Longterm plan for turning the Warriors into contenders

[St.Nick]

I hear a lot of varying ideas as to what direction the team needs to take so that we can have the best possible team in the next few years.

I think everyone agrees that the guys to take us to the next level are Monta, Brandan, and Andris. But many questions loom.

Do we blow it up now? Do we go for the gradual build with our current players?

Who has to go? Who should stay?

When should Nellie leave? Who should replace him?

Lots of people are saying "DUMP this guy" or "tank for the lotto" or "fire Nellie" but without a realistic plan behind these moves, these are just hollow rantings.

I would love to hear peoples long term plan for building the Warriors into a championship team. To me, this is the best way to give credibility to your opinions rather than being unconstructive in criticism.




I will get it started...

2008 offseason

-Sign Monta and Andris to 6 year deals
-Keep Baron (assuming he doesnt opt out)
-Re-sign Kelenna
-Draft a SF at pick 14 that is a good all around player (Joe Alexander) and a PF/C in the second round that is a big body (Richard Hendrix).

Baron/Monta/Watson or minimum salary player
Monta/Marco
SJax/Joe Alexander
Brandan/Harrington/Hendrix
Andris/Kosta/Croshere

Coach: Don Nelson

Philosophy: Put more of a focus on Monta, Brandan, Andris, and Marco. Make Monta the primary scorer and give him 15-20 mpg as the PG (with Baron playing off guard for a few minutes of that time)...Start Brandan, run plays for Andris, get Marco out on the floor next to our starters as much as possible.

At the same time, do not concede the season. This team can win 45-50 games and still adequately develop the young guys. As has been said, if Brandan and Marco are able to contribue something next year and we stay healthy, there is no reason to think we wont be better next season.

We should still listen to offers for SJax, Baron, and definitely Al to see if the right one comes along. Even so, I see Stephen and Baron sticking around until at least the next offseason.

Likely record: 45-37; 9th seed; 14th and 44th pick again


2009 Offseason

Baron leaves...although we may be able to get something in a sign and trade, its somewhat unrealistic what that will be, so I will assume that he simply goes and it gives us cap space.

Harrington is traded...I think it is fair to assume that Harrington, in his expiring contract year, can be dealt to a contending team for a pick in the 20s and an EC of a player that probably doesnt add a whole lot to the success of the team.

Stephen can be kept on board as I think that at this time he will be a good team leader and accepting of his role as the lone older vet on an up and coming team.

The team will have about 15M in cap room at this point to sign some FAs on the market. I think a rational signing would be Jason Kidd to share PG duties with Monta. He should come cheap in a hometown discount contract, likely around 5M a year for two years...I think we can add a good role player like Leon Powe for cheap, too. Save the rest of the money for Brandans extension in 2010.

In the draft add an athletic SG/SF, a backup PG, and a backup Center.

Monta/Kidd/Draftee in 2nd round
Marco/Kelenna/Draftee
Jackson/Joe Alexander
Brandan/Powe/Hendrix
Andris/Kosta/Draftee

Coach: TBD (not Nellie)

This team would need a coach that can get the youngsters playing their proper roles, which means a good teacher and a guy with patience. Who that is, I have no idea. But I think Nellie will be spent at this point and will take a FO consultant role.

I think that Monta will establish himself as a star, Brandan will be a very promising and productive PF, and Andris will be our Marcus Camby. The SG/SF positions will be in question, as will our bench, but we will be oozing with emerging young talent as well as some vets that can lead us to success.

Team Record: 42-40; picking 12th and 42nd.


By 2010 we would have our young guys developed and showing what they've got, a very healthy cap position to sign the missing pieces, and a winning and positive atmosphere. With Monta a lock to be our stud and with Brandan potentially being our post guy that puts up near 18/10, plus our share of good young role players, we should be on our way to a very productive decade of basketball.


In other words, play it safe, build year by year, be patient with developing the good stuff that we have got now.

Id like to hear your opinion and also your plan (it can be less wordy:) ).

[crzy]

Your plan is reasonable, cautious, and probably what will happen.

