Bleacher Report - Articles by Guruprasad Ramprakash

Keeping Stephen Curry Will Only Help The Warriors

Guruprasad Ramprakash — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:46:37 -0400

Amar'e or Stephen? Stephen or Amar'e? Happy Monta or angry Monta?

Let's cut to the chase. We shall get to the issue that is burning in the Warriors' office today. That's right, we're talking about the trade that sent Suns' F-C Amar'e Stoudemire to the Golden State Warriors for C Andris Biedrins, PF Brandan Wright, G Marco Belinelli and the rights to the 7th pick of Stephen Curry.

Of course there are a couple of issues encircling this trade. First of all, Stoudemire's contract is an issue. He is scheduled to opt out of his contract and step into the Free Agent Bonanza in 2010. I expect him to work out a contract before arriving in any trade, so that shouldn't be an issue.

The second concern, of course, is the rights to Stephen Curry. Neither the Warriors or the Suns expected him to fall to the 7th spot in the draft, buthe did, and both the Warriors and the Suns went absolutely ballistic. They both thought they were getting a brilliant shooter and passer who has a good feel for the game.

Now we have got a problem. The Warriors want to keep Curry. The Phoenix Suns won't let this trade go down without Curry. However, the Warriors still want Stoudemire.

The fact is, if the Warriors have to give up a guard, they should not give up Curry. Curry is absolutely perfect for the Warriors system. He can score in almost any way he wants to, an excellent passer, a very conditioned athlete, and he can't play defense.You cannot be much more perfect for Nellie's system then Stephen Curry. Heck, I would rather trade away Monta Ellis than Stephen Curry, and here's why:

Ellis is too small to be an off-guard and is too indecisive to be a point guard. He has just been sticking around because he is a prolific offensive player who can light it up on any occasion. Ellis has also had clashes with Don Nelson and management, and of course has provento have bad judgement with his Moped accident last year which effectively ruined the Warriors' season.

Curry can be a prolific player as well, but also has proven to be a mature individual during his first couple of days as a Warrior. Sure, getting drafted by the Warriors wasn't exactly what he was dreaming about the night before, but he did not pull a Ricky Rubio and expressed his willingness to become a Warrior. That is part of the reason why Warriors' management loves him.

Also, Curry would seem to be the last guy to be involved in some moped accident and can steer this franchise somewhere down the road. Sure, he has defensive liabilities, but Don Nelson has built this team with players who have defensive liabilities as well. If you think about it, this is absolutely perfect.

What if the Warriors still want Stoudemire? What if they can't stop gushing over his offensive potency and defensive liabilities? What if the Phoenix Suns still want Curry? Well, in that case, Don Nelson should play his little, "wait-and-see" game with Suns' GM Steve Kerr. Let Steve Kerr pursue other avenues in his quest to trade Amar'e Stoudemire while the Warriors just wait. When Steve Kerr comes to know that the Warriors are offering more for Stoudemire than other teams are, Kerr will slowly call Warriors' headquarters and complete the deal without Stephen Curry being involved. Suddenly, the Warriors have got a legitimate big man in Amar'e Stoudemire while still retaining Stephen Curry.

So, Mr. Curry, relax, unpack your bags, and buy a house because you, "ain't going anyplace."

Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright Playing Together? I Don't Think So

Guruprasad Ramprakash — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:20:04 -0400

In the month of March, teams around the NBA try to make their final push for the NBA Playoffs. While the Lakers, Celtics, and the Cavaliers have already solidified their spot in the postseason, teams like the Bulls, the Mavericks, and the Suns are trying with all their might to reach that eternal postseason goal.

Not the Warriors.

After coming into the season with mid-level expectations, the Warriors have clearly disappointed, going as low as 20 games below the .500 mark and currently stand in 10th place in the Conference with a subpar record of 20-42.

So, with no hopes of making the playoffs, the Warriors are looking forward to the offseason, with the potential high lottery pick coming in the NBA Draft.

But one thing the Warriors should do is find a way to ship Brandan Wright.

Now I know that he has tons of potential and is supposedly the next Chris Bosh. I have seen him play, and his ability to score in a variety of different ways makes me want to jump out of my couch. But here is a reason why Brandan Wright should be shipped.

