Bleacher Report - Articles by Joel Creager

Please Cohan, For The Sake Of The Children, Sell The Warriors!

Joel Creager — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:07:54 -0400

I was riding in a car while listening to a Warriors game with my father when I had my first conversation about being a fan of the Warriors. Being seven, and having recently moved to California, I'd never had any particular interest in NBA basketball aside from the lone Chris Mullin card in my collection (complete with blemish on the cheek).

I simply wanted to listen to my Raffi tape, but my dad said, "No, the Warriors could do great things. Now that we live in California the Warriors are our closest team."

Maybe those weren't the exact words, but it was something to that effect. Maybe my dad simply couldn't stomach another rousing round of "Willabe Wallabe Woo" or "Apples and Bananas," but his words still left a lasting impression on me.

The impression that the Golden State Warriors had the potential to do great things, and should by all means someday realize that greatness.

The year was 1993.

I'm not going to explain what happened after that. It pains me to see so many opportunities squandered. But to make a long story short, the bottom line is that my expectations, hopes, and dreams for the Warriors were never realized.

Alas, childhood has long since come and gone, and with the exception of one flash in the pan during the 2006-07 season the Warriors' postseason portfolio is deeply in the red.

So deep in fact, that recent rumors from Tim Kawakami suggest Cohan is selling the team. The prospect has fans giddy up the wazoo.

Kawakami posits two possible candidates for ownership, George Lucas and Larry Ellison.

He also states that his source was not inclined to specify which candidate was really interested. However, judging by his delivery and choice of candidates it can be determined that Kawakami is employing a bit of a ruse to protect his relationship with the source. All while pointing a giant arrow at the real candidate.

How is this? Well the "source" of the Lucas rumor was a joke that emanated from my pent up frustrations about the team. Kawakami clearly understood the nature of the article when the joke was released. In a brief discussion with Ralph and Tom of KNBR, Kawakami is, ironically enough, asked why he didn't break the Lucas story. The result was a good laugh all the way around.

So why include Lucas as a candidate if the only prior discussion was purely facetious?

If Kawakami names only a single candidate, then he has officially spilled the beans. After all, right now the emphasis of the story is that Cohan is selling the team; not who is going to buy it.

Consequently Kawakami's article juxtaposes the relatively absurd rumor of Lucas purchasing the franchise to the realistic and believable involvement of Larry Ellison with a transparent, but cleverly contrived equivocation of the possible parties involved.

What would it mean for the Golden State Warriors and their fans if Cohan really is selling the team?

Without going into any detail I would wager that the sale of the team would generate more season ticket revenue than any other off season move imaginable (short of signing LeBron or Kobe), and that is just the beginning.

But I digress...

There are children out there. Children whose spirits burn brightly for the Warriors without the shade of doubt or distrust that comes from a lifetime tarnished by shattered dreams and failed expectations.

Indeed, I have always believed there is a child in us all.

So please Mr. Cohan, for the sake of the children, sell the Warriors.

Golden State Warriors Get Busy to the Sound of One Hand Clapping

Joel Creager — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:35:45 -0400

The Golden State Warriors took the first step in attempting to retool the roster without killing the youth movement by agreeing to a deal in principle that sends volatile scorer Jamal Crawford to the Hawks in return for the expiring contracts of Speedy Claxton and Acie Law. The story was first reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.

Crawford is expected to take up the $19.5 million, two year option on his contract. The trade cannot go through until Crawford's opt out clause expires on July 1 or unless he notifies the league earlier.

Then he will be eligible for the trade. Given the Hawks' emphasis on isolation offense and their playoff appearance last season the trade should be perceived favorably by Crawford.

The expiring contracts of Speedy Claxton ($5.2 million) and Acie Law ($2.2 million) will free between $1.5-2 million in immediate cap space represented by the difference between their salaries and Crawford's.

However, the contracts cannot be combined in a trade with any other salary for another 60 days, but they can be dealt individually or with the draft pick (before it turns into salary).

Claxton has a history of injuries and up to 80% of his contract is could be paid by insurers. That makes his contract all the more enticing to teams strapped for cash or looking for expiring contracts.

Since the Warriors will be over the salary cap the most they can offer any free agent is the mid-level exception. Considering this restriction on how the acquisition is used it would be best utilized by upgrading the roster through yet another trade.

If the draft pick is not traded then the June 25 selection will most likely be indicative of what the team's future trade interests will be come late august.

Basically the only way this trade can be parlayed into a player with a productive contract is through another trade.

There is also one other possibility that must be considered. Immediately after the rumor broke their was much debate over whether or not the contract of Speedy Claxton would be bought out.

If Claxton's contract is bought out then the the $4.2 million is pegged against the salary cap for certain. Which means that any money garnered from insurance claims wouldn't benefit the cap situation, and most likely wouldn't be allocated for a roster acquisition.

I doubt the team would do this since Don Nelson isn't known to settle for less in the off season, and Robert Rowell knows the public is just looking for an excuse to roast him.

Pocketing the money before the start of the season would only tarnish the front office's image even further. The situation is further complicated by rumors that Claxton could be healthy and ready to go by the start of the season.

That's not the only complicating factor. Nelson was very high on Acie Law in 2007 draft. If Law is not bought out or traded it will call C.J. Watson's future into question. This season Watson proved his ability to be a capable backup point guard, but the team has not yet made him an offer.

There are still many questions that need to be answered this offseason before the quality of this trade can be ascertained, but the motivations behind this trade will be apparent depending on how the money is used.

This could be a big step in the right direction or a cash grab veiled in salary restrictions, injuries and insurance claims. I'm staying hopeful that there is another big trade in the works. I'm not going to withhold my applause on this trade, but I'm only clapping with one hand... for now.

Golden State Warriors Final Take: Rowell To All, "Let Them Eat Cake!"

Joel Creager — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:27:00 -0400

Some would tell you that the season for the Golden State Warriors was over before it ever began. The hopes and dreams of a metropolis left smoldering in a twisted pile of moped.

Why should fans believe that the season was over, besides the fact that the head coach said so? Fans don't even have reason to believe that Monta Ellis crashed a moped.

Though Ellis undoubtedly set the tone for a season that was shrouded in doubt and mystery, it would be unfair to lay the blame solely on a single player. Besides that, it is near impossible to play the "responsibility game" in a media vacuum oblique as Golden State's PR department.

Unfortunately for the fans, Chris Cohan, Robert Rowell, and Ray Ridder wouldn't have it any other way. If there is one thing that the front office learned this season, it is that they can't control what the media reports, and if they try, it looks worse than it already did. Though let's not jump the gun and really try to give this a realistic reflection.

At this point it would be ridiculous for the fans to expect transparency from the Warriors, but "We Believe!" is slowly evolving into "We Deserve!" in regards to honesty and accountability. Indeed, nobody doubts that, when healthy, the Warriors will be a competitive team with some serious upside. So where's the beef?

The problem isn't what was done by the front office. That is, unless you are still hung up on (Insert one or more gripes here):

1. The Maggette signing.

2. Trading away Harrington's expired contract.

3. The Jackson extension.

4. The courtside season ticket gifted to Marcus Williams.

5. Cutting defensive specialist, physical freak, and Bay Area native DeMarcus Nelson to prevent Williams from playing on another team.

6. The estrangement of Chris Mullin.

7. Extending Don Nelson's contract for two years and $12 million.

8. The "oil and water" trade for Jamal Crawford.

9. Nelson packing it in early with his comments about not being a playoff team.

10. The back and forth between Nelson and Crawford that ended with Crawford pulling his Harrington.

11. Let's not forget about the paid job search the Warriors gave D-League All-Star and second round pick, Richard Hendrix.

12. The punishment of Monta Ellis (let's not get into specifics there).

13. The extension given to team president Robert Rowell.

14. Not working out a deal with Baron Davis.

15. Making Al Harrington a team captain.

16. Crutching on the injury argument to play only seven players with a roster of 15. Well 14 after they were able to cut Marcus Williams without letting him sign with another team, and potentially make Golden State's front office look bad.

17. Firing Pete D'Allesandro.

18. Not playing Randolph earlier.

19. Hiring the pair of Larry's.

20. Did I miss anything?

So maybe there are some "problems," and maybe the way in which these issues were handled wasn't the best. It goes without saying that everything on that list is incredibly divisive amongst the fan base, yet the Warriors have done next to nothing to clarify or account for the decisions made.

For the sake of this analysis, I'll reserve my personal judgments on these individual issues. I simply wanted to make the point that there are a vast number of emotional and logical thorns pricking away at the fans.

Rather it is the perpetual state of doubt and mystery on which we'll focus. That is to say we'll focus on the overall periphery processes by which these decisions were packaged for the fans or presented to the media; taking statements concerning a few of these divisive instances into careful consideration.

The presence of "new media" in the coverage of sports has never been more prevalent. By "new media" I mean blogs, fan forums, and open source news websites that feature amateur sports coverage like BleacherReport.com or HoopsWorld.com.

