Salaries for Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins are estimated. C.J. Watson's salary estimated as minimum salary for player with 2 years of NBA experience.
(Click to enlarge table)
If Ellis and Biedrins are signed to good deals totaling $16 million combined between the two, the Warriors will have a promising core of players and the ability to sign max deals in the Summer of 2010 - that is if Mullin manages the task of filling the roster properly. Getting favorable deals for the Warriors is a good possibility, considering the current trend of more fiscally responsible contracts being handed out and the fact that the only two teams with cap room are not likely to pursue either restricted free agent.
Prior to the draft, I put together a list of player rankings based on how valuable I thought they might be if examined with the Warriors in mind. That takes into consideration player talent level, existing roster, fit, and areas in which the Warriors need help. Here's a list of where each of the guys on my Warriors' Big Board ended up and the pick they were selected at in parenthesis.
Michael Beasley - Heat (2)
Derrick Rose - Bulls (1)
Kevin Love - Timberwolves (5)
Eric Gordon - Clippers (7)
O.J. Mayo - Grizzlies (3)
Brook Lopez - Nets (10)
Marreese Speights - 76ers (16)
Russell Westbrook - Super Sonics (4)
Jerryd Bayless - Trailblazers (11)
Danilo Galinari - Knicks (6)
Joe Alexander - Bucks (8)
Anthony Randolph - Warriors (14)
D.J. Augustin - Bobcats (9)
Kosta Koufos - Jazz (23)
DeAndre Jordan - Clippers (35)
Nicolas Batum - Trailblazers (25)
Darrell Arthur - Grizzlies (27)
Donte Greene - Rockets (28)
Brandon Rush - Pacers (13)
J.J. Hickson - Cavaliers (19)
Mario Chalmers - Heat (34)
Alexis Ajinca - Bobcats (20)
JaVale McGee - Wizards (18)
Robin Lopez - Suns (16)
Jason Thompson - Kings (12)
Richard Hendrix - Warriors (49)
Courtney Lee - Magic (22)
Roy Hibbert - Pacers (17)
Chris Douglas-Roberts - Nets (40)
D.J. White - Super Sonics (29)
Ryan Anderson - Nets (21)
DeVon Hardin - Super Sonics (50)
Nathan Jawai - Raptors (41)
Serge Ibaka - Super Sonics (24)
Nikola Pekovic - Timberwolves (31)
Pat Calathes - undrafted
Kyle Weaver - Bobcats (38)
Goran Dragic - Spurs (45)
Gary Forbes - undrafted
Jamont Gordon - undrafted
J.R. Giddens - Celtics (30)
Ante Tomic - Jazz (44)
Davon Jefferson - undrafted
George Hill - Spurs (26)
Omer Asik - Bulls (36)
Malik Hairston - Suns (48)
Maarty Leunen - Rockets (54)
James Gist - Spurs (57)
Trent Plaisted - Pistons (46)
On the bubble:
Othello Hunter - undrafted Joey Dorsey - Rockets (33) Sonny Weems - Nuggets (39) Mike Taylor - Clippers (55) Bill Walker - Celtics (47) Darnell Jackson - Heat (52) Richard Roby - undrafted Luc Richard Mbah a Moute - Bucks (37) Shan Foster - Mavericks (51) Chris Lofton - undrafted
Going by these rankings, the biggest steals of the draft were:
Richard Hendrix (-23) DeAndre Jordan (-20) DeVon Hardin (-18) Mario Chalmers (-13) Chris Douglas-Roberts (-11)
With Chris Mullin's strong desire to get as much real game experience for his young core, this will be the first year the Warriors will be attending two Summer League sessions - the first in Las Vegas and the second in Salt Lake City, Utah. Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli have been working out at the Warriors Practice Facility much of the summer in preparation for the Summer League tour of duty. 2008 Las Vegas NBA Summer League Game Schedule: July 11 4:00 PM ET Philadelphia vs. Golden State COX Pavilion July 13 6:00 PM ET Dallas vs. Golden State* COX Pavilion July 15 10:30 PM ET Charlotte vs. Golden State Thomas & Mack Center July 18 10:00 PM ET Sacramento vs. Golden State* COX Pavilion
After selecting Anthony Randolph and Richard Hendrix, the Warriors will now look to fill out the rest of their Summer League Roster which will also consist of existing Warriors: Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli, and C.J. Watson. There were several intriguing undrafted prospects and free agents that could fit well in the Warriors system. Here's my ideal Summer League Roster:
PG: C.J. Watson / Jamont Gordon / Will Conroy SG: Marco Belinelli / Julius Hodge / Gary Forbes SF: Anthony Randolph / Pat Calathes / Sean Banks/ Davon Jefferson PF: Brandan Wright / Josh Duncan C: Richard Hendrix / Courtney Sims / C.J. Giles
Main areas of need for the Warriors include backup PG, depth at the wing positions, and rebounders/shot blockers from the PF and C positions. Hopefully, C.J. Watson will be back and play well enough to gain Nelson's trust to spell Baron during the regular season. Nelson prefers to have scorers all over the court at all times so look for versatile, athletic, skilled, scorers to fill out the remaining slots of their Summer League Roster.
