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[h3]29. Golden State Warriors | Future Power Rating: 379[/h3]
[th=""]PLAYERS[/th] [th=""]MANAGEMENT[/th] [th=""]MONEY[/th] [th=""]MARKET[/th] [th=""]DRAFT[/th]
172 (20th) 9 (30th) 98 (13th) 34 (24th) 66 (8th)
While the Warriors slipped three spots in the rankings, they actually gained a few points, for several reasons.
The Stephen Jackson trade will help Golden State in the long term. Getting rid of Jackson and getting his three-year extension off the books should be a big boon eventually for the Warriors, who should have some real cap space now in 2011.
The Warriors also continue to see improvement from their young players. Monta Ellis is having a big year, and Anthony Randolph and Stephen Curry show promise.
The biggest problem plaguing the Warriors continues to be the management and coaching. We ranked them dead last in the league. Until the franchise gets a new owner or makes major changes in the organization, Golden State will be more laughingstock than contender.
(Previous rank: 26)
[h3]30. Charlotte Bobcats | Future Power Rating: 182[/h3]
[th=""]PLAYERS[/th] [th=""]MANAGEMENT[/th] [th=""]MONEY[/th] [th=""]MARKET[/th] [th=""]DRAFT[/th]
50 (30th) 27 (28th) 37 (30th) 19 (28th) 49 (16th)
Despite trading for Stephen Jackson and getting on track, it appears, for the franchise's first playoff berth, the Bobcats still ranked last in our assessment of franchises' futures.
We weren't big fans of the trade beyond this season, as it only added to the load on the Bobcats' already stressed salary-cap situation. And long-term, this season has mostly been a setback -- second-year players .J. Augustin and Alexis Ajinca are struggling, and the biggest boost has come from veteran center Nazr Mohammed.
Charlotte's management score actually improved since absentee team president Michael Jordan deigned to show up at a few games and Brown has worked some of his usual magic, but the obligation to Jackson crushed an already poor score in the money department.
Enjoy your playoff games this year, Charlotte -- they may be your last for a while.
(Previous rank: 30)
[h1]Don Nelson's health improving; he's set to reclaim Golden State Warriors' head coaching duties[/h1]
By Marcus Thompson II
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 12/14/2009 09:27:13 PM PST
Updated: 12/14/2009 10:53:49 PM PST
Improving Nelson is set to reclaim head job
PHILADELPHIA - All but cured of pneumonia, head coach Don Nelson now re-claims the steering wheel of the Warriors today. After missing the last five games while he completed his recovery from the illness, Nelson isn't expected to miss any more time.
"He'll be fine and ready to go when we get home," general manager Larry Riley said Monday. "He's anxious to get with the team. He'll have some ideas about what he wants to do. There should be no more problems from here on out."
Monday's 117-101 loss at Philadelphia was Keith Smart's 10th game operating as head coach (while also fulfilling his assistant coach duties) in Nelson's stead. The Warriors went 3-7. Since Nelson still gets the credit, he is now 17 wins shy of breaking Lenny Wilkens' record for most victories in NBA history.
Smart said he talked to Nelson every day, getting encouragement, insight and analysis from his boss. He heard from Nelson so much, he joked about turning on his cell phone during games so Nelson could text him.
Smart said he did notice Nelson's progress from their frequent conversations.
"He sounds good," Smart said. "He's feeling good. He's beyond all that other stuff now. He goes through the day without getting fatigued now."
Nelson will coach this week's home games against San Antonio and Washington and is expected to make next week's road trip to Memphis and New Orleans.
- Warriors forward Anthony Randolph, after totaling 33 minutes combined in losses at Chicago and Detroit, played 29 minutes Monday. He had 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks. "Even with everything going on with him, he was ready to go," Smart said. "He looks decisive. He knew what he wanted to do. Some calls he perhaps he didn't get that he thought he should've gotten. ... For the most part, he did a good job of trying to compete at a high level, and that's what it's going to take for him." In the 15 games he's played at least 20 minutes, Randolph is averaging 14 points on 41.2 percent shooting with 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.4 turnovers.
- Forward Devean George got his first extended minutes of the season Monday. In 17 minutes, George had nine points on 3-for-4 shooting with a rebound, a steal and an assist. George, who played the final six minutes at Oklahoma City last Monday, hadn't played 10 minutes or more since March 11, 2009, at Portland when he was with Dallas.