One may ask why the new media has gained more acceptance now than ever before. Well it is a simple matter of cost, accessibility, and convenience. The recession has severely impacted newspaper subscriptions as people try to save money and more people have wireless web browsers that allow them to access the same information.

Another effect of the recession is the outsourcing of newspaper layouts, which demands more time (but costs less) prior to printing. Consequently, the late scores rarely make it into the morning paper, making it much more convenient to simply check the internet rather than consistently paying for yesterday's news. At least I know this to be the case for the The Press Democrat, a newspaper that covers a vast area north of the Bay.

So how has the changing mediascape affected the Warriors and their loyal fans? Perhaps the most noticeable difference is that the discourse and debate allows for another level of interpretation and criticism in respect to the observations of and the statements by the Golden State Warriors. Also, the online media should be more important to the team than ever.

To me at least, it seemed that immediately prior to announcing the punishment of Ellis (accompanied by the burning of Mullin), the Warriors dusted off the iron curtains and put them up in all of Oracle's windows. For all of the talk about Chris Mullin, he was a ghost's shadow this season.

Reporters weren't the only ones having difficulty communicating with the team. Several attempts by season ticket holders to discuss concerns with team representatives were simply unanswered.

In fact, one season ticket holder, Jeff, was nice enough to share an experience with me in which team president, Robert Rowell, took down Jeff's name and number, promised to get back to him in person, and then blew him off entirely.

So in an attempt to further understand how the Warriors have operated within the new mediascape, I contacted some Bay Area beat writers to see how their perceptions have changed.

I asked one reporter if the proliferation of blogs and amateur reporting has changed the way in which the Warriors deal with the media. Answering anonymously, he responded,

"It has. The Warriors despise blogs and their lack of the usual standards and rules. Plus, I think they have less control over bloggers (no editors to call and complain to). I know they have severely limited the access of bloggers who aren't linked to traditional media, such as hoopsworld and 48minutes.net."

First of all, it was not Geoff Lepper (of 48minutes.net) that made that statement, secondly, I have to say that this is a downright shame. I make a point of taking the time to read Geoff Lepper's game analysis regularly. Lepper's combination of statistical analysis and insightful observations always makes for a very provocative perspective.

In denying access to Geoff Lepper, a pillar of professionalism in the blogging community, the Public Relations Director, Ray Ridder, is exercising the worst kind of message control possible: Denial. Denial of interviews, denial of access, denial of fault.

However, that didn't sate my curiosity.

My next correspondence was with respected sports journalist, Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News. It is important to note that in kindly taking the time to answer my questions, it was Mr. Kawakami's wish that all statements made be on the record, and only on the record. Nothing was off the record. Regardless, his answers to my questions were too juicy to dice up, so I've served them whole.

Q: Has the Warriors' receptiveness to make statements increased or decreased? Has the context in which they make statements changed?

Kawakami: "Warriors management has always been a murky, secret operation, most especially as Cohan's reign turned from weird to desperate to full-out 24-hour panic, hide-under-the-desk mode. Cohan clearly can't speak for himself and he has Robert Rowell there to shut off communication even further.

But no question things have clamped down even more since August or September, when things really started to get unstable with Mullin, Rowell, and Nelson. Nobody has spoken officially for the team in months, as far as I can tell. Is it clamping down when nobody is even sure WHO should be speaking for the team?

The context for Warriors management now is boiled solely down to: Make sure Cohan and Rowell are protected as much as possible. That's hard to do when they can't speak for themselves, unless it's to very friendly media members (and that wouldn't be me)."

Q: Will the Warriors ever embrace blogs and fan sites?

Kawakami: "I don't know the specifics, but I think the Warriors try to engage the sites, obviously within limits, because the Warriors' media people know that so much of the fan base is wired up and wants the engagement. It's smart. I can tell you that the Warriors for sure are way ahead of most NFL teams in the outreach.

But the recent controversies have shut a lot of that down, I think, because the blogs are where the Warriors have some credentialing leeway. The blog-credentialing thing is just being figured out, and it so happens that it is being figured out while the Warriors are extremely sensitive to criticism, and guess what, a good Warriors blogger ought to be criticizing them.

Just wait 'til the Fans of Fitz start their own blog: INSTANT WARRIORS SEASON CREDENTIALS!"

Q: Will you and Don Nelson ever get along? I'd like to get a feel for your relationship after all of the mud slinging this season.

Kawakami: "Nelson's been at this a long time. I've been at this a long time—less time than him, but still a long time. We're professionals. Even when we used to get along, and we absolutely did, until this season, we knew this was a professional relationship, with the understanding that I could criticize him and he could rip back at me.

Which is what happened this year. It's not my job to make sure I'm on good terms with a 29-53 coach, especially if people around the league are telling me that things are about to blow up again. And it's not Nelson's job to make sure I'm pleased with his work.

I am entertained by him and occasionally frustrated with his cranky answers. He is alternately pissed with me and reasonably entertained by my very specific questions—I think he's a great tactical coach, probably the best I've covered. My problem with him is that he can't help but use the same tangly strategies in dealings with the front office, his players, the media, his contract negotiations... At some point, you just have to stop manipulating people, but Don never realized that.

If he doesn't like that dozens of high-ranking people of the league believe he blatantly undermined Chris Mullin after Mullin revived Nelson's career...and if he doesn't like that I have tons of NBA sources (and Don knows that I do)...then that's the deal. I can live with it."

There's a lot to digest there, but I wanted to share it all. Eat now, digest later because there's plenty more.

A day that may be remembered forever by Golden State fans in the online community is April 8th, 2009. A season ticket holder and blogger with the pen name of BritWarriorGSW was one of a few season ticket holders invited to participate in a small meeting with Robert Rowell himself. The only thing is that Robert Rowell apparently didn't know he was being put on the record.

For the entire account click here.

According to BritWarrior, Rowell started off by making it "very clear that he does not read newspapers or blogs as more often than not, people create complete fiction just to try and grab some headlines. I don’t think anyone in the room had any doubt who he was aiming this at, possibly a certain person writing for the Mercury News."

In spite of denying that he reads blogs or newspapers, just days after the contents of the meeting were published, a team representative contacted BritWarrior to clarify a relatively minor detail about the Jason Richardson trade. Contradictory much? I think so.

In addition, Rowell "felt some comments that were made to the press this year should have stayed within house; for example the Randolph discussions and the Crawford statement."

Again Rowell whips out his golden double standard. Even before the season started, Rowell was ripping into Chris Mullin during what was supposed to be the announcement of Ellis' punishment. Later in the season, rumors would surface about public relations representatives lobbying individual reporters to write negative articles about Mullin.

In addressing questions about season tickets and pricing, Rowell stated, ”First thing I will say is, if you were in Club 200 this year YOU WERE SCREWED! This year you were completely screwed!”

That is very honest of Rowell, but who is doing the screwing?

I can't help but to share BritWarrior's entire follow-up question for Rowell because it is so complete and on-point in spotlighting the administrative problems within the front office.

BritWarriorGSW:

"I then jumped in with follow up question as to how and why Club 200 season ticket holders were treated so poorly. I think I said something along the lines of 'As you have said, this is about running a business; you’re doing it, I’m doing it, so I understand that no one could have foreseen the crash in the economy or certain injuries. However, it’s the reaction thereafter that I cannot understand.'”

I continued, “To me it is not rocket science to know that your very bread and butter income comes from season ticket holders and as one of those Club 200 STH’s, we have received ZERO in the way of proper customer care, which means that if you have unhappy STH’s, they won’t renew and if so, you end up having to spend more money on marketing/advertising to replace those STH’s with new ones, when you could probably spend a great deal less to make those STH’s feel valued and especially when they see seats being sold for $8! Is it really that hard for someone to come up with the idea of maybe offering STH’s the chance to come to practices to meet the players, hold more events at the arena to meet the staff, have STH opportunities to meet the players after a game rather than just kids? Maybe offering free parking vouchers, free beer/food vouchers, huge discounts in the store...."

I said the list is truly endless at what could have been done and nothing was done, which in my personal opinion and experience in the field of sales and marketing was dire and beyond a joke. Add to that the fact that people have to wait sometimes a whole quarter to get a burger and "my what pricey burgers they are" too!

Could it possibly be useful to have soft drinks, popcorn, pretzels and peanuts, cold items on carts, thus saving the stands for beer and hot food? This would surely help reduce the lines?, In short, I feel there was a definite DROP in customer care this year as compared to last year, which, considering the price hikes, is why you have many people not wanting to renew tickets.'"

Robert Rowell:

“I have no answer for you, all your points are valid and very much taken on board. What I can tell you is that I have to kick the backsides of those guys at the back of the room and there will be changes for next year. You have my apologies we simply did not do a good enough job this year for Club 200 season ticket holders but that will change."

First of all, it would be hilarious to watch a grown man in a business suit kick himself in the rear. Who does Rowell think he is to apologize and then differ responsibility as if he didn't know what was happening all season? He is the team president for the sake of sliced bread! If he really didn't know what was going on then he should be fired solely on that basis alone.