Other possibilities: DeMarcus Nelson, Reggie Williams, Richard Roby, Othello Hunter, Chris Lofton, Will Daniels, James Mays, Reggie Larry, Arizona 'AZ' Reid
Chris Mullin and the Golden State Warriors go for who they perceived as the best available talent - Anthony Randolph. Although I would have preferred Marreese Speights, I can't complain too much because Randolph is quite possibly the player with the most upside in the draft. Early in the draft process, he was being projected as high as the top 5, but had fallen in GM's rankings because of his sub-par workouts and psychological and mental evaluations. The Warriors conducted a private workout and interview with Randolph so I'm sure that they delved into any of the red flags and took the risks under careful consideration.
Hollinger's Draft Rater Report threw up some red flags initially, but if you consider that he is only 18 years old (even though Hollinger's ranking system accounts for age) you can forgive some of his turnover prone play and chalk it up to inexperience and playing against a level of competition he needs to adjust to. He adjusted fairly well towards the end of the year and managed to put up very impressive numbers across the board for a freshman. He still needs to cut down on his turnovers but for a guy that just started to play the game of basketball in the 8th grade, he's bound to continue to improve in all aspects of his game.
He has good athleticism and handles for his size, but he is far too thin to play effectively anywhere other than the SF position. As he gains weight and fills out his frame, he'll be able to play multiple positions becoming a mismatch nightmare for the opposition. Immediately, he brings additional rebounding help and the extreme length to disrupt passing lanes and block shots. He'll work well in the Warriors' defensive scheme once he adapts to the system and gains valuable on-court experience. Upside is what makes this pick so intriguing and hopefully it pays off for Mullin and company in the end.
Anthony Randolph Mix From: Trophicose
Anthony Randolph Workout Highlights From: AnthonyRandolphnet
Anthony Randolph Interview, NBA Draft Media Day From: jgivony
Richard Hendrix 6'8" 250 PF Alabama
The Warriors got interior help in the second round with the selection of Richard Hendrix. He was the very player I coveted on the board at the time and balances out the draft night by bringing in a banger, rebounding beast, shot blocker, and under rated offensive threat. I did an a little study on evaluating the Bigs of the Draft and he ranked in the middle of the pack among the best big man prospects. He outscored the likes of McGee, Hibbert, Hickson, Lopez, Jordan, and Arthur.
Hendrix sounds like a player that understands what it takes to succeed and appreciates the importance of what hard work and determination will bring to the evolution of his game. He stood out in the 24-man workout in Oakland as well as other pre-draft workouts throughout the process. From many accounts, we got a Paul Milsap type of talent. If he's anything close to him, we got a major steal at #49.
The NBA Draft Selection is based on part history, part intuition, a ton of research, and part luck. What propels a player like Kwame Brown to go #1 overall and a player like Monta Ellis drop all the way down to #40? When does a team switch from selecting 'Best Available Player' to filling a need? When do the risks of selecting a Milicic outweigh the security of selecting a more proven prospect? A combination of statistics, physical measurements, psychological studies, game film, private workouts, and background checks help teams determine who falls where in their own team's Big Board.
