Golden State Warriors vs. L.A. Clippers: Drama Between the Teams Hits New Level

From the second Kevin Garnett held the NBA Championship trophy in his hands at center court in Boston, the Clippers have been a pain in the Warriors side. Today, the LA Clippers offered Kelenna Azubuike a three-year deal, giving the Warriors seven days to match it.

If NBA fans are like me, they are tired of the cat and mouse games being played by these two Western Conference teams. Someone needs to tell them that there are more than two teams in the NBA with free agents. 

Since the Clippers acquired Warriors leader Baron Davis, it has been nothing but a personal battle between GM Chris Mullin and the Clippers management.

So, Davis turned his back on the city that gave him a shot and resurrected his career. Get over it Mullin!  No, Mullin could not walk away from letting Davis get the best of him. What does Mullin do? He offers max deals to Elton Brand and former Warrior Gilbert Arenas. 

Now ask yourself—why would Mullin do that?

Simply put, to piss off Baron Davis. Mullin knew that offering a max deal to Gilbert Arenas would strike a nerve with Davis. Arenas, who only played in 13 games last season because he underwent knee surgery, was given a five-year $101 million contract.

That was a "take that" memo to Davis, and the message was piercingly clear. Then it became personal when Mullin offered Davis's good friend and would-have-been-teammate Elton Brand a max deal.

Brand, who was contemplating the deal worth up to $90 million, decided to stray away from the money and the Bay Area, and go east, leaving his good friend Davis on an inferior team then when he arrived.

Brand's bolt from L.A. and Davis' departing the Bay Area were a good ending to a peculiar tale of events. It didn’t end there; in fact, it was simply beginning.

Hours later, the Warriors turned their attention to fellow Clipper Corey Maggette, offering him a deal that would surely cripple the Clippers chances this season.  Then it was completed—Maggette was now a Warrior and Davis was left on a team by himself.

This moment must have felt astonishing to Mullin, knowing he got the better of Davis in the end. Then on July 17, 2008, the Clippers—Warriors saga entered a new stage.

The L.A. Clippers offered prominent Warriors D-Leaguer Kelenna Azubuike a three-year deal worth up to $9 million. After losing Pietrus to the Magic, the Warriors would lose another guard after refusing to match the offer. This was the final stage in the drama between the two teams—last year's first round pick Marco Belinelli replaced Buike.

However, with all additions and subtractions between the Clippers and the Warriors this off-season, all would not be complete without the Lakers entering the equation.  

July 18 marks the seventh, and last, day for the Lakers to match the Warriors offer to Ronny Turiaf. The Lakers, who have not said anything about matching, will have to pay the luxury tax on Turiaf if they choose to re-sign him. The tax for the Lakers on the $17 million deal is $17 million, which means the Lakers would have to pay double for him.

The madness in the Warriors organization this summer is building up for a blockbuster ending. With top returnees Ellis and Biedrins not signed yet, one wonders if the Clippers would taunt the Warriors again and offer both of them a deal?

Either way, it plays out, because Oracle Arena will be buzzing when the Clippers come to visit next season. As for Davis, he will return to the Bay Area for a villain-type welcoming.

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