Secondly, the first renewals have come and gone without any statement from the team explaining exactly what will change.

As BritWarrior left the meeting Rowell approached him to say that he would be in contact. Based on my correspondence with BritWarrior no such follow-up has taken place. How surprising.

In addition, during BritWarrior's correspondence with a team representative, the representative informed him that he may have compromised the opportunity to speak with Rowell by going public with a private conversation.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Back up here. The Warriors invited members of the public to a meeting where no confidentiality contract was signed. Any recollections or recordings from that meeting are fair game in the public discourse. Furthermore, it is unrealistic for the front office to think that it can control which season ticket holders have access to information that the team president volunteers to members of the public. In fact it is absolutely absurd.

So how does all of this reflect on the state of the Warriors? Not so golden now. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It wasn't necessarily the decisions that bothered me, but the manner in which they were made, and the way in which they were communicated to the public.

How bad is it?

As bad as a team president that can't speak without face-planting on the double standards he applies.

As bad as a team president that apologizes emphatically and then passes the buck in the same statement.

As bad as a team president culturing an irreconcilable relationship with the fans and the media.

As bad as a son-in-law that always says he'll call, but never does. Yet you know he your stole your daughter's innocence... Poor Warriors.

Who's the real loser here?

The Media?
The Players?
The Fans?
The Children?

All of the above.

Mr. Rowell, the ball is in your court, and ball don't lie.

A special thanks to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, BritWarriorGSW of Golden State of Mind, the anonymous beat writer, and the best fans in the NBA.

For the pointed yet insightful opinions of blogger, Chris Cohan, click here (contains profanity, but also hilarity). He also has an epic sidebar of news clippings and sources all things Warriors.

Five Things That'll Take Bleacher Report to the Next Level

Joel Creager — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:32:49 -0400

As my first season of writing for Bleacher Report comes to a close (NBA) I just wanted to share a few thoughts and ideas before I delve into the Warriors' off season. For the most part I would like to see their growth in the sports media-scape continue unhindered. Different communities grow at different rates, and this could be problematic for Bleacher Report. As an addendum to the propositions in this slide show I suggest that Bleacher Report design the structure of each community to maximize their effectiveness. Is that 300 words? Ok lets get started....

Begin Slideshow

Golden State Warriors Rumor, Speculation and Innuendo

Joel Creager — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:57:40 -0400

I am going to choose my words carefully. This article is not a joke like the comedy piece about George Lucas purchasing the Warriors. I'm serious.

Some will call this rumor, speculation, or innuendo. Others will point out that a lot can change between now and the beginning of next season. Both are correct.

Regardless, I'd like to share two moments with you that I experienced last night after watching the Golden State Warriors gain momentum and eventually roll the Philadelphia 76ers.

By the way, the Warriors got out-rebounded 50-37; the 76ers shot 23 more free throws, and had five more steals than Golden State. The key to the Warriors' success was ball movement, which resulted in a healthy 35 assists spread throughout the starters and the bench.

In spite of a poor shooting night, Stephen Jackson was just one assist shy of his second triple-double of the season.

Not to mention that Brandan Wright, Ronny Turiaf, and even Rob Kurz were very busy changing shots in the paint, and actively denied the 76ers what would normally be easy second-chance points.

Finally, major props to Brandan Wright for posting a career high 25 points. This bodes well for the Warriors' future, which I would now like to address.

The first of the two insightful experiences I had was a discussion with a courtside season ticket holder.

Apparently Robert Rowell is an aficionado of fine wines. If you want to get the man talking, then that is the best approach. And talk he did—only it wasn't about Napa's finest.

Usually Don Nelson is better known for his booze-infused moments of disclosure, but I suppose everyone has their day.

According to this season ticket holder, Rowell revealed their offseason plans. Guess who's going. You may or may not be surprised.

If you thought Don Nelson was playing hardball with Jamal Crawford, wait until you hear what Rowell suggested. He intimated that Crawford would be traded to a "bad team" if he didn't opt out of his contract. I personally hope that Crawford opts out (for salary reasons), but I can't say I approve of such a negative approach.

The other person to be heavily shopped in the offseason will be "Sixth Man of the Year" candidate Corey Maggette.

I can only guess who's going to be getting those minutes, and the possibilities are exciting. Still, it makes the Maggette signing seem like more of an impulsive action than part of a well-defined plan.

As for Andris Biedrins, Ronny Turiaf, Monta Ellis, Anthony Randolph, Brandan Wright, and Stephen Jackson...They will all be sticking around. The plan is to move ahead with "the future" and give them the reins.

Take it for what it is: rumor, speculation, innuendo, or drunken incantation of the night. It is what it is, and it is straight from the horse's mouth.

How could a night get more interesting? Only at the Courtside Club, of course.

The who's who of Whoville were there: Jackson, Biedrins, Buike, Davidson, and most importantly, Ellis.

Unfortunately, I went to the bar right after the rush of players got there. I was asked what drinks I was ordering by three different bartenders, who then told each other to make the drinks in a round robin tournament of shifting responsibilities. I was thoroughly entertained.

We settled into our table, and were sharing post-game analysis over our hard-earned drinks when in walks who other than Robert Rowell himself. Then a very subtle, but significant interaction took place.

Rowell walked in, and the first thing he did was go whisper into Ellis's ear. The music was not so loud that a whisper was necessary, but whisper he did.

After that, Rowell whispered into Stephen Jackson's ear, and left after a few minutes of small talk. For what was an inconsequential win in yet another playoff-less season, there was a lot of excitement in the air.

Everyone was happy. Very happy.

Take it for what it is. Rumor, speculation, and innuendo, but that night I walked out with more than just a Warriors business card holder.

George Lucas to Purchase the Golden State Warriors

Joel Creager — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:01:22 -0500

In a surprise move, cinema mogul and bay area resident, George Lucas, has brokered a deal in principle to purchase Chris Cohan's portion of the Golden State Warriors franchise.

Said Lucas as he exited Yoshi's after meeting with current owner, Chris Cohan, team president, Robert Rowell, and at least one of the other owners, "The economy is bad, but now is the time to expand into new markets, bite the bullet, and position yourself to get a bigger piece of the pie when the economy bounces back."

Lucas also added, "The fans have proven their ability to support the market during hard times. Together we'll bring a championship to the Bay. Wait till you see the new mascot..."

He smiled broadly as the car door swung shut.

Speculation has run rampant in the wake of the impromptu comments made outside of the popular Oakland restaurant.

With no further ado I present to you the cast of characters in "Star Warriors."

Emperor Palpatine: Played by no other than Chris Cohan himself. Reclusive. Evil. Never underestimate the power of the dark side. Or a malicious lawsuit.

Darth Vader: Swiftly and efficiently slaughtering the dreams of little children (the best part of Star Wars parts I-III) is what clinched the role for Robert Rowell.

Jabba the Hutt: Played by the Don Nelson (the Hutt). Babbling incoherently, being imperious, indiscriminate punishment, and lust for power are all attributes that made Nelson a lock for this role.

Luke Skywalker: Monta Ellis gets this role for being the strongest with the force, but not being prepared or properly trained to yield such power.

Obi Wan: This role naturally goes to Rick Barry. He has been politely shunned by the franchise despite his expressed desire to help restore them to prominence. Help us Rick Barry! You're our only hope!

Han Solo: On the run from the Man while wheeling and dealing left and right. Who other than the estranged Chris Mullin?

Chewbacca: Loud, animated and misunderstood. If you thought I was going to suggest Stephen Jackson, you are correct.

R2D2 and C-3PO: Played by Rob Kurz and Jermario Davidson respectively. The are always bumping into stuff, and never get to play with blasters.

Yoda: This one is tough, but Keith Smart is the most in tune with the players. So show them the way.

Princess Leia: Since Jessica Alba left for LA with Baron we'll have to settle for Anthony Randolph. He's got the attitude. All he needs is the hair.

So what role do the fans play? Well they are some mix of Storm Troopers (mindless hype regurgitaters who couldn't hit the white side of a urinal) and the citizens of Alderaan (who never saw it coming).

Either way they are both mercilessly sacrificed in the battle between the Light Side and Dark Side. Only the epic halftime performances will tell how us how this drama plays out.

Oh yeah, there is one last thing I should have included from the get-go:

A long time ago in a galaxy far away...

Monta Ellis Returns in Time to Battle B-Eastly Cavaliers

Joel Creager — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:08:06 -0500

According to www.Warriors.com the much anticipated return of Monta Ellis is due to take place this Friday during Golden State's home game against Eastern Conference contender, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ellis has been out the entire first half of the season due to a moped accident that severed ligaments in his ankle. Ellis stated that his rehab has been "peaches and cream."