I don't have the luxury of sifting through most of the data, so at the risk of looking like a damn fool, I've complied a list of the draft prospects in the order I think the Warriors should chose. Many of my picks are based on watching film, watching games, reading lots of scouting reports, and the understanding team needs and fit. There will surely be some big time gaffs because I like to take calculated risks on players with high upsides, but hopefully there will be some sleeper picks that end up having long, successful careers in the NBA.
Michael Beasley
Derrick Rose
Kevin Love
*Eric Gordon
O.J. Mayo
Brook Lopez
Marreese Speights
*Russell Westbrook
Jerryd Bayless
Danilo Galinari
Joe Alexander
Anthony Randolph
*D.J. Augustin
Kosta Koufos
DeAndre Jordan
Nicolas Batum
Darrell Arthur
Donte Greene
Brandon Rush
*J.J. Hickson
Mario Chalmers
Alexis Ajinca
JaVale McGee
Robin Lopez
Jason Thompson
Richard Hendrix
*Courtney Lee
Roy Hibbert
Chris Douglas-Roberts
D.J. White
Ryan Anderson
*DeVon Hardin
Nathan Jawai
Serge Ibaka
Nikola Pekovic
Pat Calathes
Kyle Weaver
*Goran Dragic
Gary Forbes
Jamont Gordon
J.R. Giddens
Ante Tomic
Davon Jefferson
George Hill
Omer Asik
Malik Hairston
Maarty Leunen
James Gist
Trent Plaisted
On the bubble: Othello Hunter, Joey Dorsey, Sonny Weems, Mike Taylor, Bill Walker, Darnell Jackson, Richard Roby, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Shan Foster, Chris Lofton
* indicates start of new 'tier' of player rankings
01. Bulls - Derrick Rose 6-3 195 PG Memphis Fr. Paxon is going to appease the masses and go with the hometown hero. Look for the Bulls to move Hinrich for a veteran big that can score in the post. With Rose, they get an athletic floor general that will make his teammates better but is not afraid to take charge when the game is on the line.
Rose / Hinrich / Gordon / Sefolosha / Deng / Noah / Thomas / Nochioni
02. Heat - Michael Beasley 6-9 235 SF Kansas St. Fr. He goes here even if it's part of a trade for the Heat to move down. Beasley is an impressive talent with a lethal combination of athleticism, skill, and nastiness. Marion and Beasley will make for a frightful, interchangeable SF/PF duo that will give defenses fits.
Wade / Wright / Beasley / Marion
03. Timberwolves - Brook Lopez 7-0 260 C Stanford So. They are building their team around Jefferson and would be wise to select a center that would compliment his game perfectly. Brook as the prototypical center's game with more range on his shot to allow Jefferson to do his thing down low.
Foye / McCants / Brewer / Jefferson / Lopez
04. Super Sonics - O.J. Mayo 6-4 210 SG USC Fr. Pair him with Durant and watch them lineup at the box office to witness one of the most electric backcourts in the NBA.
Ridnour / Mayo / Durant / Green / Wilcox / Swift / Sene / Petro
05. Grizzlies - Kevin Love 6-9 260 PF UCLA Fr. They need a special player with leadership abilities, a unique skill set, and the will to win. Love's one of the best skilled bigmen coming out of college in a long time. Although undersized, he can do many things well and is a phenominal passer with an excellent perimeter game. He'll make everyone around him better and his ultra competitive drive will help him overcome most of his shortcomings. Love was the 2nd most productive player in the NCAA last year and will prove critics wrong by showing he can achieve greatness on the NBA stage as well.
Conley / Crittenton / Lowry / Miller / Gay / Love / Milicic
06. Knicks - Eric Gordon 6-4 220 SG Indiana Fr. He's underrated because of all the turmoil he went through his freshman year, but make no mistake about it, this kid can play. He's among the most athletic in this year's draft class and has incredible range and scoring ability - perfect for Coach D'Antoni's brand of basketball.
Crawford / Gordon / Chandler / Lee / Randolph / Curry
07. Clippers - Russell Westbrook 6-4 187 PG UCLA So. He's a defensive minded combo guard that has shown he's capable of making plays. Westbrook has good upside and the mentality to succeed at the next level. Look for the Clippers to bring in a veteran PG to help lead a promising lineup back to the playoffs.
