THE OFFICIAL GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 2009 OFFSEASON THREAD
- Thread starter M.o.B
- Start date
Chad Ford: Are the Warriors in danger of losing Monta Ellis? That was the gist of a story earlier in the week that claimed that the Warriors, in an effort to placate a disgruntled Ellis, flew to Memphis to meet with him and may have promised him that they wouldn't draft a playmaking point guard with the No. 7 pick.
Really? The Warriors are letting Ellis run the draft now?
I was pretty skeptical. However, I began hearing the same rumblings coming from Ellis' camp and in the past, the Warriors have done some crazy things.
So, I sought out Warriors GM Larry Riley to get a better feel for why they flew to Memphis to meet with Ellis and what was said. We spoke by phone on Thursday ... just as Ellis addressed the situation on KNBR talk radio in the Bay Area.
Riley said that he and head coach Don Nelson have been meeting with every player on the team, debriefing what went down last season, and trying to get the entire team on the same page. He said they weren't meeting with Ellis because he was disgruntled or demanding a trade. It was in the course of interviews with everyone on the team.
Ellis seemed to confirm that, laughing off a suggestion that he was on the verge of demanding out of Golden State. "I'm a Golden State Warrior," Ellis said on KNBR. "I'm going to be a Warrior. Hopefully I'll retire a Warrior. I'm not thinking of leaving. It hasn't crossed my mind. I'm here to set the record straight. It never came from me. "
Did the Warriors make him a promise that they weren't going to draft a playmaking point guard? Riley was adamant that the topic never even came up.
"We did not make him a promise on who we're going to draft," Riley said. "There was none of that. There was no talk about not drafting particular positions or particular players. Our talk was totally about our team and our staff and getting things moving in the right direction. We were trying to get everyone on the same page."
Ellis' take on the meeting was similar. The meeting, according to Ellis, was about "me and Coach getting on the same page. Not going through what we went through last year. He's going to back me up and I'm going to back him up." Ellis said that the meeting was meant more to clear the air and refocus everyone for next season. "Everyone has to be on the same page and that meeting put us on the same page."
Riley was upbeat about Ellis and the role he'll play next season. He said he and Nelson have asked Ellis and Stephen Jackson to take on a leadership role with the team. Does a "leadership role" mean playing point guard?
Perhaps. "We told Monta that if we use you at the point, it's going to be your responsibility to get guys more involved," Riley said. "We also want you to help your teammates get off. He's ready to accept that role. Whether he's on the floor at 1 or 2, the important thing is to have him on the floor and let him do what he does the best."
So would the Warriors balk at drafting a point guard at No. 7? "If the right guy was there at the point, we'd draft him," Riley said. But when I asked Riley what his preference would be, he said, "I'd like to have a little beef. We can always use more size and toughness. We don't really have a gaping hole at any position, so I think we'll draft the best player available. If it's a point guard, then it will be a point guard. If it's a 4, then that's who we'll take."
Would Ellis balk if they drafted a point guard? He didn't act like it. "I'm going to go with it," he said. "I'll do anything to help the team win. I don't know anyone in this draft to be honest with you."
So what to make out of all of this? Obviously there has been some miscommunication. Different people can walk away from the same conversation with different takes. But it sounds as though, whatever problems there were in the past, the Warriors and Ellis have worked them out.
And as far as the Warriors' draft goes ... I still think there's a good chance they draft a point guard. If Jordan Hill's there, he'd be a nice pick. But so would Stephen Curry or Brandon Jennings.
Really? The Warriors are letting Ellis run the draft now?
I was pretty skeptical. However, I began hearing the same rumblings coming from Ellis' camp and in the past, the Warriors have done some crazy things.
So, I sought out Warriors GM Larry Riley to get a better feel for why they flew to Memphis to meet with Ellis and what was said. We spoke by phone on Thursday ... just as Ellis addressed the situation on KNBR talk radio in the Bay Area.
Riley said that he and head coach Don Nelson have been meeting with every player on the team, debriefing what went down last season, and trying to get the entire team on the same page. He said they weren't meeting with Ellis because he was disgruntled or demanding a trade. It was in the course of interviews with everyone on the team.
Ellis seemed to confirm that, laughing off a suggestion that he was on the verge of demanding out of Golden State. "I'm a Golden State Warrior," Ellis said on KNBR. "I'm going to be a Warrior. Hopefully I'll retire a Warrior. I'm not thinking of leaving. It hasn't crossed my mind. I'm here to set the record straight. It never came from me. "
Did the Warriors make him a promise that they weren't going to draft a playmaking point guard? Riley was adamant that the topic never even came up.