But no where do you actually turn the Warriors into contenders, like it says in the title.

Instead of simply retaining Baron Davis for one more meaningless season, and not getting anything out of him leaving, we should trade him to the Clippers for that high draft pick, and draft Eric Gordon. Either re-sign Baron to a 3-4 year, $13M per season contract. Or trade him now, when his value is at his greatest. I dislike losing him for absolutely nothing, however.

[St.Nick]

I think that the way for us to become a contender is to follow the model of the Pistons. Build around your good young core, do not make bad/expensive signings, and slowly add pieces that enhance your team. With a few more draft picks in the mid first round as well as the cap space to perhaps pull a trade or two we should be able to build around Monta, Brandan, and Andris into a very good team.

I would love to add a lotto pick in exchange for Baron but its not likely to happen. The Clippers can wait until next year and sign Baron outright while keeping their draft pick. Not to mention,

[Sid the Squid]

I stopped at -Re-sign Kelenna

Gimmikball lives on!!

Sissy ball being played in the Bay Area..Who woulda thunk

[St.Nick]

I stopped at -Re-sign Kelenna

Gimmikball lives on!!

Sissy ball being played in the Bay Area..Who woulda thunk

How is having a cheap, 6'6 SG/SF who can score points in bunches off the bench a bad thing?

[Sid the Squid]

-= original quote snipped =-



How is having a cheap, 6'6 SG/SF who can score points in bunches off the bench a bad thing?

No but having a 6'5 PF starting or coming off the bench is...Horror Story never plays gaurd for Nellie..Horror doesnt even have any gaurd skillzzz..I don't know why you have him slotted there.

[St.Nick]

Oh yeah? Not a guard?

What was his 3pt shooting percentage last year? How many PFs can guard Kobe 1-on-1?

Silly comment, LF. Really silly.

[Warriorfan]

First and foremost is the Cohan paying the luxury tax or finding an owner who is willing to go into it to provide a consistant winner.

Unless a team gives up players and picks like I hope the Clippers do for Baron I would keep the starting unit intact. Be competitive because playoff pushes help the younger players become winners.

So extending Baron one more year until you really know these questions.
How much does Nellyball cover up the weakness in Biedrens and Ellis.
Can Wright, Kosta, Bellenelli play.

The Harrington, Jackson values goes up in the last year and could net a player like a Gasol.

[Mylie10]

I'll keep it simple

Re-sign Tay and Beans
Target Navarro
Vet minimum guy for the front court (not sure who yet)
Sign Kellena for cheap, but do not match anything significant.

Must pick up another draft pick either late first or early 2nd.
Wish list; Love-CDR-Dorsey

Let Baron expire.

After Baron expires(2009), I look to Odom, Brand, Rasheed, or Marion as my big signing.

So for 2009 i'm looking at:

Montay/ Navarro
Jackson/CDR/ Belli
Wright/ Jackson/ CDR
Rasheed- Odom/ Wright/ Love
Beans/ Love/ Dorsey/ Kosta? (might have traded him for the late first)

My team is long and potent. The only thing i'm gonna need in the 2009 draft is a PG. Maybe I can grab a pg in the Al Harrington deal if I can swing onw.

[Sid the Squid]

Oh yeah? Not a guard?

What was his 3pt shooting percentage last year? How many PFs can guard Kobe 1-on-1?

Silly comment, LF. Really silly.

I knew that Kobe one on one coment would show up ..Horror Story stopped Kobe 3 plays in a row down in LA because Kobe got stubborn kept trying the same power move...That's turned into Azubuike being a *lockdown defender*

at the idea that Azu can gaurd Kobe 1on1...

It's so obvious that you dont watch the games...

