Off-Season Game Plan: Warriors
5/31/2006 9:57:46 PM
Just when it looked like the Warriors might be ready to contend, after a strong finish in 2004-2005, they once again proved to be the same old Warriors.
Well, they're not quite the same old Warriors because this team does have talent. Probably enough talent to push for a playoff spot when everyone is healthy. Or, the kind of talent that will allow them to make a big splash with a high-profile trade this summer.
Whenever big names hit the market lately in the NBA, Golden State has been one of the teams brought up as a potential trading partner because they have the required high-priced contracts to deal in return, along with some promising young players that are always valuable enough to sweeten the pot.
This summer is no different. Names like Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal, for example, get dangled out there as potentially being available and they seem like good fits as the Warriors look to get over the competitive hump.
Most of the time, power forward Troy Murphy is the centrepiece to these proposed deals, but the Warriors have to be open to dealing just about anyone in an effort to change the team chemistry.
Should the Warriors take a more conservative and patient approach, and focus on building from within, they do have some quality young talent that just might be ready to blossom soon. All of the young Warriors -- center Andris Biedrins, power forward Ike Diogu, wing Mickael Pietrus and guard Monta Ellis -- have all shown enough potential that they could be starters one day. Hopefully for the Warriors it will be one day soon.
Biedrins, in particular, could be an effective post presence; at least more effective than incumbent starter Adonal Foyle. Though Biedrins only averaged about four points and four rebounds per game last year, he averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in the 18 games in which he saw more than 20 minutes of floor time. Still only 20, he should be ready to make a bigger contribution in his third season.
Diogu, who backs up Murphy at power forward, is a solid low-post scorer who will improve on his rookie numbers, though his playing time will be determined primarily by whomever is above him on the depth chart; in this case, it's Murphy. Murphy is a fine scorer and rebounder, with three-point range on his jumper, but he's not much defensively and his game seems to have leveled off in the 15-and-10 range.
At small forward, the battle for time continues between Mike Dunleavy and Mickael Pietrus, two nearly opposite players. Dunleavy has good hoops instincts and relies on his perimeter shot (which wasn't very good in 2005-2006) to make his impact. Pietrus is inconsistent offensively, but is among the most aggressive on-the-ball defenders in the league. Given a starting role, Pietrus could be an impact player, and that makes him valuable trade bait or worth keeping if the Warriors deal one of their wing starters.
In the backcourt, the Warriors starting duo of Baron Davis and Jason Richardson is among the most talented in the league. However, Davis seems to produce far less than the sum of his considerable athletic talents, largely due to poor conditioning that leads to injuries -- after playing all 82 games in each of his first three seasons, Davis hasn't played more than 67 in a season in the four years since. That injury bug makes it difficult to move Davis, which means that Richardson, the team's leading scorer and best player, might be the most marketable if the Warriors think they can land a marquee name via trade.
The backcourt backups offer opposites as well. Derek Fisher is a steady veteran point guard with championship experience, while Monta Ellis is one year removed from high school with a load of potential, which he showcased just a bit by averaging 11.6 points per game in April.
Looking at the Warriors roster, they can battle for a playoff spot maintaining the status quo, but they might speed up the process by making a big deal this summer.
GM/COACH - Chris Mullin/Mike Montgomery
CENTERS - Returning: Adonal Foyle, Andris Biedrins, Chris Taft. Free Agents: None
FORWARDS - Returning: Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, Ike Diogu, Mickael Pietrus, Zarko Cabarkapa. Free Agents: None
GUARDS- Returning: Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Derek Fisher, Monta Ellis. Free Agents: Calbert Cheaney (UFA)
DRAFT- 9th - Rudy Gay, Brandon Roy, Patrick O'Bryant, Rodney Carney - 38th
FREE AGENCY - Payroll: $56M
TRADE MARKET - Murphy (five years, $50.5M), Foyle (three years, $27M), Fisher (four years, $30M)