- Center Mikki Moore had eight points on 4-of-7 shooting Monday. He made 20 of 28 field goal attempts (71.4 percent) on the five-game road trip, many of them midrange jumpers.
- MARCUS THOMPSON II
I understand that people don't want to lose money, but it's laughable when they try to get face value for the worst team in the league.Originally Posted by LazyJ10
I need 4 tix to Friday's game....I go onto ticket exchange and forgot how much of a joke that is.
That and the functions prohibit you from setting it below cost if my memory serves correct.Originally Posted by daprescription
I understand that people don't want to lose money, but it's laughable when they try to get face value for the worst team in the league.Originally Posted by LazyJ10
I need 4 tix to Friday's game....I go onto ticket exchange and forgot how much of a joke that is.
Ebay and craigslist it is. Even then, most people set their starting price around face valueOriginally Posted by LazyJ10
That and the functions prohibit you from setting it below cost if my memory serves correct.Originally Posted by daprescription
I understand that people don't want to lose money, but it's laughable when they try to get face value for the worst team in the league.Originally Posted by LazyJ10
I need 4 tix to Friday's game....I go onto ticket exchange and forgot how much of a joke that is.
[h2] Nobody On Warriors Untouchable[/h2]
By Marcus Thompson
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 1:15 pm in Uncategorized.
Did some digging after YahooSports! Ruined my flight back home after a 10-day, five-game road trip with news about the Warriors shopping Randolph (C'mon, Woj!). According to a team source, and a few sources from other teams, Randolph is on the block.
Just a few weeks ago - when all the drama about Monta Ellis' agent meeting with the team to potentially discuss a trade - I was told by a trusted team source that Randolph, along with rookie guard Stephen Curry and second-year shooting guard Anthony Morrow, were all untouchable. Now, I'm told by a Warriors insider that no one is untouchable. Everyone is on the market.
Even Randolph, the potential-laden second-year man the Warriors touted as the centerpiece of their young core.
Even Curry, the prized No. 7 pick who the Warriors coveted so much they reportedly passed on Amare Stoudemire
Even Ellis, who perhaps could become the Warriors first All-Star since 1997.
I will say this with certainty - Randolph would welcome a trade. He would be none short of happy. I've heard that from several people close to him.
Why the change in plan?
Several factors. The primary one, I think, is that the team is underperforming, especially Randolph. Certainly, his attitude and lack of attention to detail has worn thin. It was expected that with Nellie out of the picture for five games, Smart - who has been working with Randolph one-on-one since he came into the league - would play Randolph. The fact that Smart didn't, instead started Vladimir Radmanovic over Randolph and even played Chris Hunter ahead of Randolph on occasion, suggests Randolph is running out of allies in the organization.
From Randolph's perspective, how could he flourish when he is so handcuffed? Certainly, from the outside looking in, he is held to a different standard than the other players. His mistakes get him yanked, and others' don't. His poor shots reduce his minutes, while others get to chuck away unimpeded. When he doesn't rebound, it's problem. But the Warriors are the worst-rebounding team in the league, so clearly he isn't the only one not rebounding.
Randolph lately had been trying to tone down his game, and the results show in his lack of turnovers, which assuredly he thought would get him more time (when I asked him about it, he just gave me a look and dished out the company line).
Perhaps GM Larry Riley sees the impasse and concluded that it would be best for everyone to if they found him a new home, especially if he can help them get the difference maker they covet. And they still have Brandan Wright in tow, who is ahead of Randolph in the eyes of some on the Warriors' staff.
One Eastern Conference executive told me Randolph isn't the hot commodity he once was. He's closer to a big payday but not closer to maxing out the potential he's known for having. His attitude and effort cause concerns, too.
There was no question Curry was untouchable. Nelson and Riley said it publicly. But Curry's struggles in the first month-plus and the rise of Ellis no doubt made Riley realize he can indeed live without Curry. I'm told they still want Curry and really like him as a player and person. But if he can help them get somebody they want, they are now willing to do it.
I still think they don't want to trade Morrow. He doesn't appear to have the upside Randolph has, but they love his work ethic, his attitude and his special gift.
There is also this: putting everybody on the table could mean Riley has been striking out. Three of his key pawns are hurt (Biedrins, Wright, Azubuike), two out for the year. If he is going to lure an Amare Stoudemire, a David West, a Chris Bosh, a Caron Butler or whoever, he probably learned it's going to take more.