Ellis will bring spacing, quickness, and ball movement to what is currently an isolation oriented offense. His transition from shooting guard to point guard has drawn many skeptics. It remains to be seen if he can become a full-time distributor. Many fans are also curious to see how well Ellis and Jamal Crawford will play alongside each other.

While it is unlikely that the Warriors will make the playoffs, Ellis' return gives the fans some razzle dazzle in the latter half of what has been a dismal season.

In addition, Ellis' return will put the Warriors' trade needs in clearer perspective.

Lastly, results of Jeff Fried's meeting between Robert Rowell and the Warriors' front office (concerning Ellis' punishment or grievance) have not yet been disclosed.

Welcome back, Monta Ellis.

***********************************

UPDATE:

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News:

"I know you’re just dying to hear this… or NOT… but Ellis’ agent Jeff Fried tonight said that the Warriors continue to maintain that they have the indefinite right to void Ellis’ $66M deal, despite Fried’s protests. Fried has filed a formal letter of complaint over the issue, in addition to the previous all-encompassing grievance.

This standoff is not over, though Ellis is determined to make his comeback tomorrow night, with or without Warriors’ management contemplating a potential voiding."

Sounds like this one is far from over.

Golden State Warriors Midseason Analysis

Joel Creager — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:40:30 -0500

Halfway through the season, and the currents in the Bay are as unpredictable as ever. Just ask reporters at the San Jose Mercury News (who reported that Ellis would never play in a Warriors jersey again). The weather forecast: Foggy, with occasional bright spots. Ellis being one of them.

The Warriors are too deep in the hole to resurrect the We Believe 3.0 movement, and that puts them at the veritable 405 of crossroads. They're hitting traffic from every direction, and only one exit will lead them to success.

Fortunately for the Warriors, they have a little momentum going into the second half, and they will have a lot more home games. It's no secret that the Warriors' schedule in the first half of the season was brutal enough without the spate of injuries that plagued them, and the inconsistencies that come with fostering team chemistry.

I'll address the Warriors needs in a bit, but first, let's take a look at the transitional components that will ultimately influence, if not define the course of their development.

First and foremost, the thing on everyone's mind is the impending return of the franchise player, Monta Ellis. No one is exactly sure which day Ellis will return, but team doctors are being especially careful not to rush him. There is also one other important factor that plays into the closure of this drama.

Monday, January 19, Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried was supposed to meet with team officials to discuss Monta's return, and among other things, the grievance filed with the league. The grievance concerning the early termination clause in Ellis' punishment.

Given the Warriors' practically nonexistent chances of making the playoffs, the consistently packed Oracle & Co. could face a potential PR and season ticket sales fallout next season. The blame game continues to rage on, but any way you look at it the fans' expectations for what was supposed to be an exciting season have slowly trickled away like grains of sand through an hourglass.

So will the Warriors make a run for the lottery, and try to draft their way out of trouble? The simple answer is no. Cohan and Rowell can't afford to continually disappoint their most loyal fans with so much money tied up into big contracts. It was more or less understood after Ellis' injury that the real playoff push was supposed to come in 2009-10.

There is only so much potential revenue that can be tapped from the casual fan, and the hordes of We Believe zombies are not nearly as deep as they once were. Rowell needs Ellis back ASAP to avoid further PR woes.

In addition to Ellis' medical and political balancing act, there is one other personnel drama that will play out in the second half of the season. Jamal Crawford can opt out of his contract at the end of the season if for whatever reason he decides it would be better to skip town. For what it is worth Crawford stated that his first priority is to stay with the Warriors, "as long as they want me."

That most likely depends on how well Crawford can play alongside Ellis, possibly coming off the bench at times like Maggette.

On that note, Maggette coming off the bench has actually turned out to be a very positive change in the running of things. It gives Randolph his chance to develop, but it also gives Nelson and Maggette a chance to scout the best mismatches.

With those components in perspective, I've made a list of the things that the Warriors need to have happen in the second half of the season to make a healthy transition into the off season and beyond. In no particular order:

1. The return of Monta Ellis must occur without re-injury, and he must become the pseudo-point guard that Nelson loves so much. Crawford and Ellis will have to play well together while creating for others.

Drama between Rowell and Ellis needs to be settled without question or condition, once and for all.

2. Cause an upset in the playoff contention. The Warriors are notorious for being the monkey wrench, and it would give the players the perfect confidence boost with the playoffs out of the picture.

3. Rebounding and second chance points. The Warriors have been better in these categories the last couple games, but they need to maintain a consistently high level of hustle.

This one holds especially true if the Warriors intend to continue playing small. Specifically, Randolph and Wright will have to get the dirty work done before they'll be consistent offensive options.

4. Get healthy. Stay healthy. The Warriors have some serious offensive firepower coming off their bench. In fact, they have the best three-point shooting bench in the league between Watson, Azubuike, Belinelli, and league leader Morrow.

Nelson needs to be able to tap that resource in order to offset any off-nights by one of his starting guards.

5. Move the ball. Stagnant ball movement has been one of the major reasons that the Warriors' average points per game fell almost 10 points compared to last season. Now that players seem to be on the same page, the Run-'N-Gun offense of elder lore needs to be slowly reinstalled.

6. A graceful conclusion to the Mullin affair. In a perfect world, Rowell would get the ax, and Mullin would get to continue scheming with Nelson or go about his way (most likely to the Knicks).

Either way, I think that Mullin will be ushered out promptly following the conclusion of his contract, and as quietly as possible. The drama all started with Rowell's smear campaign of Mullin during what was supposed to be the announcement of Ellis' punishment. A significant PR misfire that might have been part of a larger strategy to restructure the front office with the pair of Larrys, Harris and Riley that is.

7. If a trade happens it should be with respect to Jamal Crawford's upcoming choice at the end of the season. The Warriors need to maximize the minimal amount of cap space they'll have at season's end, and they can't afford to logjam the pecking order with new people and false promises. The last thing the Warriors need is for a player to pull their Harrington.

While that concludes the list of somewhat realistic goals I wish to add a few additional items of a more absurd nature. Without delay:

8. The minority owners must buy out Chris Cohan, or sue him for control of the team (that would be ironic). I have no qualms saying that the man is a disgrace to the NBA, and is without question one of the worst owners in the league.

9. Treat the fans as intelligent, critical, sentient beings. Often I feel that because the Warriors' marketing department targets younger, casual fans they often make the mistake of explaining their personnel and business decisions in idiotic, see through, shallow, or otherwise insulting terms.

It usually manifests itself in the form of patronizing "corporate speak," and this approach towards the media will only hurt the organization in the long run by alienating fans.

10. "DEFENSE!" I'm only kidding. Compared to earlier this season, individual Warriors are making visible improvements every game. Just because they have one of the worst defenses in the league doesn't mean it won't be the key to success in the second half of the season.

Keith Smart has them defending in transition better, and hustling for more rebounds. I Just wanted to round out with a list of 10 items.

So begins the long march to the end of the season. It's not that the Warriors are going nowhere, but they need to nurture their youth and wisely execute their short term goals to turn it around next season.

It is all going to start with how the Warriors finish this season. Golden State needs momentum heading into the offseason. Not just for the fans, but for the players, and for the coaches.

If Tragedy Is Comedy, Golden State Fans Are Hysterical

Joel Creager — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:52:02 -0500

Do Robert Rowell and Chris Cohan expect Golden State fans to cry? Do they expect the fans to laugh? At this point, a straight face is out of the question.

Cohan and Rowell are clowning the fans in the worst way. It is like "It" had twins and they put on suits before prowling the streets of the Bay Area for children. Only children would get fooled by a pair of evil clowns.

I was watching the games with my grandma over the holidays. She has Comcast, and she wasn't fooled. I found out that my grandma is a basketball genius. Her color commentating and analysis puts Barnett and Fitzgerald to shame.

Speaking of color, my grandma pointed out something I never noticed. When are the Warriors getting new jerseys? The present color schemes make TVs wig out. The only reason I can tell what color the jerseys are is because I know. With that in mind, the Warriors could be red, orange, black, blue, or even white on any given night depending on the TV that is being used.

In my grandma's words, "They never wait for their own player to be on the other side (of the basket). Then when they throw it up there is someone there to bop it back in (complete with bopping motion)." In addition she added this nugget: "They get pulled to one side and just let them run down the middle." Not to mention, "They are always so much smaller than the other team."

The observations speak for themselves.

I have a theory; a conspiracy theory, and nothing more... Namely because the front office doesn't give even a crumb of their master plan (assuming they have one) to the fans, and the fans are starving.

The amount of emotional bickering that rages through the forums and blogs is almost too much to handle. In my search for signs of "The Truth" or even just the latest updates it can seem like banshees trying to scream in a vacuum.

As with any conspiracy theory, this one is impossible to prove. First and foremost it is not my intention to demean the players or detract from their precious few achievements. The theory is impossible to prove for two reasons.

The first is that on any given day a teams’ opponent could be really good or really bad. Similarly on any given day the players (in this case the Warriors) could be really good or really bad. We'll call the difference between the two reasons the "Margin of Error."