Anthony Randolph- As I said in my NBA Draft story, Anthony Randolph looked somewhat like a scoring version of Brandan Wright, as he is able to score in a variety of different ways.

At first, I thought one of them had to be shipped off right away in order for this to work. Then, when Don Nelson said that during a press conference that Randolph could play the three and Wright could play the four in the future, then I thought it could happen.

But, right now, I don't think it can happen.

Here are my observations. Anthony Randolph has been playing better during his inaugural season than Brandan Wright has at any point of his career.

Sure, you can make the argument that Wright didn't really get a chance to prove himself during his rookie season and was on the shelf for most of this season, but I think Anthony Randolph will be a better four in the Nellie system.

Here is why. Anthony Randolph is a better Nellie four because of the variety of things he can do. He is very tall (and still growing), can run, has some handles, and has the ability to block shots that fuel the fast break.

He is still working on that mid-range jump shot, but I think he will perfect it as he grows older—making him an elite four in Nellie's system. Although I think he can be an elite four, I don't think he can play the three for Nellie because I don't think he can develop a solid three-point shot.

Probably the most integral part of playing the three-spot with Nellie is the ability to shoot the trey—and I think Anthony Randolph should stick to where he is most effective—causing havoc inside the painted area.

Even if he does develop a good three point shot, it gives him the opportunity to be even more effective in Nellie's system as he will become an inside-outside type of player.

Brandan Wright is what I call a conventional four. He can still do many of the things Randolph can do (block shots, grab rebounds, fuel the fast break)...but he isn't a Nellie four like Randolph is. He is more like a center in Nellie's mind—always sticking inside the painted area and having a array of moves he can do once he has the ball.

I actually wouldn't mind Brandan Wright playing the four for the Warriors, but the fact is that Anthony Randolph is simply going to be Nellie's definition of a four.

Also, notice how Nellie never plays Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph together. It is because they just can't play with each other—and the Warriors must find a way to get rid of one of them so they can draft a Nellie three for the future.

But, for me, the obvious choice is Brandan Wright.

Golden State Warriors: After The NBA Draft, Still Tons of Work to Do

Guruprasad Ramprakash — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:08:50 -0400

The Warriors' Draft Night is officially over.

NOT!

The Warriors, while executing an pretty good draft last night, still have tons of work to do this offseason. Chris Mullin and the rest of the gang still have to work relentlessly in order for the Warriors to be a successful playoff team next season.

Lets see what the Warriors got done today:

14th Pick

With the 14th Overall Pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select Anthony Randolph from Louisiana State University.

The Skinny: A tall and skinny Power Forward with a long wingspan and tons of potential. Hmm—sounds a lot like Brandan Wright.

A couple of weeks ago, if you told ESPN.com draft columnist Chad Ford that Anthony Randolph would fall to the Warriors at 14, he wouldn't have believed you. This guy has got talent, and unlike Brandan Wright, this guy can create his own jumpshot—which he actually has range on, although he doesn't have the three-point potential Don Nelson favors.

But the fact is, we did not really need him. I know that a lottery team as good as the Warriors should draft for the best talent and not for need, but the fact is that we already have an up-and-coming forward in Brandan Wright, who is working very hard at the Warriors' facility along with Marco Belinelli so that they can be part of the rotation next year.

Anthony Randolph is just a more offensive-minded version of Wright. Don't be surprised if Randolph OR Wright get traded sometime this offseason, because I really don't know how we can have both those players on the same roster competing for playing time.

The 49th Pick

With the 49th Overall Pick in the 2008 Draft, The Golden State Warriors select Richard Hendrix from the University of Alabama

The Skinny: The Warriors have a history of finding gems in the second round of the draft, such as Monta Ellis. With this pick, the Warriors may have found another one.

Coming out of high school, Hendrix had to choose between going directly to the NBA or going to college. If he went to the NBA, he was projected to be a lottery pick, but instead made the wise choice to go to college.

Unfortunately, his draft stock slipped terribly while in college, but it apparently was not because of his performance. He still put up some big numbers and was All-SEC the last two years of college.

Hendrix is going to have to work very hard in order to make Don Nelson's rotation—but if he makes it through, the Warriors will definitely welcome him. Golden State needs a strong power forward, and Hendrix could be a good counterpart to Anthony Randolph or Brandan Wright at the four-spot for the Warriors.