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In comparison to the rest of the expected free agency contracts being handed out, $10 million a year for 5 years isn’t too bad. At least it gives the Warriors more money than if they did resign Baron Davis. Sure, Davis was the heart and soul of the team in the bay, but will Maggette help heal the void. I think so, just as long as the PG situation is taken care of for the Warriors. Right now, this is how the Warriors roster is shaping up to be:
Starting Lineup (if they sign everyone they say they’re signing):
PG: Monta Ellis
SG: Corey Maggette
SF: Stephen Jackson
PF: Al Harrington
C: Andris Biedrins
Roster:
Marco Belinelli
Al Harrington
Richard Hendrix
Stephen Jackson
Corey Maggette
Kosta Perovic
Anthony Randolph
C.J. Watson
Free Agents:
Kelenna Azubuike (probably resigned)
Matt Barnes (most likely gone)
Andris Biedrins (probably resigned)
Austin Croshere (most likely gone unless signs cheap to fill roster)
Baron Davis (gone to LA Clippers)
Monta Ellis (probably resigned)
Patrick O’Bryant (most likely gone)
Mickael Pietrus (gone to Orlando Magic)
In my opinion, the Warriors should aggressively pursue one of the PGs on the trading block. Names that come to mind include Kirk Hinrich (Chicago) & Raymond Felton (Charlotte). The trade I would like to see soon: Warriors trade Brandon Wright (will be fan favorite in Charlotte because former Tar Heel) for Raymond Felton (PG who will help Ellis progress into PG role). What do you think?
Hinrich and Josh Smith Now that the Warriors are without Baron, they definitely need to get a PG. I think Hinrich is a good fit as long as he focuses on his passing. I also think they should make a bold move and trade Harrington and Stephen Jackson for Josh Smith. Defense first!
Hinrich & Smith I also think Hinrich would be a solid fit for the team because he is a better passer than Felton, but I think the Bulls would ask for more than the Bobcats would for a PG. Granted, the Bulls are guard-heavy, with 5 guards that are capable of starting the 2 guard spots. The only real trade pieces we have are Jackson & Harrington, who they don’t want because they need to use their money to resign Ben Gordon & Luol Deng) & our 2 young PFs in Brandan Wright & Anthony Randolph. Plus, the Bulls already have someone in that mold in Tyrus Thomas, so I think it will be very difficult for the Warriors to acquire Hinrich and they should instead go after Felton.
As for getting Smith, he’s currently on FA, so the only way to get him is to sign him to a long-term contract of $14+ million a year or do a sign and trade with another team. The only problem is that any team that is lucky enough to sign him in the first place would definitely want to keep him, no matter what price the pay. The two main teams in the running, Philadelphia & Atlanta, will do whatever they can to sign him and keep him, so I likely doubt Smith’s coming to Oakland. I wouldn’t mind seeing a lineup of Ellis, Maggette, Smith, Wright, & Biedrins, but I just can’t see that happening.
Brandan Wright? where does he fit into this equation? I’d rather start him at the 4 and have Big Al come off the bench. Otherwise the second quarter squad is going to be a mess. Starters: Monta, Corey, SJax, Wright, Andris…Subs: Harrington, Belinelli, Randolph..anyone after that probably won’t be in Nellie’s rotation an can be considered irrelevant. that being said, I’m sure the Ws will grab another guard, effectively moving Belinelli out of the rotation and into the depths of the bench. -bB
still need a good big guy + PG this team is still not very good, couple of big pieces away from that.
- Freddie Footballer
BBC & FF I agree with your comment BBC about Wright in the starting lineup. He could easily take the PF spot and let Harrington the be the bench captain like Barnes was (supposed to be) last year. However, I feel that Belinelli will get playing time even if they get another guard for the rotation because of Nelson’s confidence in him. Plus, Nelson tends to give 2nd year players (Belinelli, Wright) a lot more playing time after giving them minimal playing time in their 1st year.
To FF: I agree that the team will struggle to make the playoffs. The team’s wakeup will be a lot different, but I can see it succeed if players continue to blossom together as a team.
need more energy the warriors need a spark plug, a leader, they had that in bd, maggette is not near that level, i agree with freddie in that they are a couple big pieces away, they need a big time defender, shot blocker/ rebounder, someone who plays physical and loves to bang, also the lineup needs to start taking supplements and get on a proper weight lifting regiment, they play too soft on defense
defense is due to Nellieball I don’t thnk the players are soft, it’s just that Nellie does not emphasize defense…at all! They probably would have won 10 more games last season if the team could hold the other team off down the stretch of games.
- Freddie Footballer
re: Our roster is so ugly right now. No star players and a handful of guys that can score in bunches with little to no D.
A little update: The Warriors offered Turiaf a 3 year 17 mill offer sheet. The Lakers have 7 days to outbid them.
Turiaf is exactly the player we need. A banger that can get boards and match up with bigger players. Warriors fans should remember how players like him murdered the Warriors last season (Paul Millsap, Brandon Bass, and Ronny Turiaf).
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LB23
defense the lack of defense starts with the PF position, which in this case is Mr. “Big Al, But I Play Small” Harrington. I think their recent acquisition of Turiaf helps out the Warriors a lot. Don’t underestimate Ronny. He is a good shot blocker and has a decent jumper for a big man. Trade Harrington for a real PG now.
BIG MAN! Mike Pick’s got it right. In my opinion, Maggette adds to the Warriors’ problem of too many swingmen, not enough real big guys. Harrington and Biedrins don’t count. Almost all the western powers have a power forward or center who would eat the Warriors alive in a seven game series.
re: Matt, please tell me which PFs in the West will eat the Warriors alive. Outside of Boozer and Duncan (who’s basically a center), every major Western team has a leaner and more athletic PF. Some teams, like NO, even have their PF as a mid range shooter. As for centers, the biggest abngers would be Shaq and I guess Pau Gasol. This isn’t the 90s. There are very few true bangers inside anymore, that’s why small ball is actually possible and effective in our day and age.
Small ball is predicated and built around a couple things with the central concept being the ability to operate in the fast break. To do this you need more athletic players. What does this mean? This means that you aren’t going to have huge rebounding beasts down low because they won’t be able to keep up (think Shaq in Phoenix). Boards need to come from somewhere, so the SF and SG spots are counted on to supplement for lost rebounds at the 4. Maggette is a great rebounder for his position and with SJax at SG now he’s also a very good rebounder for a 2.
We also got much bigger in the backcourt and at the 3 by signing Maggette. And as much as I think trading Al for a PG might help this team, I highly doubt that happens. Mullin is determined to make Monta a PG instead of a hyper-effective SG, which is a mistake in my opinion.
As for the trade proposed in the blog of Wright for Felton, I just have one question. Why? Why would we trade our supposed PF of the future, who has taken great strides, for a guy who is obviously in the doghouse and hasn’t improved much, if at all, since his first season?
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LB23