It is within that margin of error that Rowell, Nelson, and Cohan operate. I posit the following: The season has been in the tank, but by careful design.

What did the Miami Heat teach management around the league with their epic tanking? That you'll be able to hear the moths flutter in the rafters inside the arena.

Rowell knows that if he or Nelson admits to tanking this season immediately after a 48-win season then season ticket holders (or fans in general) will think twice before shelling out their hard earned dough.

So Rowell is then faced with the challenge: How do the Warriors secure a higher position in the lottery without sacrificing ticket sales? The answer is in the margin of error.

There are two important factors that come into play here. The first is that Rowell needs to maintain the illusion that the season is not in the tank, and he needs Nelson to help him. The second is that the Warriors need to improve their position in the lottery.

They are both accomplished by tanking only within that margin of error. The Warriors beat the Celtics, but get trashed on by the Thunder. There must be an explanation.

If the Warriors "come out and play" (Remember the ‘We Believe’ theme song?) only at home games and against playoff contenders then they are shielding themselves from the accusations of tanking. They'll pull out a few good wins, like they did against the Celtics, and they'll put on a good "show." Granted all the injuries stack the stats against the Warriors anyways, and they are still going to lose a lot of games.

Then something strange happens when the Warriors play against lottery contenders. Nelson phones it in. The Grizzlies, the Timberwolves, and the Thunder...the list is sickening. By losing to lottery contenders the Warriors recover from the statistical disadvantage of actually trying to win games.

Nelson and Rowell can always lean on the margin of error when the heat is on. Sometimes their D-leaguers and diamonds in the rough are simply going to perform (you've gotta love them), but the players are on their own. Randolph found that out the hard way; as did Marcus Williams.

Nelson will be experimenting with match-ups at his leisure for the remainder of the season. The man has an agenda, and he acts on it with the finesse of a wrecking ball.

It's just a theory, and a conspiracy theory at that, but what else do Golden State fans have to go on these days, besides the front office drama? Drama that ultimately just gives the NBA a bad rap. Well, maybe I'll save that one for another time, when I'm not throwing away any credibility on a conspiracy theory.

Silver Lining: Golden State's Struggles For An Identity

Joel Creager — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:32:58 -0500

If you are anything like me, then it is hard to watch the Golden State Warriors and keep the palm of your hand off of your face. Sometimes, just to mix it up on especially ugly plays, I will throw on my thizzle face and cringe.

As a fan that actually listening to the garbage espoused in the summer by team president, Robert Rowell, I had expectations that have since been squashed into oblivion.

I don't blame the players. They are the youngest team in the NBA after all. I don't blame anyone. Not even Don Nelson. I don't blame because I know. I know that Chris Cohan and Robert Rowell are a complete joke. Like prickly unlovable versions of Harry and Floyd from "Dumb and Dumber."

Almost everything from their press releases to their comments reeks of dishonesty, deception, and "spin." I expect, and understood that coming from Mullin or Nelson. Besides, the candid approach towards secrecy always made a game out of trying to figure their next move. Not so much these days.

Rowell bleeds the talents of Mullin dry by exiling him to a contract ending Scout-a-thon. Hence, very little input of any value has made its way down the food chain. Just the usual, "We try to create the best product."

To hell with the "Product." Enough of this corporate mockery of the game people love. Get real, and call it "basketball." Who do they think they are fooling? Not the season ticket holders, that is for sure. They are outraged at everything. Here is a short list of things I've been reading.

1. Prices at the concessions stands are ridiculous.

2. The manner in which the team was marketed in the off season. They requested that season ticket holders renew their season tickets months before most professional teams would (in any sport). In the process giving potential buyers no chance to see the makeup of the team ahead of time.

3. Embarrassing half-time shows.

4. Increasing season ticket prices significantly during times of economic hardship, and failing to produce a better "product." Unarguably the "product" has declined embarrassingly.

5. And oh yeah, did I mention that the Warriors are losing more than two thirds of their games?

This after a 48 win season that was already supposed to be a "rebuilding year." Now, with the prospect of getting even thirty wins slipping through their fingers, the fans can only look on and say, "What happened?" Only no one wants to be held accountable. Not a soul from the front office is "willing" to face the fans.

This season has turned into a tragic opera, and not merely the kind that has a tragic plot. As a production this opera, the name is "Regressius," has failed miserably. Rowell
directs, Nelson is Pavoratti, and he's singing the blues—in Italian.

The horror reminds me of Peter Jackson's first major production about a dysfunctional children's show run by a bunch of sick and twisted animal-themed puppets. It was called "Meet the Feebles" and even the name is oddly fitting. I hate comparing the players to puppets, but next to the egos of Nelson and Rowell, calling them puppets is probably an overstatement.

With that said I would like to thank Rowell for pointing the finger squarely at himself. Recalling Tim Kawakami's analysis of the annual press releases, the Roweasell was second only to the Cohanator himself. Can we hold Rowell accountable yet? The man already gets booed if he shows himself in public. Do we really want that cheap suit to be the face of the Warriors? I don't.

Obviously the Warriors didn't pay Nelson such a huge sum of money (around $12 million dollars for two years) just to give up his duties and burble into a microphone. If they did, then it would just be another reason to fire Rowell.

Anyhoo, I believe Nelson is fully capable of transitioning from coach to Lord of Basketball Operations. With Larry Harris and Larry Riley at their sides, what is there hat Nelson and Cohan cannot accomplish without Rowell? Not much considering that all are front office vets with plenty of respect around the league.

Maybe, and just maybe, Cohan will smell the stench of Rowell's B.S. seeping into his own office. A lot of those season ticket purchasers have direct ties to the club (as with any club in the NBA, barring the Thunder), and several public rants from season ticket holders have already popped up on Golden State of Mind. At this point the contract handouts mitigated by Rowell will affect Warriors for years.

Whether they are for better or worse is now inconsequential. If these decisions are for the better then Rowell has made his office expendible for the next five years. Just blame the crappy economy, and fire the guy with public approval ratings that place him inbetween "Manpons" and " A contagious mutation of cancer" on the list of undesireables; or things that otherwise threaten the sale of season tickets.

For the moment I am willing to believe that Nelson handing over the defensive coordinating duties to Keith Smart is a good thing. Mostly because I trust Smart and Moncrief to produce. Moncrief was a five time all star and two time defensive champion. They practically invented the award just for him.

I also believe that the Warriors will be better in the future. Patience is a virtue, and at this point excercising a little is just the pill that the Warriors need. I have been disappointed with Maggette, but the jury is really still out on the entire team.

The only immediate changes that the Warriors could benefit from would be in the front office or to acquire superstar talent that doesn't severely impact the Warriors' future. The core untouchables being Biedrins, Ellis, Wright, Randolph, Jackson (if he is OK leading as 6th man in the future), and arguably a handful of the other players. I am becoming particular to Crawford's exciting play, but like many Warriors he needs to defend better.

Do the Warriors really need a "Power Broker" at this point in their development? Their front office is chock full of wheelers and dealers, and the team itself is stacked with valuable bits and pieces. Unfortunately bits and pieces are just that, bits and pieces. Besides sitting back and waiting for the right trade there is not much that the Warriors can do now that their money is all inked up through 2011. Barring more panic moves from Rowell, the Warriors still stand a very good chance of pulling a complete 180 in the next two years.

Rowell publicly smeared Bay Area golden boy, Chris Mullin, during what was supposed to be the punishment of Ellis. It was a butchered campaign to fabricate a standard by which Rowell would justify his future decisions. Only Rowell didn't fool anyone, and no one forgot. Not while the Warriors are losing most of their games.

It's hard to be truly upset with any of the players, but the word "Patience" is certainly sacrilege in Warrior Land. Is Rowell the one major stain in Golden State's image that Cohan can afford to rub out?

It's not much of a silver lining, but what else can I say? Oh yeah, Happy Holidays!

Golden State Of Limbo: A Breath Of Fresh Air For Warriors and Fans

Joel Creager — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:09:15 -0500

For once I decided to take a break from adressing the anxieties, disappointments and uncertainties that have plagued the Warriors' fans in the first couple months of this season. In part due to their convincing win against the Thunder, and partly due to my frustration over the perpetual Golden State of Limbo.

In the history of the NBA there have been some truly creative nicknames for its most loved players. It was my original intention to write about the greatest all-time nicknames in the NBA, but I must admit that my NBA knowledge is too shallow to fulfill the lofty expectations of Bleacher Report's readership.

Instead, this article is dedicated to every player that never carried a moniker like "AK-47," "The Mailman," "Wilt the Stilt," "Pistol Pete," or "The Beard." Today, every player (and some coaches) on the Warriors get a nickname (or two) that they can wear with pride. I will admit up front that I did not make up all of these names, and some are well known. If there are any good suggestions in the comments then I will try to add them. Specifically I personally feel that Biedrins has done more than his fair share to earn a title or nickname. Shall we begin?

