I'm not sure what to make of this signing. Dickau is a serviceable PG but doesn't strike me as an uptempo floor general that could help Nellie other than as a distributor. He has a solid mid-range game but is not a particularly strong three-point shooter. Dickau is also a defensive liability because of his lack of size and quickness. Typically, a Nellie type player is multi-dimensional or able to create mismatches. I'm not sure if Dickau fits that mold. Having been traded to 8 different teams, one has to question whether or not he's worth the trouble. If he takes the last roster spot, that means the Warriors won't have room to keep Justin Williams, a player with more upside who also fills a need for depth at C. It also means that we are less likely to see Belinelli, Jackson, and even Randolph logging some minutes at PG. Dickau is a safe stop-gap measure, but with little to no upside.News Excerpts
Warriors sign Dickau to shore up PG
Geoff Lepper / 48minutes.net
... “He’s a veteran point guard; they’re hard to find,” Warriors coach Don Nelson said. “He doesn’t turn the ball over. He knows what he’s doing. He’s right at the age now where he should be at the peak of his game.”
... Dickau wasn’t supposed to be in North America at this point. In mid-August, he signed to play for Italian club Air Avellino this season, but Dickau’s agent, Mark Bartlestein, said the situation did not work out for the player’s family, so they quickly made plans to return. Avellino and Dickau agreed to void his two-year deal earlier this week, but the Warriors were awaiting receipt of the final paperwork before signing the 6-0, 190-pounder.
... There is room on the roster for Dickau to stick; among the point guards in camp, only Ellis and Williams have fully guaranteed deals. Watson can be cut loose prior to Opening Night at a cost of $150,000, and Dickau, like Nelson, is on a make-good deal that confers no guarantees.
If Dickau makes the regular-season roster, he’ll earn $998,398, although the league would reimburse the Warriors $200,817 and he would only count for $797,581 against the salary cap and luxury-tax threshold.
Point guard-challenged Warriors bring in Dan Dickau
Matt Steinmetz / Golden State Warriors Examiner
Golden State Warriors add point guard Dan Dickau to roster
The Canadian Press
... To give themselves some insurance in the backcourt, Golden State signed Dan Dickau on Wednesday and coach Don Nelson plans to carry three point guards on his roster - at least until Ellis returns to take one of those roster places.
... C.J. Watson is the leading candidate to start in Ellis' place - "It's C.J.'s job now to lose," Nelson said - with Marcus Williams and Dickau also expected to get regular playing time in Nelson's up-tempo, guard-oriented offence.
... The 30-year-old Dickau had playing for Air Avellino in Italy since August, then he and the team mutually agreed to part ways earlier this week. Dickau, who was drafted 28th overall in the first round by the Sacramento Kings in 2002 and has been traded eight times during his NBA career, said he was happy the Warriors had a spot for him.
... "I think it's a good situation," Dickau said. "Obviously coming in late is going to make it tougher for me. I was in a situation overseas that wasn't working out. Fortunately we were able to make this happen. We're here and looking forward to making the most of it."
It's Watson at point guard ... for now
Marcus Thompson II / Contra Costa Times
... "It's C.J.'s job right now to lose," Nelson said after Wednesday's practice. "From what I've seen in this camp so far, he's done the best job. I see all three of the point guards playing this year."
... Dickau brings the current roster to 19 (15 is the maximum when the season begins). Twelve players already have guaranteed contracts, which means three spots remain. Three players — Watson, Dickau and swingman Anthony Morrow — have partially guaranteed contracts.
With three point guards on the roster, one has to wonder what happens if and when Ellis returns this season. Will one of the point guards have to go? Will they keep all four and cut a spot elsewhere?
* Dan Dickau* Point Guard
* Height: 6-0
* Weight: 180
* Born: Sep 16, 1978 - Portland, Oregon
* College: Gonzaga
* Draft: 2002 - 1st round (28th pick) by the Sacramento Kings
Yahoo! Profile
Game Log 2007-08
From ESPN:
Scouting report: Dickau has a rep as a shooter, but he's stronger from midrange than from deep. His career 3-point mark is only 34.3 percent; where he's at his best is using screens on pick-and-roll plays and pulling up from 17 feet. Dickau is also a fairly good distributor, although he lacks the extra gear to get to the basket and at 6-0 has trouble shooting over bigger defenders.
Defensively, Dickau is a major liability because his lateral movement is average at best and his size makes him an easy mark for bigger guards who like to post up.
From Draft Express:
July 31, 2008
Overview: An undersized point guard who saw decent minutes for the first time in a few seasons in 2008. A good shooter and decision maker who has had a hard time finding the right situation to utilize his skills. Lacks good size, strength, and athleticism for the point by NBA standards. Shoots the ball with range on the perimeter, but isn’t quite as lights out from behind the arc as you might hope. Handles the ball with a lot of flair. Runs the point with poise. Posts a solid assist to turnover ratio. Doesn’t have the athleticism to consistently create his own shot. Lack of quickness limits him on the defensive end as well. Put together an impressive college career at Gonzaga after transferring from Washington. Named WCC Player of the Year as a senior. Has bounced around the League throughout his career. Put together an impressive season with the Hornets in 2005.
Offense: An average offensive player who can be a decent 3rd point guard without hurting a team too much. Gets most of his offense off of spot ups in the half court and by pushing the ball on fast breaks, with another large portion coming in pick and roll situations. Very good catch and shoot player. Smooth, confident shooting stroke and a very quick release. Won’t do a lot of damage with a hand in his face. Pretty good shooter off the dribble as well. Struggles to create his own shot, and not a finisher by any stretch of the imagination. Will try and draw contact at the rim since he doesn’t have the athleticism to finish over or around the defense. Would rather drive and dish than finish at the rim. Great foul shooter when he can get to the line. Displays decent point guard skills. Good in transition. Solid ball-handler. Not as effective in half court scenarios in terms of point guard play, since he can’t really get by his defender. Doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. Usually asked to be a spot up guy once play slows down. Isn’t very efficient, but pretty capable on the offensive end.
Defense: A below average defender who doesn’t have the size or lateral quickness to keep up with the League’s growing number of highly athletic point guards. Isn’t strong enough to compensate for that either. Doesn’t have any truly distinguished defensive skills. Will make an effort to stay in front of the ball, but has to commit blocking fouls to really manage his disadvantage. Shows quick hands and good fundamentals. Will track down long rebounds. Limitations on this end may keep him out of the league.
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