Golden State Warriors Update -Nov 16, 2009

Stephen Jackson Goes, But Problems Stay

This morning, the Warriors shipped Stephen Jackson out of town in the hope that the circus would leave with him. It is safe to say, though, the fabulous disaster called the Golden State Warrior Implosion is a work-in-progress that can’t be FedEx-ed to North Carolina. More on that later, but first, this morning’s deal:

To Golden State:

- Raja Bell - 6’5” shooting guard, small forward. contract: 1 year, $5.3mm

The skinny: A good 3-point shooter, a better on-ball defensive stopper vs. 1s, 2s and some 3s. High hoops IQ, good defensive team player; below average dribbler, does not drive well, rarely creates for his own shot.

- Vladimir Radmanovic – 6’10” small / power forward. contract: 2 years, $6.7mm/yr

The skinny: best asset is his distance shooting for his size; a very good 3s guy; can run reasonably well for a big guy; weak defensively, is soft, a poor rebounder for a big, does not play with his back to the basket.

To Charlotte:

- Stephen Jackson, 6’8” shooting guard, small forward. contract: 4 years, $8.9mm/yr

The skinny: Despite all that you shed when trading away the whole Jax package, you also lose a 20ppg player who is a defensive one-on-one stopper against almost anyone in the NBA. A go-to guy who creates his own shot at any time (including times when you wish he wouldn’t), can run the offense and get others involved. Of course, he only does this when he feels like it; is a much worse ball handler than he thinks he is.

- Acie Law, 6’3” point guard. contract: 1 year $2.2mm

The skinny: A promising, strong point guard who dribbles well, see the court reasonably well, and has Baron Davis upper body strength to back down opposing points guards. Never really got the opportunity to play extended minutes, but showed potential with limited playing time.

How the Warriors fared:

- The big plus: long term salary cap relief. Perhaps this was the goal all along, with overall team improvement a secondary goal. Go team. Now the Ws have cap space to compete for the great 2010 free agent class (please stop laughing…)

- The Ws lose offense. Bell, at 10ppg, and Radmanovic, a 9ppg guy, can’t replace Jackson’s points. Funny how it works out that the highest scoring team in the NBA may now scratch its head, wondering where the scoring punch will come from, especially in half court sets…

- It is now Monta’s team as the offensive centerpiece. But Ellis, as the only consistent scorer who can create his own shot, will need more help than ever as teams will now freely collapse on him.

- The Ws are a weaker defensive team. I’ll bet you didn’t think that was possible…

- Raja thrived in D’Antoni’s Phoenix system; there is no reason to think he won’t do well in Golden State, except there is no Nash in Oakland, and Nellie is D’Antoni lite in a clown’s outfit…

- The organization's overall noise level will drop for a while. But after the Ws record goes to 3-13, then 4-18, no one will remember why Jax was shipped out, or care why...

- Its hard to say losing Acie Law was a huge loss; that said, Law showed enough to think he might be a keeper. We wonder why Riley and Rowell didn't include Speedy Claxton instead, a guy who won’t play two minutes with the Ws. Hmm...

Bottom line: The Ws failed to get the one Bobcat who could have made this trade a net positive, Boris Diaw. However, given Golden State's pending implosion, the organization got some value in return. Not enough, though, to change the team dynamics or improve the wins-loss ratio.

Nellie’s old Milwaukee buddies took him to a Springsteen show after the Bucs loss this past weekend to help him forget how bad his defensive adjustments are. The Boss’s show is over; Nellie’s show isn’t, just missing a headline act. The Ws move on to Cleveland tomorrow, no doubt inching closer to the lottery. I wonder if the Ws are scouting next year’s Blake Griffin yet…

Maybe Chris Webber is right. Perhaps Coach Nellie won’t get the 24 wins he needs to become the NBA’s all time leader in victories this season.

So it begs the question: how many losses does Nellie need to be the NBAs all time leader in losses?

One last mention: Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Al Harrington, Michael Pietrus, Matt Barnes. Now Stephen Jackson. The purging of the best Warrior team in 15 years is almost complete. Good going, Li’l Bobby…

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As always, go Ws….