Don Nelson: "Lord Nellie"

Keith Smart: "KSmart"

Sidney Moncrief: One of my favorite hustle players ever, and a nice guy (I once carried his baggage). Why "Sid the Squid" of course. Since Moncrief grabbed every loose ball with reckless abandon.

Kelenna Azubuike: I favor something simple, like "Kaz." However, he did go to Kentucky, but I doubt he would like to be called "Whiskey Face." His Teammates call him "Buike" (pronounced Buukie).

Marco Belinelli: "Rambo" fits him perfectly. The odds are usually stacked against him anyways.

Andris Biedrins: "Spike," "Beans," and "Laser" all come to mind, but he was given the nickname "Goose" by Jackson and company.

Jamal Crawford: "The Craw" (With complimentary cawing for effect. "Kakaaa!") or "Crawdaddy."

Monta Ellis: "The Greatest Show on Hardwood,""Fastest Man in the NBA," "$6 Million Moped Man," "M8E."

Richard Hendrix: "The Anchorman."

Stephen Jackson: "Stack Jack," "Jax," "Mac Jax," and "Captain Jack."

Steve Kurz: "Kurz and Whey," "Raining Kurz," "Right Kurz, Right Kurz," and my personal favorite, "It's not Kerr! It's KURRRRRZ!"

Corey Maggette: "Maggs," "C-Maggs," and "Uh-Oh Maggette-Ohs."

Anthony Morrow: "2Morrow," "Lil' Jack," and I think he should use "The Rookie" throughout his career until someone breaks his records. Also "A-Mo" from his days at Georgia Tech.

Demarcus Nelson: "DMN," "Prince Nelson," and "The Freak."

Anthony Randolph: "Mean, Lean, and only 19," "The Alien," "The Future," and "Yao Stomper."

Ronny Turiaf: "Blanca" (Based on the Street Fighter character. Thank you Tony.psd), "The Beast," "Dear John" for all of his rejections, and my favorite "The Repo Man."

CJ Watson: "Mini-Paul" and my preference, "The Who?" since he regularly surprises the announcers of other teams.

Marcus Williams: "Dribble me this," and "Doc Williams."

Brandon Wright: "BWright," "Stretch" or "Mr. Stretch," "Mr. Fantastic," and "Dumbo" since his ears help him fly.

There you have it. Every player on the Golden State Warriors gets a nickname to carry with pride (or at least some semblance of pride). This time no one gets left out.

Can you imagine a sportscast using only player monikers? I would watch it. Anyways, I hope the Warriors enjoy their new nicknames.

Golden State Owes Thanks to Mullin and King James

Joel Creager — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:11:09 -0500

The competition for LeBron James and the rest of the free agent class in 2010 has teams across the NBA discounting the present and investing everything into their respective futures. The best players in the NBA want to play together by design. There are going to be a couple big winners in 2010 and a whole lot of losers.

Whether or not a player in the NBA earns their money, no one is safe from the wrath of LeBron. The teams courting LeBron are more than likely going to be relying on young talent that outperforms their contracts. In this way, Lebron's future has landed like a boulder in the pond of the present. Its ripples, or waves I should say, have impacted the league from coast to coast.

How so?

Everyone knows that the Knicks and a gaggle of other teams are all working madly to clear cap space with the hope of landing James. To this extent James' effects have been obvious, but there are far more subtle happenings around the league that result from his impending freedom.

For instance, it was recently rumored that Golden State Warriors' general manager, Chris Mullin, was going to assume GM duties with the New York Knicks after his contract in the Bay Area expires. Given the dynamic of recent hirings and firings in the front office at Oracle, the impression is that team president Robert Rowell is showing Mullin the door.

Then there is the trade of Harrington to the Knicks for Jamal Crawford. Even though this creates a logjam of guards for the Warriors, the fact that they were able to get anything for the cranky Al Harrington (and Dr. Fegan as baggage) is highly commendable.

The trade gives the Warriors yet another offensive option for this year, but more importantly it sets them up for the future in a way that lets them experiment in the present.

Allow me to clarify that. The addition of Crawford grants coach Don Nelson the luxury of experimenting with a variety of high-volume scorers. The Warriors have already invested in Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf. The understanding is that Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright are supposed to blossom in, around, over, and under them in any way possible.

The fans already know who the tall guys will be for the next few years, but Nelson has this season to decide which shooters he wants in the next two years—the years that matter.

Once Nelson has decided which players to keep, it is a simple matter of packaging one of the highly-coveted guards with Marco Belinelli or Marcus Williams (or both) as trade bait to try and snag the next piece of the puzzle. Granted I am reading into the situation, but it seems like a straightforward plan that relies on certainties to dictate the next decision (as opposed to a crap shoot in 2010).

So Harrington is dealt to the Knicks, and it is rumored that Mullin is going to be working under Donnie Walsh as his partner in crime at the Knicks' front office. The Knicks are without a GM, but there is most certainly a plan to fill all the holes in the now porous organization. The Knicks need to rebuild on a budget, and that happens to be Mullin's specialty.

Would it be surprising if Mullin used intimate knowledge of two teams heading in opposite directions to engineer a deal that benefits both? No. If Walsh already has a plan, is it in his best interests to privately consult the major players that will be involved? Yes.

Now consider that an outright denial of a contract offer to Mullin would not sit well with most Warriors fans. In addition, competition for Mullin provides the opportunity for a graceful exit. The fact that Harrington is a "Mully Guy" is just the sprinkles on the cupcake.

I would love to keep Mullin in the Bay, but there are bigger and better things awaiting him in New York; like bosses with pockets stuffed full of cash. Going to the Knicks would let Mullin go back to being "wheeling-and-dealing" Mully instead of "Let me check with my power broker" Mully. That is ultimately what is best for him.

The lure of the Knicks essentially gives owner Chris Cohan and Rowell a base amount of damage control in the fallout that will result from letting Mullin go. Something for which Cohan and Rowell should, ironically enough, thank Mullin. After all, Mullin can't help that he is such a popular guy.

The mouthpieces will tell you that the Warriors are making a run at the playoffs this year. I wouldn't run to the polls in belief of the hype just yet, but that doesn't mean the Warriors don't have the skill and potential to get there. Arguably they do have that ability if Crawford can fluidly transition back and forth between the point and shooting guard positions.

Experimenting with guards and growing his forwards appears to be the game that Nelson gets to play for the next two months.

The Warriors are now undeniably entering the final stages of the rebuilding process. There will probably be a couple more trades to pick up the final pieces and trade away the slack, but most of the Warriors will be sticking around for a while.

Golden State may not be very successful this year. At times your eyes may bleed. Like mine did during the game against the 76ers where they had less than 40 first half points, but the Warriors certainly have their sights set on the real prize—a better team in the long run.

The bottom line is that Crawford gives the Warriors significant depth on the court and on the trade table. Both of which the Warriors needed desperately, and got thanks to Mully and King James. Here's to a Finals featuring two teams that are headed in opposite directions to get to the same place, and the GM that could get them both there.

New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors in 2010!

Imagine What the Golden State Warriors Could Be with Marcus Camby

Joel Creager — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:06:52 -0500

This Al Harrington trade (or lack thereof) has continued to be a thorn in my side even though I try to put it out of my mind.

The general consensus is that the Warriors should get a capable point guard to start now and back up Monta later.

Over the past couple weeks, we have seen Don Nelson experiment with some rather tall mismatches and achieve rather limited success. Offensively, there has not been enough of a presence in the paint to get the shooters the open looks they need. The Warriors are too inconsistent with their field goals, and taking better shots will help with that immensely.

The Warriors are also having trouble with their weak-side help, something that Nelson has been working on with Wright and Randolph in their game minutes.

Now I know that the trade I am about to propose could get laughed out of town. The Clippers and the Warriors may not be inclined to help a competitor—but who are they kidding? What are they competing for?

For some reason, I was looking at Chris Kaman's ESPN profile, and there was a note about a possible trade rumor that was promptly denied. Immediately after that there was an update stating that a New York news source heard that the Clippers were shopping Camby. Something the Clippers have not yet denied.

The Clippers seem comfortable developing their younger big men, rather than deal with a possibly disgruntled veteran. Indeed, only seven games into the season, Camby remarked that the Clippers had found "six different ways to lose." Not to mention that Camby's arrival in Clipperland was far from graceful.

So how about it? A straight-up trade of Harrington for Camby (or something close to it). That would give Al Thornton a legitimate veteran to play alongside at foreward, and someone for the aging, oft-injured Tim Thomas to split minutes with.

If Thomas is on the floor, then Harrington can play the three spot. It would give the Clippers more versatility and options with less risk. This trade would also enable the Clippers to rest their forwards when needed.

The bonus is that Al Harrington has already played with Baron Davis. So they are very familiar on the court. From what I have been hearing Davis is not all that happy with the Clippers' style of play. Harrington can help relieve Baron's thirst for the fast break when it is there so that later they can get the half-court set in gear when it is needed.

