<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> NEW YORK -- Dajuan Wagner has accepted a buyout from the Golden State Warriors and is no longer with the team, a source with knowledge of the negotiations tells SI.com. The 23-year old Wagner signed a two-year contract with the Warriors in the off-season after missing all of the 2005-06 season recovering from surgery to have his colon removed. Wagner scored four points in one game for Golden State this season. According to the source, Wagner's conditioning had steadily deteriorated since joining the Warriors and after a stellar training camp where Wagner started all but one preseason game and twice led the team in scoring he quickly fell out of favor with head coach Don Nelson. Wagner was not at the Warriors game against Seattle on Saturday with the team reporting he was "under the weather." A spokesman for the Warriors would not comment but said the team would have an announcement regarding Wagner on Monday. </div> http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/bask...gner/index.html
That sucks. The poor guy had his colon and rectum removed and now his hopes of being in the nba are probably diminished if he's physically unhealthy for the game. Plus, no team wants an undersized shooting guard with low career fg % and no passing or defense skills. His summer league was okay, but he wasn't exactly dominant. Probably because he just got off surgery and what not. heh.
I feel kinda sorry for Wagner, I thought he was going to make a comeback on the Warriors, but didn't work out that way. Poor guy.
Falling out of favor with Nelson? I listened to Nelson on the radio with Ralph and Tom in the preseason, gushing about how amazed he was with Wagner, that Wagner was the best player in camp, and that Mullin had himself a steal. That's a pretty sudden turnaround. Why give him a 2 year deal then? Couldn't they have seen this coming? I though that was what camp was for -- evaluation. I mean, if he could sustain his summer workouts, and then come to camp and run everybody tired on the floor, I can't see how he "suddenly" had a drastic drop in conditioning. Oh well -- I was pretty excited about his game, hope he keeps his chin up and makes another come back.
I agree with you AlleyOop, something sounds fishy about that story, I suspect there is more to it than that. Too bad, looked like a hopeful story, but he did come back from a life-threatening situation to play in the NBA, that's gotta be worth something (at least a few bucks on the motivational speaker circuit), and I'm sure he's a millionaire anyway. I'm trying not to feel too bad. In any case, his minutes would probably be limited with the Warriors being stocked at the small guard slots.
Maybe it was to keep both Roberson and Barnes? Because their contracts become guaranteed in January, and if they do then the Warriors would be at luxury tax, so they intended to drop one of them before that happens. Maybe Wagner was the one to go instead.
Yeah -- that must be the first time in 15 years the Warriors have had too much talent at any given position lol. GS actually has some pretty darn good depth this year. Except for PF due to injuries. I mean we have 2 star guards, 1 star guard in the making (Ellis), and two good back-ups in Roberson and McCleod. That's pretty cool because, in Nellie's system it takes energetic guards to make things happen. If someone isn't bringing it one night, it's nice to know there's a sparkplug on the bench.
My guess is that since Wagner wasn't going to play behind Richardson, Monta, Roberson, or McLeod he and the W's mutually agreed to part ways. We get to save a bit of money and a roster spot to keep Roberson and Barnes. He gets to go somewhere where he can actually play and maybe get a good long(er) term contract down the road. Sad because he seemed like a good fit but apparently his body is already wearing down and he doesn't bring anything that Monta doesn't, can't shoot like Roberson or defend like McLeod.
<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">My guess is that since Wagner wasn't going to play behind Richardson, Monta, Roberson, or McLeod he and the W's mutually agreed to part ways. We get to save a bit of money and a roster spot to keep Roberson and Barnes. He gets to go somewhere where he can actually play and maybe get a good long(er) term contract down the road. Sad because he seemed like a good fit but apparently his body is already wearing down and he doesn't bring anything that Monta doesn't, can't shoot like Roberson or defend like McLeod.</div> What pisses me off about this is that spot could have been left open for Taft!
<div class="quote_poster">Warriorfansnc93 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What pisses me off about this is that spot could have been left open for Taft!</div> I agree. I still hope the guy recovers and comes back to the Warriors.
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I agree. I still hope the guy recovers and comes back to the Warriors.</div> I hope he was not cut in favor or one of our training camp invitees either because some of those guys dont even play in some games...
Sounds like another boo boo for the Warriors, but this time it's more on Nelson than Mullin imho. Sometimes it's tough to figure out who is going to make it in this league and even someone with the experience of Nelson makes mistakes. Hope they buy out Foyle next .
<div class="quote_poster">Warriorfansnc93 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> I hope he was not cut in favor or one of our training camp invitees either because some of those guys dont even play in some games...</div> Or how about Zarko? With his injury, there's no timetable for a return, and he was at the bottom of Nellie's totem pole anyway -- seems like Wagner had a better chance than Zarko... either way, I like both players.