Westbrook / Livingston / Thornton / Brand / Kaman
08. Bucks - Joe Alexander 6-8 230 SF West Virginia Jr. He's a near perfect compliment to both Yi and Bogut. Yi's soft interior game is countered with Alexander's ability to play aggressively in the post. Bogut's lack of mobility is countered with Alexander's super athleticism. He has the tools and insane work ethic to reach his maximum potential.
Williams / Sessions / Redd / Alexander / Yi / Villanueva / Bogut
09. Bobcats - Darrell Arthur 6-9 230 PF Kansas So. Jordan loves proven college talent and Arthur is no exception. He's agile, intelligent, active, athletic, and he's a winner with more room to improve. He would fit nicely between Okafor and Wallace, two excellent defenders and rebounders.
10. Nets - Danilo Gallinari 6-10 220 SF Italy 1988 Promise or no promise, he is a good fit for them. His versatility and basketball IQ are coveted assets on a team that is looking to shed large salaried players like Richard Jefferson in preparation for the Summer of LeBron 2010.
Harris / M. Williams / Carter / Richardson / Gallinari / S. Williams / Krstic / Boone
11. Pacers - Jerryd Bayless 6-3 182 SG Arizona Fr. He can't be passed up this low in the draft. Bayless is super quick and can score, but his lack of size and short wingspan will cause him to fall a little. But, at #11, he is a steal.
Bayless / Daniels / Granger / Dunleavy / O'Neal 12. Kings - D.J. Augustin 6-4 180 PG Texas So. If they don't deal for a PG prior to the draft, look for them to address their need by taking the best pure point guard available.
Augustin / Martin / Garcia / Artest / Miller / Hawes
13. Trailblazers - Nicolas Batum 6-8 210 SG/SF France 1988 With the heart issues hopefully behind him, he could be the second coming of Scottie Pippen. He has an impressive array of skills, great size, and the potential to be a defensive stopper. Batum's a project that could be ready by the time the rest of the young roster is ready to compete at the highest level. It's a very risky pick considering his disappointing numbers last season and possible issues with his heart, but this could be a home run selection in the end.
14. Warriors - Marreese Speights 6-10 232 PF Florida So. They are looking for an athletic, big body in the post and Speights gives them what they need. He rebounds, blocks shots, scores with his back to the basket, and has added a reliable midrange jumper to his game. He has the mass and length to improve even more on the defensive end and be a perfect backup (or starter depending on the match-ups) to Biedrins and Wright. He'll have to learn to be more aggressive in the post, draw fouls and finishing after contact. Speights is supposedly not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he will excel in a system with minimal plays and a lot of improvisation.
Davis / Monta / Azubuike / Belinelli / Jackson / Wright / Harrington / Beidrins / Speights
15. Suns - Brandon Rush 6-6 210 SF Kansas Jr. He's the most NBA-ready talent outside of the lottery. Suns feel the pressure to win now with Nash, Hill, and Shaq not getting any younger. Rush is an immediate rotation player that helps in many ways and is fearless competitor. The only downside is the perceived lack of upside. Nash / Barbosa / Rush / Diaw / Stoudemire / O'Neil
16. 76ers-DeAndre Jordan 7-0 250 C Texas A&M Fr. Too much upside to drop any further. He has the potential to end up being the 3rd best player in the draft if he can put it all together. Jordan is the classic high risk, high reward pick. At the very least, he'll be able to rebound and defend within a relatively short amount of time.
Miller / L. Williams / Igudola / Young / Smith / Dalembert / Jordan
17. Raptors- Anthony Randolph 6-10 200 SF LSU Fr. His stock has fallen significantly due to his poor workouts and mental testing results, but he's too good to pass up at #17. I could see them gambling on this 18 year old with tremendous upside and the ready built knack for rebounding and blocking shots. He is a project, but the Raptors have enough solid pieces to let him develop pressure-free.
Ford / Calderon / Parker / Moon / Randolph / Bosh / Bargnani
18. Wizards - Roy Hibbert 7-2 278 C Georgetown Sr. He's been impressive in workouts and he fits needs for the Wizards. Hibbert is huge and plays smart basketball. He still has room for improvement, especially on the boards - but once he learns to use his size more to his advantage, he'll be a good one.