Perhaps the best part about this trade for Harrington is that he can't get any closer to his favorite place and home, Las Vegas, and still play in the NBA. If he played in LA, he would be just a short flight or hot drive to the Sin City.

The Warriors would get much more than an alternate center out of Camby. Having Camby would mean the Warriors could afford to take Biedrins out of the game without taking a huge hit on the defensive boards—an area they have been suffering in greatly.

In addition, having Camby would provide Nelson with a plethora of mismatches to unleash on other teams. It also gives the Warriors added help-side defense they need in the paint during crunch time. Camby's inside presence would allow the Warrior's guards to stay out on the perimeter more when they are in their zone. This would effectively give the Warriors more contested shots on defense.

Camby might not be a starter with Biedrins there, but he would be playing a lot of minutes with Nelson's hockey-style substitutions. A spot in Nelson's system wouldn't fit his usual role, but right now Camby is just using his minutes to salvage some pride from the complete 180 that his career just took. He might as well do something productive.

This trade would restore value to both Camby and Harrington's respective careers. Maybe not to what they are getting paid, but certainly in ways that benefit both the teams and the players. I'm not so sure that this trade would work out. We are talking about Robert Rowell and Mike Dunleavy here.

All basketball talk aside, those two names are enough to make just about any deal go sour. I originally thought of this trade as a joke. It started with trading back for Baron, then I was toying with the idea of trading for Kaman (Dunleavy wants to keep him, though), and finally discovered Camby as the odd man out for the Clips.

Strangely enough the Warriors went to free-agent war with the Clippers during the offseason, and now they are in a position where they could potentially help each other get rid of $10 million tumors. Terrible seasons make for strange bedfellows.

Besides, wouldn't it be fun to watch Camby play alongside Biedrins? The Warriors already get the most blocks per game in the NBA with just over seven. Adding Camby would only make the Warriors even more fun to watch, and maybe give Nelson the low-post mismatch he rarely had with Harrington. At the very least he can capably back up Biedrins—another role that Harrington could never competently fulfill.

I am not forgetting about Ronny Turiaf. Turiaf plays excellent defense, gets plenty of rebounds, and is a good passer. However, his shooting is all over the place. There are times where the Warriors have had to play Turiaf and Biedrins at the same time, but lost Biedrins for significant time due to foul trouble. Then Turiaf has to swing over to center, and all of a sudden the Warriors are playing the other team's game.

Having Camby around means that Turiaf (or the next tallest person) does not automatically shift to center when Biedrins is not on the floor. Nelson can enable his schemes (by that, I mean impose his legendary will) more freely when he does not have those personnel restrictions.

Regardless of what happens, at some point the Warriors are just going to have to help themselves. The fans have done everything they can to find Harrington a new home. We'll see what happens.

Next article is about which players face the worst officiating. Hint: My featured player is on my favorite team.

Robert Rowell in the Spotlight: Will He Burn the Golden State Warriors Down?

Joel Creager — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:01:59 -0500

Depending on whom you are asking, the war for power at the top of the Warriors’ totem pole began anytime between three months or five years ago.

Tim Kawakami’s superficial analysis of the Warriors’ annual press releases over several years provides, at a minimum, an outline of Robert Rowell’s rise within the Warriors.

Despite being rather shallow and speculative in nature, the article calls into question the parallelism of Rowell’s increasingly important status and the sudden emphasis of business over basketball within the Warriors’ front office. We may never know what inner forces influence the organization of the yearly press releases, but that doesn’t mean they don’t speak for themselves. In a sense they set the stage for the drama we see unfolding today.

More immediately the conflict between Robert Rowell and Chris Mullin all began with a broken promise. According to Baron Davis, Mullin had a verbal agreement with the Warriors to take a three-year, $39 million extension. That agreement was nixed by Robert Rowell.

Rowell then tried to deny the accusations, but a lack of consensus from other players and faculty left him shouting into a credibility vacuum. He expounded in an interview that he doesn’t take the popularity of his decisions into account. Yikes! Fans beware. Rowell’s only redeeming quality here is that losing Baron could be a blessing in disguise, but something tells me he wasn’t getting visions from the future.

It doesn’t stop there. There is also the moped accident that earned Monta Ellis a 30-game suspension. Upon announcement of Ellis’ punishment, Rowell took the opportunity to take a few obvious cheap shots at Chris Mullin. We thought we were going to watch Ellis receive his punishment, but here Rowell was ripping into Mullin. Talk about awkward.

The 30-game suspension, effectively worth about $3 million dollars, was not necessarily deemed unfair by Ellis, but an addendum to his punishment leaves the status of his contract in perpetual limbo. This addendum effectively makes Ellis the potential subject of double jeopardy, a position with which Ellis does not agree. Rowell’s choice of punishment tests the very limits of player contracts in a way that will have future consequences throughout the league.

You can image how popular Rowell is with the players on the team. I personally agree with Ellis’ suspension, but I think that double jeopardy is going a little too far. If some other team wants to set that standard for behavior, then let them do it. I would rather not gamble with my own team.

Now it is out that Monta Ellis could use the option to have his contract voided as leverage to demand a trade or that his contract be voided altogether so he can play somewhere more comfortable. Essentially Robert Rowell has made Monta Ellis the "Under the table contract offer" prize of the season. Ellis may settle for a shorter, lesser contract somewhere else if he sees immediate success.

That would be devastating to the Warriors, and the fans, but could you blame Ellis? Rowell played hardball with Ellis first; is it Ellis' fault if he has to step up to the plate? No. Sure the fans would be crushed by Ellis' choice, but not nearly as furious as they would be with Rowell and the owners. Besides, no one wants to work for a brutally vindictive, politically driven boss.

This is, after all, the Warriors’ future we are talking about here, and I don’t want to wait another 13 years just to have a chance at getting into the playoffs.

Then again, maybe a more respectable front office (*Cough* Radmanovic!) might not risk alienating every player in the league.

Does Rowell stop there? Certainly not.

It came out earlier this week that the Warriors have entered arbitration with former coach Mike Montgomery for what amounts to about $1,000,000 in unpaid salary. Rowell claims that Montgomery could have taken the UC job the summer before, and opted out of his contract. However, Montgomery claims that the checks ceased coming up to four months before he ever took the job at Cal.

Once again, it is Rowell at the helm of this litigious expedition. So where does it all end?

We already know that Jackson was expecting an extension, and now even that has been put on hold. Will that be the next big issue to blow up, or will we have to wait until the decision on Mullin? Can the Warriors’ front office even handle a trade of Harrington right now, or would it implode under the weight of Rowell’s ego?

Right now, it seems like the Warriors have a lot of non-basketball related issues on their plate, and none of them include drunken incidents at clubs or other moments of failure more commonly associated with their oblong balled neighbors in black.

To put it nicely, Rowell now enters the same sphere of public opinion as Al Davis. With each of his decisions, the eyebrows on the fans rise a little higher, and the chance for redemption gets further and further out of reach. Now that he has stepped squarely into the spotlight, Rowell can no longer hide in the shadows of Cohan and Mullin.

Since coming out into the public eye, Rowell has been in attack mode on all of the aforementioned issues without the support of his faculty, coaches, players or fans.

Kawakami puts it best, “Rowell cares about politics. And politics means money. Period.” In a culture dominated by that kind of attitude it is only a matter of time before the truly competitive spirit gets corrupted (*cough* York).

As Cohan’s guard dog, Rowell has shrewdly if not viciously protected the political interests of the Warriors. Rowell did manage to significantly raise the price of season tickets during times of economic hardship for the fans. You’ve got to give him credit for pulling that one off. Regardless of his success in becoming the biggest tool in Cohan’s shed, Rowell has drawn blood from the fans and the players.

Have the North Bay fans been good fans to the Warriors? No! They’ve been outstanding, and patient, and you hear about it all around the league. Warriors’ fans, players and faculty deserve better than to be in fear of Rowell’s litigious agenda.

When a dog turns on humans, there is only one thing to do. I know you want me to say “Shoot it in the head.” However, I try to be a little more humane. I will say, “Set it free.” You heard me right. Set Rowell free.

I think that the majority of the fans, players, and coaches see the five-year stretch from 2006-2010 as a pivotal turning point for the Warriors—and more importantly, an opportunity for redemption. Redemption is one thing that is beyond Rowell’s grasp at this point. Rowell will never be respected by the players again. More importantly, the fans will never trust him.

When he finally came out from behind Cohan, all he had to say was that he didn’t care about the “popular” interests of the fans, logically leaving one other option—money.

Does Rowell want to know the truth? There are a thousand other bean counters that would love to eat Rowell’s job up, and I bet the majority are more polite and personable than him too (if they even care about the Warriors then that is just a bonus).

At this point the fans are just wondering what Cohan and the rest of the ownership team are thinking by keeping this clown around. Regardless, the Warriors’ ownership should do something before their own credibility and motivations are called into question. Either that, or we choke down another decade-long playoff drought.