I liked Taft at center, but what if he's like a Chris Wilcox where it takes forever for the guy to do something noticeable? I kind of want Mullin and Cohan to pull out their wallet when it comes to guys who fit a certain plan. We need outside guys who can pass and penetrate and shoot, we need inside guys who can score high % , rebound, and block shots. We need them all to play defense. I think Ellis/Pietrus is a nice mold for backcourt, but there's some questions regarding how Pietrus would do in that role if he's forced to make decisions. Now if we had a Lebron James, T-mac, Joe Johnson, this would not be a problem since those three are tall/big enough to play SF, but are acting shooting guards for any team. I like Ike, I like Biedrins. I think they can be very high % scorers for us. It'd be like having a potential Zach Randolph and Tyson Chandler (at full strength)/Andrei Kirilenko at power forward and center. Either could switch off and guard certain players too since Diogu can play center, even though it's not his most effective position because he's not that big and athletic like Ben Wallace. I think POB could have some potential, but I'm really more in love with the high energy, tough big dudes. I like Biedrins and Ike for those roles. For energetic backcourt, we got Baron, Ellis, Pietrus, Jrich. We could use another small forward, but I feel there's pressure to find one that is more like a guard because Jrich is too much like a small forward than a shooting guard. Damned tweeners. It's like the same problem with Jamison, Dunleavy, and Murphy and not so much the same problem with Arenas/Wade/Dirk type tweeners in respect to their rosters
I think we need to find/develop a good back-up center for Beans. WHen he gets in foul trouble, and Nellie puts Dun/Murph at center, it's ugly. I don't care how fast you run -- there's no interior presence. Just look when Beans comes back into the game -- it energizes the team, having a rebounder and shot blocker like that -- the way he contests shots opens up a lot more chances for the team to run it back the other way. I hope POB will be that guy -- I doubt Foyle will ever see the light of day again. But IMO The Warriors need to find another legit center to back up Beans. POB needs to hit the weight room.
<div class="quote_poster">AlleyOop Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think we need to find/develop a good back-up center for Beans. WHen he gets in foul trouble, and Nellie puts Dun/Murph at center, it's ugly. I don't care how fast you run -- there's no interior presence. Just look when Beans comes back into the game -- it energizes the team, having a rebounder and shot blocker like that -- the way he contests shots opens up a lot more chances for the team to run it back the other way. I hope POB will be that guy -- I doubt Foyle will ever see the light of day again. But IMO The Warriors need to find another legit center to back up Beans. POB needs to hit the weight room.</div> Warriors should trade Murphy for Magloire and Foyle for Joe Smith. Magloire would be a decent back up. Then after the season is over... bam! ~18 mil off our books to extend Ellis, Pietrus, and Beans.
That could happen, actually. The warriors can't be blind to what direction we're headed. The direction is to get better rounded in each position that can also create with some kind of mismatch. Size isn't enough these days. Guys need to know all the moves for their position, to be stronger inside, and to play defense. If we don't stop anybody at the rim, play the passing lanes, stay in front of the ballhandler, guys will walk all over us. It's been that way for a long time for us on defense... If we have guys like Ellis that are too quick, we have more opportunties to get somebody else open similar in the way that Baron Davis and Jason Richardson attract a lot of defensive attention. It doesn't really help when Foyle provides nothing offensively and Murphy just stands around or goes iso. He's not even a comfortable playmaker like any of the other guys.
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Warriors should trade Murphy for Magloire and Foyle for Joe Smith. Magloire would be a decent back up. Then after the season is over... bam! ~18 mil off our books to extend Ellis, Pietrus, and Beans.</div> I doubt either team would do either of those trades. I've actually thought recently about trading for Webber, I know, I know, hes got a long, ugly past with Nellie and the W's but the cap relief after 07-08 is huge (thats the offseason where we re-sign Biedrins and Monta). Also, I believe Nellie and Webber have made up so that wouldn't be a big deal. Something like Murphy, Foyle and some of our small expiring contracts, maybe throw in some 2nds or Philly's first back to them if we have to. Webber is still a good rebounder and has some nice skills, hes very servicable off the bench but the real prize is his huge expiring contract and being rid of a few of our large contracts.
<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I doubt either team would do either of those trades. I've actually thought recently about trading for Webber, I know, I know, hes got a long, ugly past with Nellie and the W's but the cap relief after 07-08 is huge (thats the offseason where we re-sign Biedrins and Monta). Also, I believe Nellie and Webber have made up so that wouldn't be a big deal. Something like Murphy, Foyle and some of our small expiring contracts, maybe throw in some 2nds or Philly's first back to them if we have to. Webber is still a good rebounder and has some nice skills, hes very servicable off the bench but the real prize is his huge expiring contract and being rid of a few of our large contracts.</div> I can't find the source, but Nelson said he wouldn't want Webber back here.
With CWebb's knees, I wouldn't want him back here either. Unless it's to dump salaries like Foyle's and Murphy's or Dunleavy's.