But why Ellis in the mix?
His trade value will likely never be higher. You almost have to see what he gets you, right?
But an Ellis trade is risky. His current play is only showing you need multiple stars. Why consider giving up the one sure one you have? Seems they did that already. (Imagine Baron and Monta together now)
To be sure, though, when you're 7-17, the smart thing to do is to investigate every possible move.
don't forget maggetteOriginally Posted by MJDaLegend
yes, trade all the talents. We have Devean and Radman.
[h2]Warriors' new slogan: Buy tickets or else Randolph gets it![/h2]
Posted by Tim Kawakami on December 15th, 2009 at 3:10 pm | Categorized as NBA, Warriors
* PANIC TIME IN WARRIORSLAND! Yippee. Always the most entertaining time of year, if not the most conductive to Warriors' short-term or future success…
Just checked in with an NBA source who 100% confirmed everything that Marcus Thompson II and Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski have been reporting:
The Warriors have put Anthony Randolph (and everybody else) on the trade market to see what they can get.
You know the Warriors: They'll ALWAYS make the best deals possible! (Belinelli for George; Harrington for Crawford; Crawford for Claxton and Law. Wonderful.)
In fact, the source emphasized that Randolph is absolutely being shopped, but also pointed out that Randolph is edging closer to extension time and that his continued erratic play (whoever's fault) has many league execs concerned.
So, in typical Warriors' fashion, they've managed to both alienate and reduce their No. 1 prospect's value more swiftly than any other franchise could possibly achieve.
Congratulations, Warriors, you've done it again! Just brilliant. Geez, you wonder how they could possibly miss the playoffs 15 out of 16 Cohan seasons…
This team has no plan or goal, no set philosophy or principles, other than to make Cohan as much money as possible by tricking Warriors fans into buying as many tickets as possible, and if the team wins games along the way, it's purely by accident.
And the team rarely wins that many games, as Rowell and Cohan chuckle to themselves. Makes them look even smarter!
All this team does is react: Criticism over the summer? Shamelessly pump up Randolph, Curry and Morrow as future All-Stars!
Lose games? Blame the media! Drop in ticket sales? PANIC! Trade everybody! Blame everybody! Order it up: YOU MUST BUY TIX OR ELSE WE TRADE THE KID.
If Randolph (and the Warriors' future) must be sacrificed to sell tickets, then so be it. Better solution than firing Rowell or something crazy like that.
FYI: Randolph is 20, probably desperately wants to be traded (and has wanted it for a year now), and could turn into a star within a year or two, presuming he is far, far away from the Warriors when it happens.
* Why would the Warriors consider trading Randolph-loudly proclaimed to be a future superstar by Warriors PR mavens just a few months ago-right now?
Well, the 7-17 record is one thing. Even Bobby R. and his Cast of Shills can't be pleased with that, especially as it relates to future ticket-purchasing.
The Warriors, as recently reported, are down 22.3% in ticket-revenues from last year and already have drawn three smaller crowds than the smallest crowd of last year.
It could get dramatically worse as we head into January-February. It could flat-line. Chris Cohan's bank account will not be suffuse with 2010 money, it is safe to say.
Warriors fans are incredibly forgiving, but even they might not shower love and kindness on a team that, according to my buddy Hollinger, has a .5% chance of making the playoffs.
That's after only 24 games. That's less than 30% of the season. (They're on pace for 24 wins, by the way.)
And that .5% actually probably a little high. As long as the Warriors are owned by Cohan and run by Rowell, this is a .1% team.
* The Warriors front office needs to fill seats. It's desperation time for them. Cohan is losing money-yes, you heard it right, he is LOSING money. Which he does not like.
So if Rowell-Riley-Nelson can put together a deal that trades away their headache in Randolph and excites the populace just a little by adding a big name, they'll jump at it.
The trouble is figuring out that big name, since every big name that's available comes with baggage and question marks.
* What can the Warriors get for any package involving Randolph?
You know the first call they made was to Toronto, since Don Nelson would love to have Chris Bosh. But I just don't see the Raptors mailing it in on Bosh quite yet even though he's a free agent this summer.
Plus, it'd take a lot more than Randolph to pry loose Bosh at this point-maybe Stephen Curry as an add-on, maybe Anthony Morrow-and how could Larry Riley plausibly support that deal knowing Bosh would be EXTREMELY unlikely to re-sign with the Warriors this summer.