19. Cavaliers - Kosta Koufos 7-0 252 C Ohio St. Fr. They love him in Ohio and could use help at the 4/5. Koufos gives them a versatile scoring big that excels in the half-court set. He needs to improve his toughness, but has great skill for such a young prospect.
West / Gibson / Pavlovic / James / Varajo / Wallace / Ilgauskas / Koufos
20. Nuggets - Mario Chalmers 6-2 170 PG Kansas He's one of the most underrated players in this draft. He has good court vision, adequate ball handling, great shooting touch, and unbelievable intangibles. Chalmers is an outstanding defender leading this year's draft class in steals.
Chalmers / Iverson / Smith / Anthony / Kleiza / Nene / Martin / Camby
21. Nets - Donta Greene 6-10 226 SF Syracuse Fr. They are looking to move Richard Jefferson, so taking the best available player happens to fill a void as well. He's a SF with PF length. He's got 3 point range and is athletic enough to finish strong at the rim. Greene needs to improve defensively and improve his shot selection, but he has tremendous upside.
Harris / M. Williams / Carter / Jefferson / Greene / S. Williams / Boone / Krstic
22. Magic - JaVale McGee 7-0 237 C Nevada So. He has an impressive physic and physical capabilities, but his mental game and toughness are his big question marks. Scouts drool over his potential and it will take a few years to realize them if he puts in the work and he gets proper support from his team. What makes the Magic choose him over other big man prospects is his shooting range and the potentially good fit with Howard.
Nelson / Turkoglu / Lewis / Howard / McGee
23. Jazz - Robin Lopez 7-0 255 C Stanford So. They need depth at center and he gives them most of the qualities Sloan looks for in a player - toughness, hustle, and court awareness. Right now, he's more of a defensive specialist, but he's shown glimpses of offensive potential late in his sophomore year.
24. Super Sonics - J.J. Hickson 6-9 235 PF NC State Fr. With Wilcox heading out the door, Hickson could step in as a throwback big that bangs in the post collecting rebounds, scoring in the post, and making life tough for opposing bigs. Hickson is a young, unusally strong PF. He's a little undersized, but his good timing, explosiveness, and long arms make up for his lack of height. His offensive ceiling is rather low and he needs to improve on his turnovers, passing, and decision making.
Ridnour / Mayo / Durant / Green / Wilcox / Hickson / Swift / Petro
25. Rockets - Jason Thompson 6-10 245 PF Rider Sr. TMac and company are eager to win now and advance out of the 1st round so they should go for a big man that's ready to play right away. Thompson has the NBA body, is tough and can rebound and block shots. He's a good compliment to Yao.
Alston / McGrady / Battier / Hickson / Landry / Scola / Yao
26. Spurs - Chris Douglas-Roberts 6-7 200 SG Memphis Jr. With the swingmen getting older, Spurs should look to address that area by selecting CDR. He can do many things well, including defend, shoot from midrange, and slash to the hoop. He's a fundamentally sound player that could fit right in with the Spurs veteran team.
27. Trailblazer - Alexis Ajinca 7'1" 225 C France Intl. The Trailblazers buy another pick and go with the freakishly long Frenchman Ajinca to secure the future spot at center. He's impressed many GM's and scouts with his versatility and surprising toughness in workouts. Ajinca will have to continue to put on weight and play even more physically to make it in the NBA. He's agile enough to play PF and has the range to work well with Oden. The Trailblazers could also combine this pick with others to move up in the draft or score veteran help.
28. Grizzlies - Courtney Lee 6'5" SG Western Kentucky Sr. He's shot up the draft charts with strong workouts. He's a tough SG that rebounds well for his position and can score in a variety of ways. With Mike Miller one foot out the door, the Grizzlies need help at the 2, so this pick is a sound one at #27.
Conley / Crittenton / Lowry / Miller / Lee / Gay / Love / Milicic
29. Pistons - Serge Ibaka 6'10" PF Congo Intl. They have a great veteran team, so they can afford to gamble on a player that projects to be a good PF/C in a few years. Ibaka is super athletic with great size and athleticism. He's a great rebounder and shot blocker with nice range. Ibaka could play overseas for a while before coming to the NBA.