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#9

Golden State Warriors Update -Nov 6, 2009

NEW RULES

Before the 1-2 Warriors embark on a string of really, really, really tough games (six in a row: Cavs, Celts, Blazers, Mavs, Spurs, Lakers; ouch!), they have a few winnable games (Clips, Kings, Twolves, Pacers, Knicks, Bucs), but will win only if they follow the NEW RULES:

NEW RULE: Corey Maggette is no longer allowed to shoot from the outside. New limit: four feet from the rim.

NEW RULE: When Monte misses six jumpers in a row, someone has to tell him to drive to the hoop.

NEW RULE: We do not care what position he plays; Randolph must play more than seven minutes a game.

NEW RULE: When an opposing player scores several times in row down the court, its time to consider changing the defensive scheme.

NEW RULES: For everyone excited about Stephan Curry - and deservedly so as Curry shows promise - pay attention to the guy the Warriors passed on, Brandon Jennings. The Bucs point guard is currently leading most rookie of the year polls. And apparently, one year in Italy did for him what five years could not do for Marco Belinelli…

NEW RULE: Nellie promised to play the young guns this year. Well, play them.

NEW RULE: When the Ws decide to double team, it has to be understood that it is part of a full, five man strategy; part two is called sliding to cover the next pass. Team defense. Yea, let’s do a little of that.

NEW RULE: Someone has to wake up Andres Biedrins. Not only is he not contributing, he is a liability. Is he Dampier-esque? After signing the big contract, perform drops off a cliff and injuries sideline him. The unconsummated Amare trade is looking better and better…

And finally, NEW RULE: Play Randolph. He is the future. And in the words of a legendary Redskins coach, the future is now.

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As always, Go Ws.

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#8

Golden State Warriors Update - Sep 24, 2009

Last Night's Revival Tent

They're passing out the Kool-Aid. Again. Its a routine pre-season activity. Only, fearing resistance to this year's strain, its extra-strength. And judging by the Q&A, its being lapped up.

Warrior Update attended a Warriors event last night at a BMW dealership in San Rafael. It was billed as a chat with Larry Riley (GM-in-training) and Robert Rowell (um, cough, Warriors President). Clearly, though, it was a thinly veiled attempt to sell some of the more exclusive seats (read: pricey first 10 rows) . Apparently, unlike previous years, these seats are not driving off the lot the moment they are unloaded.

The gathering was held on the showroom floor of the car dealership in Marin, which in itself was interesting. Not the car dealer, but the North Bay location. Has the front office exhausted the fan base within ballistic missile range of Oracle Arena? Are they now selling to people who, 41 times a year, are going to drive an hour each way to be entertained by a 29 win team? Um-mm, really?

About 100 people were there, including fans, 4 Warrior Girls, a dozen sales executives and the Warriors TV and radio team - Bob Fitzgerald and Jim Barnett.

Following 45 minutes of light food and drinks, Bob Fitzgerald grabbed the mike and emceed, taking the middle stool between Riley and Rowell. Each gave a five minute pep talk, followed by Q&A. Questions were hand written, pre-submitted and obviously screened; clearly, management learned the lesson some time ago: live questions to a regime less popular than Kim Jong-il could lead to classic YouTube moments. Picture the collective sigh of everyone's Kool-Aid acid test wearing off when a live interactive moment with Warrior management spreads faster than United Airlines breaking guitars.

The questions were lame, no surprise there, and the answers were off-the-shelf predictable, even less surprise:

- Steven Jackson; "he wants to win, just like us"
- What is the projected starting five; "never written in stone, whatever helps us win"
- Any big trades in the making; "anything to improve the team, given the reality of the shrinking salary cap and lackluster economy" (and the owner's cash flow crisis)
- Is there any way for me to get free season tickets; "no" (We drove from the city for this?)

Rowell, Riley and Fitzgerald all expressed excitement about the young team, potential growth, and as always, the teaser of perhaps making the playoffs.

Then the moment came.

If you listen closely, there is usually a revealing moment of truth. Sometimes its subtle, you have to really search. Other times...

Riley was speaking of Nellie's focus this year: Nellie is more focused then he has ever seen him; Coach is excited, committed to developing the young players; We are going to see some great coaching this season; If this team can hang around .500 come February, we are going to see some very good coaching late in the season."

Wait.
Stop the Tape.
Hit that 8 second TIVO rewind button.
Did I just hear that?

"If this team can hang around .500 come February..."

There it is, the moment.