"We did not make him a promise on who we're going to draft," Riley said. "There was none of that. There was no talk about not drafting particular positions or particular players. Our talk was totally about our team and our staff and getting things moving in the right direction. We were trying to get everyone on the same page."
Ellis' take on the meeting was similar. The meeting, according to Ellis, was about "me and Coach getting on the same page. Not going through what we went through last year. He's going to back me up and I'm going to back him up." Ellis said that the meeting was meant more to clear the air and refocus everyone for next season. "Everyone has to be on the same page and that meeting put us on the same page."
Riley was upbeat about Ellis and the role he'll play next season. He said he and Nelson have asked Ellis and Stephen Jackson to take on a leadership role with the team. Does a "leadership role" mean playing point guard?
Perhaps. "We told Monta that if we use you at the point, it's going to be your responsibility to get guys more involved," Riley said. "We also want you to help your teammates get off. He's ready to accept that role. Whether he's on the floor at 1 or 2, the important thing is to have him on the floor and let him do what he does the best."
So would the Warriors balk at drafting a point guard at No. 7? "If the right guy was there at the point, we'd draft him," Riley said. But when I asked Riley what his preference would be, he said, "I'd like to have a little beef. We can always use more size and toughness. We don't really have a gaping hole at any position, so I think we'll draft the best player available. If it's a point guard, then it will be a point guard. If it's a 4, then that's who we'll take."
Would Ellis balk if they drafted a point guard? He didn't act like it. "I'm going to go with it," he said. "I'll do anything to help the team win. I don't know anyone in this draft to be honest with you."
So what to make out of all of this? Obviously there has been some miscommunication. Different people can walk away from the same conversation with different takes. But it sounds as though, whatever problems there were in the past, the Warriors and Ellis have worked them out.
And as far as the Warriors' draft goes ... I still think there's a good chance they draft a point guard. If Jordan Hill's there, he'd be a nice pick. But so would Stephen Curry or Brandon Jennings.
-Golden State appears to be exploring possibilities to improve on the defensive end in hopes of making a strong run to the playoffs next season. One trade that has reportedly been offered by the Charlotte Bobcats that may help on that front would involve packaging Kelenna Azubuike and Marco Belinelli in exchange for Raja Bell. The Warriors are pondering the offer, but would have to get Azubuike’s consent to make the trade unless they decided to wait until July 24th.
In other Warriors news, it appears that despite not having worked him out, Stephen Curry is the team’s main target should he be available with the 7th pick. Other options include Jordan Hill, Tyreke Evans and James Johnson.
In other Warriors news, it appears that despite not having worked him out, Stephen Curry is the team’s main target should he be available with the 7th pick. Other options include Jordan Hill, Tyreke Evans and James Johnson.
Great News for Dubs hes gonna be beastin all upcoming season
Unrelated but undeniably intriguing Warriors tidbit: Slender rookie Anthony Randolph, also known as the closest thing to an untouchable on the Warriors' payroll, has gained 20 pounds and grown an inch to nearly 7 feet since the end of this past season.
Unrelated but undeniably intriguing Warriors tidbit: Slender rookie Anthony Randolph, also known as the closest thing to an untouchable on the Warriors' payroll, has gained 20 pounds and grown an inch to nearly 7 feet since the end of this past season.
The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are closing in on a trade that would find a new home for Jamal Crawford.
NBA front-office sources say that the Warriors and Hawks will soon complete a deal sending Crawford to Atlanta for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.
Warriors coach Don Nelson made no secret of the fact that Crawford wasn't in his future plans. By shedding Crawford's longer contract and by virtue of insurance payments that will cover some of the costs of Claxton, Golden State would secure a decent measure of payroll relief with the trade.
Less clear is what impact the move will have on Atlanta's forthcoming negotiations with free agent-to-be Mike Bibby. Although Crawford is not a pure point guard, he's a prolific scorer whose arrival could affect the sort of contract offer Bibby expected to command from the Hawks.
Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.
NBA front-office sources say that the Warriors and Hawks will soon complete a deal sending Crawford to Atlanta for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.
Warriors coach Don Nelson made no secret of the fact that Crawford wasn't in his future plans. By shedding Crawford's longer contract and by virtue of insurance payments that will cover some of the costs of Claxton, Golden State would secure a decent measure of payroll relief with the trade.
Less clear is what impact the move will have on Atlanta's forthcoming negotiations with free agent-to-be Mike Bibby. Although Crawford is not a pure point guard, he's a prolific scorer whose arrival could affect the sort of contract offer Bibby expected to command from the Hawks.
Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.