Billups / Stuckey / Prince / Johnson / Maxiell / Wallace / Ibaka / McDyess
30. Celtics - DeVon Hardin 6-11 250 C Cal Sr. Celtics need to get physical and athletic at the C position. Powe and Davis are undersized while Perkins is not athletic enough. Hardin is project, but has all the tools to succeed given the right coaching and time to develop. The Celtics have the luxury to be patient with all the veteran talent on their roster.
The window of opportunity for the Warriors to win a championship is small and directly linked to the coach and veterans on the team. Baron Davis has one more year left (assuming he opts in by the June 30 deadline). Don Nelson is under contract for one more year (though he has express the possibility of continuing to coach beyond 2009.) Stephen Jackson has 2 years left. Baron is the key component to a championship run, but the other two mentioned play a large part in the championship equation. As Baron goes, so goes the Warriors.
If you believe that the Warriors are close to putting together a championship caliber team, you may be willing to sacrifice a little bit of the future to add the necessary pieces to vault you into serious NBA Title contending conversation. The Warriors were considered one of the best teams in the tough Western Conference until the last few months of the regular season. For various reasons, the Warriors didn't get it done in the end and, although winning 48 games, fell short of the playoffs.
Two players that intrigue me and have always seemed like a good fit for the style of basketball we play here are Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace. Both are intense, competitive, savvy veterans. One is a lockdown defender, while the other is a versatile scoring big man. Both are All-star caliber talents. If we can get one of those two guys without giving up multiple picks or our core players, we will be mentioned as one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference.
Plan A: Acquiring Ron Artest
Sacramento Kings
Artest is on the his final year of his contract. He can opt-out and hit the free agency market this year or he can stick it out, collect his $7.4 million, and walk away from the Kings for nothing. For a team like the Kings in rebuilding mode and no realistic shot at the playoffs, it's in their best interest to turn the enigmatic Ron Artest into young, cheap talent that can be developed and eventually play a role in recapturing the magic of the Webber/Bibby/Stojakovic/Miller/Divac years.
Artest for the Trade Exception and #14 Pick should get it done. They immediately shave $7.4 million off their budget and add a second lottery pick that can be used in conjunction with their #12 Pick to fill in the many holes in their roster.
Draft DJ Augustine at #12 Draft Anthony Randolph at #14 Resign Udrih
PG: D.J. Augustine / Beno Udrih SG: Kevin Martin / John Salmons SF: Francisco Garcia / Anthony Randolph PF: Mikki Moore / Shareef Abdur-Rahim / Kenny Thomas C: Brad Miller / Spencer Hawes / Shelden Williams
The key players on this team are either pretty young or pretty old - not much in between. There will be growing pains, but that will allow them to secure a high lottery pick for the next two years in a time where trying to make the playoffs with what they have is a longshot.
Golden State Warriors
With the addition of Artest, the Warriors get the 'Tru Warier" - a player that epitomizes defensive intensity, toughness, and ultra-competitive fire. Some say he's a little crazy but put in the right situation with a team with solid leadership, chemistry, and great coach, he'll be fine.
Imagine a team with 3 of the best steals men in the NBA. Teams would remain on their heels, playing with less confidence, and being unable to execute as successfully as they are accustomed to. Turnovers lead to easy buckets, fewer shot opportunities for the opposition, and more wins for the Warriors. Although Artest is undersized as a PF, he'll have better success matching up with the Boozers and Stoudemires of the West because he is so strong and savvy on the defensive end. He'll be able to lock down the opposition's best swingmen as well. On top of that, he is a legitimate offensive threat, possessing a good post game and the ability to hit the long bomb. With more offensive weapons on his team, he could cut down on taking ill advised shots and focus more on defense and rebounding. 2007-2008 Game Log
Draft Kyle Weaver with the #49 Pick. Use part of the MLE to acquire Francisco Elson. Invite Julius Hodge to camp and sign him if he fits.