[DLeagueAllStars]

Find a guard in the mold of Joe Johnson... or else having Ellis at PG full time, we will be sunk...

also all this playing Monta at PG with Baron at SG does nothing..cuz Ellis can still relax knowing that better ballhandler and floor leader is on the floor somewehere..

if we really want to see if Monta can carry the PG, you have him play it solely when Baron is resting next season.. if the offense stalls whether its half court or full court offense, then we know that Ellis isnt our PG of the future... but if he can excel in one of those two styles, then we could have something...

either way, we need a BIG PG or SG, to play alongside Ellis in the future... and he needs to learn how to defend better

[Left*My*Heart]

The Warriors need to find that star in the lottery. They either need to trade up if they remain at 14 or trade out.

Re-sign Monta

My bad feeling this off season...Biedrins S&T trade along with either or both Baron and Al. I hope he is re-signed, but I'm having my doubts. Wright making Biedrins expendable sounds like something Mullin is thinking...

Trade Baron this off season. I would look at expirings, picks and a quality rotation player. As Rowell as pointed out, use Baron to add team depth.

Trade Al this off season. He is the odd man out and makes too much.

Jack is worth more to the team than he is as a trade piece...I think. He needs to be watched closely, especially if Nellie and Baron are both gone.

I would keep Wright and I wouldn't write Marco off just yet.

Buike, Pietrus and Barnes...let them walk. If there is a reasonable S&T for Pietrus, consider it, but I say he leaves. I would consider Buike on the cheap.

Since the end of next season is the end of Nellie and Mullin, the Warriors need to have a quality NBA guy in the Mullin role. This is where Cohan should spend his money. This is the guy who needs to shape the Warriors future with the fiscal guidance of Rowell. He will need to make a quality coaching hire, as well as shape the roster.

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

I think that the way for us to become a contender is to follow the model of the Pistons. Build around your good young core, do not make bad/expensive signings, and slowly add pieces that enhance your team. With a few more draft picks in the mid first round as well as the cap space to perhaps pull a trade or two we should be able to build around Monta, Brandan, and Andris into a very good team.

The Pistons made clever trades for Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace. The Mcdyss signing was a good signing.

Most GMs are not as talented or lucky as the Pistons GM.

[Sleepy51]

Hire someone who worked for Joe Dumars to replace Mullin

[GSW2K4]

Your plan is reasonable, cautious, and probably what will happen.

But no where do you actually turn the Warriors into contenders, like it says in the title.

Instead of simply retaining Baron Davis for one more meaningless season, and not getting anything out of him leaving, we should trade him to the Clippers for that high draft pick, and draft Eric Gordon. Either re-sign Baron to a 3-4 year, $13M per season contract. Or trade him now, when his value is at his greatest. I dislike losing him for absolutely nothing, however.

What are reasons we shouldn't we try to make the Clippers deal (I prefer Maggette/Livingston/#6) if that deal was available?

So I would make that Clippers trade, draft BPA -- it seems like we could grab a big and an athletic swing player with those two picks, plus a banger in the 2nd round (though I also think either Weaver will pan out next to Monta). I might be in the minority, but I would make the reach for Love at #6, because I think he'll be better than some expect, especially with our team. Batum, CDR, Rush at #14, Weaver 2nd round.

We could re-sign Kelenna...or let him roll if he wants more.... but he might help until the other youngsters develop.

I'm assuming (hoping) Marco will improve and be a factor as well...

So then you have:

Monta/Livingston (work him back into playing shape)
Jackson/Marco/Weaver
Maggette/Azu/Rush
Wright/Love/Harrington
Andris/Kosta/Croshere

Now I think there's a solid future core of Monta, Wright, Love and Biedrins, hoping that Marco or Weaver develop at 2, or that Livingston works at the 1. Meanwhile, we easily stay competitive next year and still have Harrington as a potential trading chip to fill in other holes.

Post-Nellie, we need a coach who can design an offense that is predicated on using quickness in the halfcourt with guards using off ball screens and are quicker bigs - Andris and Wright - curling to the basket. To help facilitate that, we'd have a number of solid passers to surround Monta and with - Livingston, Love, Jackson (when not chucking), perhaps eventually Weaver. We would rebound well at every position and have some solid defenders throughout the roster that would bolster team D -- Jackson, Weaver, Wright, Biedrins.