Al Harrington Wants Out of the Golden State Warriors: Let's Help Him!

Joel Creager — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:09:41 -0400

Yesterday, a hot dog vendor at Oracle Arena revealed to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News that Al Harrington has never stopped wanting that trade he mentioned during last season.

Last night the rumor was shot down as just that, a rumor—but by daybreak the truth of the rumor was verified.

What does this mean? It means you should be careful who you buy your hot dogs from. It also means that the Warriors have a cancer. Harrington wants more minutes than the 27 minutes per game he got last season. With Wright and Randolph slated to play more minutes, Harrington sees the writing on the wall—again.

The only thing hurting Harrington is his bloated contract, which has a $10 million player option next year. Most teams could handle a large contract for a single season, but no team is going to risk a $10 million wallet grab if Harrington doesn't get any big offers.

Since Al and the team had all last season to work out a trade, I think it is only fair that the fans step in and put some offers on the table. So far I have seen a few offers that ship Harrington out for a bag of Cheetos and another one for...nothing.

While these are enticing propositions, they just go to show how difficult getting rid of Harrington will be. After spending about an hour on ESPN's trade machine, I came up with this nifty little trade that works in my eyes, but may not be viable.

Send Al Harrington, Marco Bellinelli, and Marcus Williams to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In return the Warriors would get Joe Smith and Earl Watson.

Earl Watson wants to be a full time starter, but with Russell Westbrook there it is likely that his minutes will be reduced further. The Warriors need a part-time starter and a capable backup.

In order to keep the Thunder from getting too thin at point, the Warriors would trade them Marcus Williams, a natural point who should be good off the bench. In addition, the Warriors would give up a decent ball handler and sharpshooter in Marco Bellinelli.

Trading Al Harrington for Joe Smith makes sense. They have similar production, but Joe Smith is getting older. Al wants more minutes and so this could be a good trade off to keep some veteran presence at the power forward position for the Warriors. It would also give the Thunder a minute-hungry veteran that can play up to three positions when playing against smaller lineups.

In addition, none of the contracts is for more than two years. Heck, the Warriors could also throw in a draft pick in the distant future, just to sweeten the deal.

I think the Thunder may have a hard time giving up Watson, because Westbrook is not yet a sure thing. Also, there is still a chance for Marcus Williams to blossom—but it looks like he won't be getting too many minutes. Maybe the answer awaits in Oklahoma.

Rowell has clearly been too busy playing power games with Mullin, and nursing his case of fecal encephalopathy for the last year and a half to take time out of his busy schedule, and deal with Al. Let's do ourselves and Rowell a favor by doing his job for him.

If you have an idea for a trade then post it here, so we can help get the Warriors back on track, and out from under the mercy of evil hot dog vendors. But seriously, Mr. Hot Dog Vendor, thanks for catching the Warriors' cancer. Warriors fans just need to hope that it is not too late to get rid of it.

Update: I have to give a shout out to the Hinrich trade, but you better believe the Bulls will keep their grubby pickers all over him until Rose is in the clear to take full command.

P.S. Just to clear up one final issue. The size of Al's contract shouldn't dictate his minutes. In fact, he has 9 million reasons to do exactly what the coach and the owner tell him to do. Especially since they seem more or less content with Al's production.

If Harrington is not happy with himself then he needs to reconsider his personal motivations for playing. Or he could open up his already signed contract to renegotiation. That would be rich. I would love to see Rowell mitigate that one. It would be a nightmare.

Warriors Extend Don Nelson: Quest for Championship or Simply Road to Redemption?

Joel Creager — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:49:36 -0400

There are a lot of suspect words floating around in that title, but bear with me.

Usually, when you hear the words "Warriors," "Nelson," and "championship" in the same sentence, it is coupled with the word "never."

The doubters will count the ways. Nellie's style of ball is too small or not defensive enough. There are no natural leaders on the Warriors (probably not true). The front office is in disarray. Or, if you are a knucklehead like Sir Charles, then you simply don't like the Bay Area.

(On a side note, Barkley is one of my favorite "Warriors Haters." So I hope he gets to comment on plenty of their games this year. He is always entertaining.)

Regardless of your reason for doubting the Warriors' chances, it is hard to envision them getting into the playoffs with the shadow of this offseason hanging over their backcourt. However, Warriors fans might have a lot to look forward to in the next three years, if the most recent front office decisions are any indicator. I have never been a fan of Rowell or Cohan, but their latest move may be a step in the right direction.

As you read this, the Warriors and Don Nelson are touching up a two-year extension to keep him as head coach. Says Nelson, "It wasn't my idea."

For those of you not keeping track of the Warriors' drama, this is immediately after Robert Rowell insisted that there was plenty of time left to make the big decisions regarding Nelson and the recently-estranged Mullin.

Unfortunately for Mullin, he will still have to wait and see. However, there are rumors floating around that Mullin is not planning on returning to Golden State, and that this is all part of a planned extraction so that he can be GM for the Knicks.

In a recent interview, Nelson stated his sincere desire that Mullin stay. Stephen Jackson did the same, and said that Mullin went with him to court on every single occasion. So there may be a silver lining to the extension of Jackson and Nelson.

Whether Mullin stays or not, extensions for Nelson and Jackson mean that Rowell and Cohan will have to listen to Nelson—or should, at a minimum, to keep him from retiring.

Enough about the present drama. Most Warriors fans have shed their expectations of a playoff season this year, and would settle for merely a winning one. But what about after that?

Are Rowell and Cohan finally looking to prove something to their fans and the rest of the league besides their famously cold-hearted and detached approach to basketball management? Nelson badly wants a championship, Cohan desperately wants redemption in the eyes of the fans, and Rowell wants his cut.

A quick look at the Warriors salary board for the next few years reveals that they can afford to pick up some pricey free agents without losing their other big contracts. By 2009, Golden State will have player options on Brandon Wright, Marco Bellinelli, and Marcus Williams. In addition, Golden State will be freed up about $6.5 million dollars that they buried with Foyle. The Warriors will have their final opportunity to evaluate their younger players before deciding whether or not to commit.

An odd twist to what happens at the forward positions depends on whether Al Harrington is traded or not. Harrington will most likely take up his $10 million option for that season. It is unlikely his production will improve enough to raise his value any higher than the hefty $10 million. To his own credit, Harrington will be playing in a more comfortable role this year so he could finally be worth his money.

Don't expect too much activity next off season unless Wright or Randolph blossoms at forward and Harrington gets traded. For the most part, it will be a reshuffling of the bench. Expect some of the Foyle money to go towards Jackson's extension.

The 2010 offseason is probably the most anticipated offseason in the recent history of the NBA. Without going into details, there are going to be a lot of big names on the market. By this time, Perovic, Foyle, and Harrington will all be off the books for the Warriors.

Looking at the bare minimum roster for 2010, the Warriors will still have Ellis, Maggette, Jackson, Biedrins, Turiaf, most likely Randolph, and possibly Wright. That is easily a starting lineup that will have already been in the oven for two years. Is it a championship lineup? Probably not, but this should give the Warriors plenty of time to stack their bench with capable role players.

All of a sudden Nelson's excitement over this deal is suddenly starting to make more sense. He will get a more or less handpicked lineup with a handpicked bench. Isn't that every coach's dream? Nelson may finally get the chance to coach the team of "@#$-Kicking veterans" that he "deserves."

In 2010, the Warriors won't have nearly the same cap space that many other teams will. However, this strategy could work out well for the Warriors. With all the big stars commanding huge contracts, the role players that the Warriors need will be forced to settle for less, since their value relative to available cap space around the league will decline.

It is sort of a crap shoot, but when dealing with the Warriors it is always better to take the chance with the bench rather than with the starting five. Besides, the Warriors will be a desirable franchise for free agents that want to support a competitive team.

For the last three years, the number-one priority for the Warriors' front office was salary protection. Mullin did a decent job of atoning for his early mistakes, and building a solid team within that "protection." Whether he is in the Bay Area or not in 2010, Warriors fans will be looking back and thanking Mullin for his foresight.

Will the Warriors make a run for the championship? It is too early to tell. At the very least, they plan to break into the bottom ranks of contenders in the west.

Mark my words, there will be a day when Cohan and Rowell have to decide whether they are going to pony up and take the Warriors to the top, or ride the Nelson-wagon all the way to retirement in Maui. Rowell and Cohan's history together has me fearing that day, but at least the Warriors will once again be a respectable team.

It is still way too early to start talking down to Lakers fans, but Warriors fans can be glad they've kept what is theirs for the next couple of years. Between the international leagues and upcoming free agencies, many NBA franchises are in for some surprising roller coaster rides straight to the top and the bottom of the league.

Hopefully the Warriors' steady rise in depth and potential is not just a false hope. It will take the performance of a lifetime for Don Nelson to unlock that potential. Whether Nelson, the Warriors, Cohan, and the fans get their championship or not, they are in for one heck of a ride.

Oh yeah, and no matter what happens, Rowell will still get his cut.