PG: Baron Davis / C.J. Watson / Kyle Weaver SG: Monta Ellis / Kellena Azubuike / Marco Belinelli SF: Stephen Jackson / Matt Barnes / Julius Hodge PF: Ron Artest / Al Harrington / Brandan Wright C: Andris Biedrins / Francisco Elson / Kosta Perovic
Ron Artest - Still Crazy by xunlucky17x
Plan B: Acquiring Rasheed Wallace
Detroit Pistons
After being defeated 4 games to 2 in the Eastern Conderence Finals by the Boston Celtics, Joe Dumars has publicly stated that no one is untouchable and that he will do whatever it takes to make the team better. Celtics are going to be a powerhouse for a while. LeBron will inevitably get better and be surrounded with a stronger supporting cast. Orlando is an up-'n-coming team with Dwight Howard improving his game. Toronto is going to improve with Bosh and GM Brian Colangelo leading the way. The Pistons can't afford to stand pat and watch other younger teams pass them by.
Rasheed Wallace's act may have worn thin with Pistons brass, so they should be open to trading him before they loose him for nothing. With the original five not getting any younger, it's time to usher the new guys into the fold: Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson, and Cheick Samb. Maxiell has played solid rotation minutes, but Johnson, who Dumars is very high on, appears ready to step up if Wallace is moved. Rasheed Wallace is a $13.7 million expiring deal, so teams that are at the edge of contention will be competing for Dumar's approval.
Atlanta Hawks Incoming: Al Harrington, #29 Pick Outgoing: Marvin Williams, Speedy Claxton
Detroit Pistons 2009-2010
Detroit gets a young SG/SF in Marvin Williams (former #2 overall pick) with tremendous size and athleticism for his position. In addition, they move up 15 spots to the #14 pick giving them a shot at a very good player.
Draft Kosta Koufos at #14 for an Okur type PF/C with great skill for a player so young. Draft International player and develop overseas. Resign Walter Herrmann for additional big man 3 point shooting. Sign Keyon Dooling using the Bi-annual Exception. Sign Julius Hodge for scoring from the 2/3 positions.
PG: Chauncey Billups / Rodney Stuckey / Keyon Dooling SG: Richard Hamilton / Aaron Afflalo / Julius Hodge SF: Tayshaun Prince / Marvin Williams PF: Jason Maxiell / Amir Johnson /Walter Herrmann C: Antonio McDyess / Cheick Samb / Kosta Koufos / Kosta Perovic
Pistons end up with a very versatile lineup with solid defense at all 5 positions. Amir Johnson is finally allowed to flourish with playing time at the 3 and 4, something Piston fans have been waiting to see for a long while.
Atlanta Hawks 2009-2010
The Hawks were one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the NBA and the return of Al Harrington will fix that in a hurry. Marvin Williams has been an embarassment considering who they passed up to draft him. Josh Smith and Josh Childress are clearly better options at the 2/3 spot, so ponying up big money for Williams' second contract makes no sense. For additional incentive to get the Hawks to trade, they shed Speedy Claxton's bloated contract ($11 million over 2 years) and are allowed back into the draft with the addition of Detroit's #29 pick.
Draft DeVon Hardin at #29. Resign Zaza Pachulia. Resign Solomon Jones. Resign Salim Stoudamire. Sign Chris Duhon using part of the MLE. Sign Keith Bogans using part of the MLE.
PG: Mike Bibby / Chris Duhon / Acie Law SG: Joe Johnson / Keith Bogans / Salim Stoudamire SF: Josh Smith / Josh Childress / FA PF: Al Harrington / Solomon Jones / FA C: Al Horford / DeVon Hardin / Zaza Pachulia
A Hawks team the played inspiring ball in the 1st Round vs. the eventual NBA Champions reloads and improves their team depth and roster balance while benefiting financially by shedding Claxton's salary. This is a great move in the right direction to help them advance further in the playoffs.
Golden State Warriors 2009-2010 With the addition of Rasheed Wallace, the Warriors instantly become legitimate Finals contenders. Wallace is a 3 point shooting big that can defend in the post and rebound. He's still got enough athleticism to run with the Warriors and is a great fit for what Nelson loves in his big men. The window is closing fast with Baron likely gone at the end of the season so this trade gives the fans and Don Nelson possibly the best chance to succeed for next several years. This transaction lets them go out with a bang before transitioning into rebuilding mode and an all-out youth movement.
Draft Kyle Weaver at #49. Resign Monta Ellis. Resign Andris Biedrins. Resign Mickael Pietrus. Resign Kellena Azubuike. Resign Matt Barnes. Resign Austin Croshere. Sign Francisco Elson using part of the MLE.
