins and Josh Powell in the front court. It really depends on what Nelson thinks of Harrington being the PF by the end of the season, as far as making big and urgent moves to acquire a post player to help out.
I think that's been the biggest problem with this franchise. There's just too many young guys on this team that don't have a lot of polish. For once, I'd like to see us grab a guy that has lots of potential and can contribute in many ways right now because he's got skill and a physically/mentally ready body and mind. We get a young guy that can lead and we surround him with capable vets that can play an all-around game, I can't see why we wouldn't make the playoffs that way. But yeah, we could use that and some more size that can match up right now and throw in another pure point guard until Baron is healthy enough to play at least 85% of the season or Monta Ellis becomes a point guard.
The Warriors need a 1 year rental at the 4 (someone like Camby). This gives 1 more season for Monta to really grow into the 1 spot. Then Baron's huge salary can be moved for a star big man in a talent/salary dump trade. If Jason is the guy that gets moved to buy that 1 year which makes the team an all-around better team, then I say go for it. I'd be sad to see him go, but I think in the long run, it makes this team an elite team.
I know Sarunas has struggled here, and apparently he's not Nellie's favorite guy on the team. He's a bit slow for a PG, and not terrific defensively. With that said, I think he can be a starter in this league. He just needs the vote of confidence from the coach. He is extremely creative in the open court and has a superb court-vision to boot. His only problem there is that he's got such good vision he's always trying no-look passes, even when not necessary. But that's okay -- it shows confidence, it gets the other guys on their toes, and it excites the crowd. But I really think Sarunas could be a starter on the right team. If Baron were to be traded for, say, Gasol, in some deal, I really believe Sarunas and Monta could get it done at PG. But the Warriors would still need to pick up a 3rd-string PG from the draft or free agency for depth. Still, though, if the Warriors were to make any deal, it would make more sense to trade JRich because GS has a surplus of SG/SF. But I don't see any reason to trade him unless it garners a top draft pick or a starting PF. Because of the Harrington dilemma (too slow to play SF, too soft to play PF), I would think that it would make more sense to try to trade Harrington in a package for a legit PF who can shot block and rebound. Harrington straight up for Camby would be sweet, though Nellie would probably play Camby at the Center and move SJax to PF. But a package of, say, sign-n-trade Pitrus + Harrington for Gasol would be AWESOME!