The Warriors are striving for mediocrity.

5 months into the season, the goal is to win half the games. The Kool-Aid must have been extra strength, though, because, in last night's revival tent, it passed without a murmur.

Its safe to say most organizations expect to be at least .500 by February; Good teams would be highly disappointed. But not our Warriors.

After hearing the distinct sound of air escaping our personal balloon, there seemed to be little hope of discussing the off season free agency. Some teams add Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess. Others get Marion and Drew Gooden. Others still add Shaq or Artest or Andre Miller. The Dubs get Devean George and Acie Law.

For this well honed goal of a .500 record, Warrior Update owns 4th row seats.

Dare we ask: Are there other Russian oligarchs who want in? Could Larry Ellison change his mind?

Yet through the haze, we can still see one thing clearly: we are still excited to see Anthony Randolph.

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As Always, Go Ws!
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#7

Golden State Warriors Update - Sep 1, 2009

The Warriors Signs Two Players...

...and prove Stephen Jackson's point.

The News: A couple of days after Jax undressed the Warriors front office and exposed their money-first, winning-second strategy, GM-in-training Larry Riley announced more roster fine tuning with the signings yesterday of Mikki Moore and CJ Watson.

Moore agreed to a veteran minimum deal of $1.3 million for one year and, although restricted free agent CJ hasn't officially signed, he tweeted (on Twitter, that is) his personal fans that the 1 year, $1 million qualifying offer is a done deal; when someone tweeds, its now a fact, right?

The Real Deal: We all know CJ's resume: solid offensive player, good mid-range jumper, can create his own offense, does well under pressure, decent ball handler, OK passer, 3s range only in the short corners. And, to show Watson bleeds true orange&blue Warriors blood, what passes for point guard matador defense is the occasional steal that ignites a fast break.

Mikki Moore is an active, athletic, lean 6'11" forward/center who plays mostly in the paint on both ends. Mikki is quick for his size and is tough enough to board in traffic, occasionally cleaning up around the rim. He is, at times, too aggressive, not super smooth on offense, and is no outside threat what so ever. On the this team, he will see time and add on-court value.

The Devil In The Details: Both are good signings, value for the price. More so though if you were, say, San Antonio or Cleveland, trying to shore up the end of your bench for a title run. The problem, is that unlike the 5-7 minutes/game each would see with the Spurs or the Cavs, these two will see 12-18 minutes a game with the Ws. And when not in the Nellie doghouse and shooting well, they might get as much as 30 minutes in the occasional game.

So the Dubs are filling up their #8-10 guys with minimum wage-ish guys. No surprise there. The Warriors recipe works like this: start with significantly over market price salaries for guys 1-6 (read: Maguette, Biedrins, Ellis, Jackson), add in a tight wallet overall, mix in a zero tolerance policy for luxury tax, and what do you get? Not much left for the rest...

How Does Cap'n Jax Fit Into This? Stephen Jackson spoke about wanting to play on a title contending team and while Moore and Watson are serviceable guys, neither would get crunch time minutes on a serious contender (which, ahem, the Ws are not, in spite of Riley's lip service yesterday. By the way, how did he keep a straight face yesterday as he said " we are working towards a championship"?).

The proof in the pudding: Moore averaged 6 minutes a game with the KG-less Celtics during last year's playoffs; he only saw garbage time, despite 40 power forward minutes per game in street clothes throughout the entire playoffs.

The Amusement (The one thing you can always count on with the Warriors): Rowell always has a clever angle, and his genius here is in assembling a team of first name spelling mistakes. Its the close-but-no-cigar-players-names: think Devean, Acie, Monta, Ronny (pronounced Ro-an-ny) and now Mikki.

Ahhh, how Warriors fans find entertainment where they can...

P.S.: Tim Kawakami is reporting that there is not much of a market for Stephen Jackson. Between his 4 yr, $36MM contract and his past on-court behavior problems, there's no surprise there...

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As always, Go Ws!

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#6

Golden State Warriors Update - Aug 29, 2009 - II

JACKSON WANTS OUT IS CONFIRMED; HERE'S WHY

It didn't take long to confirm the news that Stephen Jackson wants out of Warrior-ville.

Apparently, he said so in an interview he gave to Dime Magazine while at a party in New York with Al Harrington.