One league source pointed me to Memphis and Rudy Gay as a possible match for Randolph (two headaches, swapped for each other?), but again, it's the same problem: Gay is a restricted FA this summer.
Why in the world would he want to re-up with a franchise as disaster-prone as the Warriors?
I've also heard Miami mentioned as a possible trade partner with the Warriors, but much of that involves the Heat's potential interest in Andris Biedrins, who is likely a part of any big Warriors' proposal.
Biedrins isn't very interested in sticking around and they'd need his $9M salary to make the money work if they're acquiring another big salary.
The Warriors of course could re-visit the tentative deal last summer with Phoenix, when the Warriors pulled out of a deal for Amare Stoudemire when Curry fell into their laps in the draft.
Could the Warriors put Curry back into the deal (with Biedrins and a few others) and get Amare? But Stoudemire also can be an unrestricted FA this summer and DOES NOT WANT TO PLAY FOR THE WARRIORS.
And Phoenix might ask for Curry and Randolph in such a deal. For a rental. Yikes.
* Why does Randolph want out? Lots of reasons, mostly centered on the franchise silliness and his own stubbornness.
Short-hand: If you're Randolph and get screamed at and yanked out of games for fitful play, how does it feel to see Corey Maggette float around and jack up clangers from 3-point land without any consequence?
* It's a bit ironic that the guy the Warriors might decide they have to keep now is Monta Ellis, who they shopped a few weeks ago-AND LOUDLY DENIED SO IT MUST BE TRUE!
He does sell tickets. He might not quite fit into anything long-term with the Warriors, and he might want out (he does, sorry Ralph), but Ellis is the most exciting sales point for a team that's doomed to 25 to 30 wins into perpetuity.
And Rowell and Cohan don't believe in building an elite team. They believe in building a team that makes them money.
Ellis still has a chance to make them money, even if Ellis, too, would prefer to get the hell out of here. Keeper! (Until they ruin his value, too.)
* Must be oodles of pride emanating from Warriors headquarters: SI.com just named them the worst NBA organization of the decade.
So deserving!
* Sounds like the main potential buyer remains Larry Ellison, if Cohan finally admits that he has to sell.
But Cohan is stubborn. He'll try to hold out for $400M (ridiculously high asking price for a franchise Forbes just valued at $315M). Ellison won't pay any stupid Cohan Premium.
And so the standoff continues.
* Hey, wait, the good times have arrived: Don Nelson's back for tomorrow's home game against San Antonio.
Keith Smart went 3-7 in two separate five-game fill-ins (8 were road games) in Nelson's grand absence.
* I always mean to do a separate item on this, but it'll have to be the tag to this one:
The Warriors shills can't shut up about this "injury-depleted team," as if it's the only excuse necessary to prove the internal true greatness of this 7-17 team.
But as Steinmetz pointed out weeks ago: You can't really cry about your injuries when you knowingly acquired three injured players (Devean George, Speedy Claxton and Raja Bell) SOLELY because they have expiring contracts.
The Warriors gave up Marco Belinelli, Jamal Crawford and Stephen Jackson for those players. All healthy.
And I'm lectured again and again about how those hurt expirings will be packaged together for some great trade and I'll look silly.
I think Cohan and Rowell mainly plan to let the expiring contracts… expire… and lower their payroll for 2010-'11. Doesn't mean they won't trade the expirings if the right deal comes along, but Cohan/Rowell essentially want the deals to come off the cap.
They want to play their fans for suckers, basically. The've played them for suckers for years now.
Yeah, keep buying tickets. This is a great time out.
Originally Posted by MJDaLegend
yes, trade all the talents. We have Devean and Radman.
I've got 2 for sale in the lower bowl if you're interestedOriginally Posted by LazyJ10
I need 4 tix to Friday's game....I go onto ticket exchange and forgot how much of a joke that is.
Originally Posted by What up
Acid, I now realize why you never fail to mention school/academics in your posts.
I took my last final today and I somewhat miss everything about school. More specifically, having that structure in knowing there's still a semester/year left.
Thanks, but I need 4 since wifey and friends are going.Originally Posted by ikari XD
I've got 2 for sale in the lower bowl if you're interestedOriginally Posted by LazyJ10
I need 4 tix to Friday's game....I go onto ticket exchange and forgot how much of a joke that is.