With Maggette and Livingston coming off the cap in 2009, we'd have some cap room to use on a free agent, though it's unlikely we land any one of the big dogs. But we would have to see how the team works with Mags and Livingston. Going for a guy like Odom would be perfect next to Love and Wright, but we would need a scorer, so clearly Wallace would be an attractive option, though aging. In 2010, I revisit the guard/sf situation with the frontcourt established and target whatever's out there on the free agent market.

But what I'm going for is building a deep team that can grow together, play solid team D, and have an offense built around the quickness of Monta, Wright, and Biedrins with shooters and passers surrounding them.

It's hard to project even into next season at this point... but that's how I'm thinking...

[DLeagueAllStars]

Livingston is done.. will never be what he could have and Maggette is opting out

[FNQ]

-= original quote snipped =-



The Pistons made clever trades for Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace. The Mcdyss signing was a good signing.

Most GMs are not as talented or lucky as the Pistons GM.

Exactly... the Pistons were nearly flawlessly built as a team... One bad signing could have upset that - and thats why Ben Wallace is on the Cavs now.

I'll never understand how trading Baron and finding out where we are is so unrealistic but we want a perfect and lucky GM... and thats the model we want to follow? Why not follow the last team that had Baron?


Trade Baron to ATL for Bibby, Marvin
Hire Paul Silas as HC
Draft - #14 Kevin Love (stock dropping!), #46 - Richard Hendrix
Sign - Keyon Dooling, 3 years, 9m
Let Barnes/Pietrus/Buke walk


Bibby (26) / Monta (22)
Monta (12) / Jackson (18) / Dooling (18)
Marvin (30) / Jackson (8) / Wright (10)
Wright (15) / Harrington (20) / Biedrins (8) / Hendrix (5)
Biedrins (26) / Love (22) / Kosta (pompoms)

At which point you can't really go forward... you have to find out if this team meshes well together and figure out its weaknesses... for the smallball lovers, there will be times when you could run Bibby-Tay-Marvin-Harrington-Beans... Marvin and Wright could switch on defense if necessary as well... same with Love/Wright as far as being in the middle of a zone...

[GS Warriors 1]

I like the Silas idea and getting a potentially long term SF solution is good. I could see this team re-signing Barnes for cheap, so I guess that puts him in the pompoms category on your depth chart? I also think you should give Belinelli a chance instead of giving Dooling a 3 year contract.

The trade also makes us a bit deeper. Jackson as a 6th and either Harrington or Wright as the 7th man is a lot better than Azubuike. The question there might be if Jackson accepts that role? Overall, its a solid plan that gives the Warriors 4 pieces to potentially build around.

[FNQ]

Reason being is that it sends a clear message... the chucking stops, you become a team player...

I suppose we could try Beli, but I'd prefer someone who is playing better... Dooling looks a lot better than in years past to me.

[Dark Star]

ellis-USE
rush-THE
jax-MONEY
wright-VERY
beans-WISELY

id love to see them go after players like...in no particular order...
marion, gasol, odom, mike miller, maggette, ray allen, andre miller, artest def, old nash, old kidd, battier, dirk migguuirk, shawn kemp, iggy, dalambert, dunleavy(ha), josh smith, childress, -----just solid players that can play some bball---its cool to play fast and take open shots but the bigmen(reb,D) are def the first priority

rush is badass...dont know what the rest of the world thinks but but he just looks and plays like an nba player---kansas has always produced nba talent...i def think he and ellis could play well together

baron, in my opinion, should think anout the ol big picture and sign a long deal worth a reasonable amount of money that gives warm fuzzy feelings to all parties involved---he could be a huge asset over the next 6 years if for a reasonable price----just way overpay him him some damn endorsment money in oaktown

ellis CAN learn the point in the right situation and hopefully that bcomes a priority at some point while hes still a W

jax-wright-beans---im already sold--would love to see them raise a few banners

been hoping to see an artest deal for a while now---forget about the temper tantrums--dude can play some d and scare the hell out of people

...just mho...blast away