Fan response could (and does) include:

- Something else is going. Jax's about face didn't happen so quickly without something else happening. Nellie or Riley forced the issue.

- He heard his name in trade rumors, and figures he'll preempt it.

or more convincingly:

- Jax played Robert Rowell (Warriors president and owner Chris Cohan's right hand man) like a fiddle: He got a contract extension - while still under contract for another 18 months - in the middle of last season, claiming he "wants to be a Warrior for Life." He got his money, then he leaves.

The last is plausible.

But here is what Warriors Update thinks: For Stephen Jackson, its about winning.

And the Warriors front office consistently proves Cohan's financial position comes first. Sure, they wouldn't mind winning; after all, how long can they dupe fans into watching a consistently bad team?

Look at the evidence:

First, Rowell breaks up the '07 playoff team but nixing the very reasonably priced Baron Davis extension Mullin had negotiated.

Then they sit idly by while Nellie doesnt give his young talent time on the court to evaluate what he has. Worse yet, Nellie plays head games with the young talent and talks to them through the press.

Rowell then "fires" Mullin, the only front office person with NBA credentials, and gives the GM job to Nellie's side kick Larry Riley.

Finally this off season, they sit idly while free agent player after player find new homes, giving new hope to numerous franchises. Many players who signed reasonably priced contracts, including Shawn Marion, fit well into Nellie's system and could have helped move the team into playoff contention.

But the fact remains: for the Ws, positive cash flow comes first.

And now the players see it. Some cant do anything about it, locked into contracts with no leverage. Others - the D league pickups (thank you once again, Chris Mullin) mostly - are just thrilled to be in the NBA.

But others (read: Stephen Jackson), understand whats going on, have leverage and are being vocal about it.

Jax did want to be a Warrior for life when he signed the contract. Then again, he believed the Warriors wanted to put together enough talent win a championship. But now, he sees it differently.

A lot can be said about Stephen Jackson. His volatile personality. His league leading turnovers. His "never met a shot I didnt like" on court attitude. His techincals (second only to Sheed last year). But he, more than BDavis, led the Ws to a winning season and the playoff victory over top-ranked Dallas in '07.

And he is smart. Smart enough to see whats going on.

If - and its a big if - the Warriors are headed in a championship direction, they won't be there for several years. That much they have made clear.

Jax understands that, and realizes he can't wait that long.

Honestly, who can blame him? Who would want to play their last 4 or 5 years for a team striving for mediocrity?

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As Always, Go Ws!

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#5

Golden State Warriors Update - Aug 29, 2009

News Flash: Stephen Jax Wants Out

I will confirm this in the next few days, but here is the news story as it appeared last night:

Appearing in New York with Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson said he does not want to return to the Warriors this season.

"I don't think I'll be a Warrior next year. I'm looking to leave," Jackson said.

Jackson said the Warriors have been made aware of his desire to be traded.

"I really can't get too much into it right now, but I'm just looking to go somewhere where I can go and win a championship," Jackson said.

Jackson listed the Cavs, any of the three teams in Texas and the Knicks as his preferred destinations.

Jackson won a championship as a member of the Spurs during the 2002-03 season.

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As always, go Ws!

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#4

Golden State Warriors Update - July 17, 2009

"I'm Not Dead Yet"

It wasn't Monty Python's black knight you heard screaming "I'm Not Dead Yet" last night. It was the Warriors' sophomore Anthony Morrow in the Vegas summer league, setting a league record, scoring 47 points on 69% shooting including 7 of 9 3s.

Apparently, Morrow didn't want to disappear in the shadow of celebrated draft choice, Steph Curry, whom everyone assumed would take Morrow's role as designated deep shooter (I know what you're thinking: isn't that every Warriors' position?) during the regular season. Morrow to Nellie: "Your move..."

The other Anthony, the all-star-in-the-making Anthony Randolph, sat out the game, but will likely win league MVP with his impressive stats: 26, 8 and 3 (that's 3 blocks/game).

Lots of big stats for the Ws in Vegas over the last two weeks. Is this a bit of older kids playing in a little kids game? Or is it just superior play? Either way, its all good news for the Ws.

None the less, lets be realistic: Unless the Ws make a banner headline trade (probability sans Mullin with current ownership,this is an improved but still challenged team. If everyone stays healthy, this is an improved team that would do well to be a .500 club, and is less than likely to be fighting for a playoff spot come March and April.