PG: Baron Davis / C.J. Watson / Kyle Weaver / Speedy Claxton SG: Monta Ellis / Kellena Azubuike / Marco Belinelli SF: Stephen Jackson / Mickael Pietrus / Matt Barnes PF: Rasheed Wallace / Brandan Wright / Austin Croshere C: Andris Biedrins / Francisco Elson
Resigning Pietrus could be a problem, but hopefully he can be had for under the MLE amount with the understanding of a much bigger role once this 'All-In' year is over and the vets are slowly but surely jettisoned from the roster. If that can be accomplished, the Warriors will essentially be returning the same core group that got 48 wins but upgrading Harrington and adding depth to the PG and C positions.
Rasheed and Baron's deals expire in 2009 while Jackson and Claxton's deals come off the books in 2010. The 2009/2010 season could be a lottery year, so they should 'tank' by playing the youth and focus on development. If someone is injured, take extra care in bringing them back into the fray. If this is done, the Warriors could end up with a very high lottery pick and a boat load of cap space to sign a big time player like LeBron, Wade, or Bosh.
[nba] the ultimate rasheed wallace mix - yinka dare by PattaRojoallstars
The following list of workouts (completed, scheduled, and pending) is compiled from various news reports. Check out Warriors 2008 Draft Central for more information from the Official Golden State Warriors website.
Nicolas Batum - 6'8" 214 SG/SF 12/14/88 Le Mans Sarthe Basket Joey Dorsey - 6'9" 265 PF 12/16/83 Memphis Sr. Gary Forbes - 6'7" 220 SG/SF 02/25/85 Massachusetts Sr. Jamont Gordon - 6'4" 225 PG/SG 03/16/87 Mississippi State Jr. Courtney Lee - 6'5" 200 SG 10/03/85 Western Kentucky Sr. Brandon Rush - 6'7" 211 SG/SF 07/08/85 Kansas Jr. Marreese Speights - 6'11" 245 PF 08/04/87 Florida So. Jason Thompson - 6'11" 250 PF 07/21/86 Rider Sr. Bill Walker - 6'6" 225 SF 10/09/87 Kansas State Fr. Kyle Weaver - 6'6" 201 PG/SG 02/18/86 Washington State Sr. June 15 Stefhon Hannah - 6'-1" 183 PG Missouri Sr. June 17 Jason Rich - 6'3" 205 PG Florida State Sr. Dion Dowell - 6'6" 205 SF Houston Sr. June 20 Darrell Arthur - 6'9" 215 PF 11/10/87 Kansas So. Donte Greene - 6'10" 220 SF 02/21/88 Syracuse Fr. Jason Thompson - 6'11" 250 PF 07/21/86 Rider Sr. (2nd workout) June 21 Reggie Larry - 6'6" 224 SF/PF Boise State Jr. (2nd workout) Arizona 'AZ' Reid - 6'5" 205 SF 03/11/86 High Point Sr. June 24 Kosta Koufos - 7'1" 245 C 02/24/89 Ohio State Fr. DeAndre Jordan - 7'0" 260 C 07/21/88 Texas A&M Fr. Unknown Joe Alexander - 6'8" 230 SF/PF 12/26/86 West Virginia Jr.
Scheduled
Unknown Robin Lopez - 7'0" 255 C 04/01/88 Stanford So.
IF the Warriors luck into the #1 Pick, who should they select?
The Mind of Mullin is not affiliated with the Golden State Warriors. The opinions expressed are solely the views of this fan blog and not of Chris Mullin or any employee of the Golden State Warriors.
I’ve been a Warriors fan since Sleepy Floyd was superman. Through the fleeting good years and abundant bad, I’ve always stuck with the team, ever loyal until the end. I’m a long time season ticket holder, heavily invested financially and emotionally for better or for worse.
I’m a draft nut and know good talent when I see it (for the most part). I’m a big fan of the NBA and also follow a lot of college and international hoops. Hopefully, some of my thoughts and suggestions strike a cord (or nerve) in diehard fans, the media, and even those that are part of the Warriors organization. I do it because the Golden State Warriors are like one of my children. No matter how bad they are, you can’t stop loving them. And you always do whatever you can to make sure they can develop into the best person (or team) that they can be.
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