Warriors Now and Later
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:10 pm
We all have to look at the big picture and determine where this team is going to be in 3 years. My conclusion is that they'll be rebuilding once again and here is why.
Next season, the Warriors payroll will reach $62M. Assuming the cap increases to $55M from its current $53, the Warriors will still be well above that cap and thats with 11 players. The luxury tax will most likely be around $67M or so from the $65M this season. You have to add in the addition of the 07 first round pick and matching Pietrus' offers which would be for, at minimum, the MLE ($5.4M) or possibly more. They'll also have to consider re-signing Barnes who has proved, so far, that he belongs in this league and has played much better than Dunleavy who makes about $6.8M more. Trying to re-sign Mikael may already push them over the luxury tax threshold and in 2008, they have the task of trying to re-sign Monta Ellis with the same financial issues. We all know Cohan won't go over the luxury tax and as for this team goes, I don't blame him, since the Warriors are 1 of 5 teams in the top 20 (12th) payroll that will probably not make the playoffs which tells you about the talent level this team has.
In order to keep moving forward, this team may have to part ways with some key players and possibly even some future players. Dunleavy is all but immoveable with his overinflated contract versus his skill level. Murphy's time maybe short lived in the Bay Area, but the real task is to find a team that wants a 6'11 perimeter player that can't defend the chair I'm sitting in, is an overrated rebounder, injury prone, unathletic, is as slow as they come, and is owed $42M over the next 4 years. They ONLY way he has any value is to include one of the young players who are the opposite. Someone quick, athletic, has potential, and is underpaid. Yes...Monta Ellis. I know thats hard to swallow for a lot of fans, but its even harder to swallow and think what Murphy will be like in 2 years while making $10M. Lets not forget that Biedrins will be up for an extension in 08 also.
The plan looks like Mullin will be grooming Ellis to take over Baron's position when his time is up in Oakland, but lets face it, noone knows what Monta will be like in 3 years and thats a huge gamble. He may become the next Gilbert Arenas or Cuttino Mobley. Quick, 6'3 combo guards aren't that hard to come by and you don't even need a lottery pick. Lets not forget that Arenas was a 2nd round pick as with Ellis. Come draft day, combo guards just aren't in high demand unless your name is Dwayne Wade. Quincy Douby was the 19th pick in the draft last year and he plays a lot like Ellis. My point is that you can always get a combo guard but this maybe the only chance the Warriors have at getting rid of Dunleavy or Murphy's contract who could cripple the Warriors for the next 4-5 years. We all have to just concede that Foyle is here until his contract expires in 3 more years.
Its not a matter of keeping players that will possibly get them into the playoffs this season, but its building a team that can sustain a playoff run year after year. This is a short term team. They need solid role players and not a bunch of players thinking they're stars like Dunleavy.
An ideal trade would be:
Sending Troy Murphy, Monta Ellis, and Patrick O'Bryant to New Jersey for Jason Collins, Antoine Wright, Jeff McInnis, and Josh Boone.
This gives the Nets a solid starter at the PF that they need in Murphy. A young talent in Monta who can take over Carters spot when he bolts after this season. O'Bryant gives them a solid future back up to Kristic. For the Warriors...they get an expiring contract in McInnis which will come in handy if they wish to match any of Pietrus' offers this summer. Wright could be a solid back up 3 and gives them a shooter. Boone a solid back up PF to Ike and Collins would back up Biedrins while putting Foyle on the bench for good.
Chemistry-wise, this team may fair much better and is more mobile.
PG Davis - McCleod - McInnis
SG Richardson - Pietrus - Wright
SF Barnes - Dunleavy - Wright
PF Diogu - Boone - Foyle
C Biedrins - Collins - Foyle
Next season, the Warriors payroll will reach $62M. Assuming the cap increases to $55M from its current $53, the Warriors will still be well above that cap and thats with 11 players. The luxury tax will most likely be around $67M or so from the $65M this season. You have to add in the addition of the 07 first round pick and matching Pietrus' offers which would be for, at minimum, the MLE ($5.4M) or possibly more. They'll also have to consider re-signing Barnes who has proved, so far, that he belongs in this league and has played much better than Dunleavy who makes about $6.8M more. Trying to re-sign Mikael may already push them over the luxury tax threshold and in 2008, they have the task of trying to re-sign Monta Ellis with the same financial issues. We all know Cohan won't go over the luxury tax and as for this team goes, I don't blame him, since the Warriors are 1 of 5 teams in the top 20 (12th) payroll that will probably not make the playoffs which tells you about the talent level this team has.
In order to keep moving forward, this team may have to part ways with some key players and possibly even some future players. Dunleavy is all but immoveable with his overinflated contract versus his skill level. Murphy's time maybe short lived in the Bay Area, but the real task is to find a team that wants a 6'11 perimeter player that can't defend the chair I'm sitting in, is an overrated rebounder, injury prone, unathletic, is as slow as they come, and is owed $42M over the next 4 years. They ONLY way he has any value is to include one of the young players who are the opposite. Someone quick, athletic, has potential, and is underpaid. Yes...Monta Ellis. I know thats hard to swallow for a lot of fans, but its even harder to swallow and think what Murphy will be like in 2 years while making $10M. Lets not forget that Biedrins will be up for an extension in 08 also.
The plan looks like Mullin will be grooming Ellis to take over Baron's position when his time is up in Oakland, but lets face it, noone knows what Monta will be like in 3 years and thats a huge gamble. He may become the next Gilbert Arenas or Cuttino Mobley. Quick, 6'3 combo guards aren't that hard to come by and you don't even need a lottery pick. Lets not forget that Arenas was a 2nd round pick as with Ellis. Come draft day, combo guards just aren't in high demand unless your name is Dwayne Wade. Quincy Douby was the 19th pick in the draft last year and he plays a lot like Ellis. My point is that you can always get a combo guard but this maybe the only chance the Warriors have at getting rid of Dunleavy or Murphy's contract who could cripple the Warriors for the next 4-5 years. We all have to just concede that Foyle is here until his contract expires in 3 more years.
Its not a matter of keeping players that will possibly get them into the playoffs this season, but its building a team that can sustain a playoff run year after year. This is a short term team. They need solid role players and not a bunch of players thinking they're stars like Dunleavy.
An ideal trade would be:
Sending Troy Murphy, Monta Ellis, and Patrick O'Bryant to New Jersey for Jason Collins, Antoine Wright, Jeff McInnis, and Josh Boone.
This gives the Nets a solid starter at the PF that they need in Murphy. A young talent in Monta who can take over Carters spot when he bolts after this season. O'Bryant gives them a solid future back up to Kristic. For the Warriors...they get an expiring contract in McInnis which will come in handy if they wish to match any of Pietrus' offers this summer. Wright could be a solid back up 3 and gives them a shooter. Boone a solid back up PF to Ike and Collins would back up Biedrins while putting Foyle on the bench for good.
Chemistry-wise, this team may fair much better and is more mobile.
PG Davis - McCleod - McInnis
SG Richardson - Pietrus - Wright
SF Barnes - Dunleavy - Wright
PF Diogu - Boone - Foyle
C Biedrins - Collins - Foyle