One more player to watch: Cartier Martin. He has impressed summer league coach Keith Smart with his hustle and tough play, although at 6'6", he may have trouble finding a spot at the already crowded wing position on the Ws roster (Curry, Monta, Jax, Maguette, Morrow, Azebuke, Belineli). We will see how it all shakes out...

As always, Go Ws!

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#2

Golden State Warriors Update - July 30, 2009

"No one tried to say a thing
When they carried him out in jest
Except of course the little neighbor boy
Who carried him to rest.

And he just walked along, alone
With his guilt so well concealed
And muttered underneath his breath
Nothing is revealed"

- Bob Dylan, The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest


Since our last Warrior update 2 weeks ago, there has been plenty of NBA activity: trades, free agent signings, players moving around the league. And while the rich have gotten richer (the most improved teams are the perennially deep-into-the-playoffs teams), the league has divided into "haves and have-nots"and our beloved Ws have been watching from the sidelines.

But not to worry, the team website counters. They say, and I kid you not, as I quote verbatim:

"It may be July, but the Warriors have been plenty busy...from the 2009 NBA draft... [Drum roll, please - its worth waiting for this one] to Warrior Girl Tryouts, the organization has experienced a bevy of activity."

No, please, pick yourself off the floor, stop laughing and catch your breath.

I say this because our beloved front office crew proved yesterday they are after more than a better dance routine. While they sat idly while Vince Carter, Shawn Marion, Hedo Turkoglu, Shaq, Tyson Chandler, Andre Miller, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Richard Jefferson, Sheed, Antonio McDyess, Brandon Bass, Mike Miller, Trevor Ariza, Ron Artest, Channing Frye all found new homes, the Ws showed they mean business on Wednesday. They made a trade.

They acquired Toronto's hotly pursued Devean George. And all they had to give up was Marco Belinelli, the 18th overall '07 pick. And here comes the really good news: Toronto is picking up most of George's $1.6mm salary next year.

Why, you might ask, is that really good news? Well, lets assume you own an NBA team in the Bay Area. And lets assume that you have well documented and publicly known IRS problems and personal cash flow issues. And lets say that there was a salary cap and luxury tax system in place where, if your NBA team is below the cap, you get your pro rata cash distribution of other owners' luxury tax payments. Hmmm...

So you dump a player making $10mm a year for a couple of players who wont be on the team much longer. Really helpful. But you could use a little more. So you speak to the coach and your buddy, the team president, and ask: how can we trim the payroll more without scaring away the fans?

Well, you are told, we have a logjam at the 2 guard position, 6 guys who will fight for minutes - Jax, Morrow, Monta, Curry, Azebuke, Belinelli. Marco wont see a lot of playing time - he's not in the coach's fave 5. We can dump him and save a couple of scheckles. Lets find sometime who will take him and also eat the salary of the player we get in return.

Viola! Its done.

Never mind 2 years ago we were very high on our first round pick. Terrific shooter, can drive to the hoop, slick passer, great NBA potential, a vital piece of our future.

And we get to cement our position among the "have-nots." All so easy.

Are we, the fans, disappointed? Well, the team still has alot of potential - Randolph is developing into a legit NBA star. Morrow is proving he belongs, can stretch the floor and perhaps lead the league in 3s shooting again. Monta and Jax are healthy. Curry might contribute, despite shooting 38% in the Vegas league against wannabes. And maybe this is the year Brandon Wright shows he is an NBA player deserving of 30+ minutes/game.

And, I believe the trading isnt done. Here is a prediction: In late August, when Speedy Claxton is available to be moved, The Ws trade for Carlos Boozer.

Whoa, you say. Wait just a cotton picking minute. This might make the team better. And Boozer is highly paid. How does that jive with the salary dumping, penny pinching Ws ownership? Its a short term / long term thing. Here's the deal:

They give up Claxton, Andre Biedrins, maybe Brandon Wright, maybe a #1 pick.

Looks exciting. Is it good? For the Jazz, its terrific. They get rid of someone who is leaving in a year, carries a huge salary and already has a very promising replacement. In return, the Jazz get a legit low post center who is quick, can move, score and rebound, and fits well in their motion offense. He is signed long term. Maybe their missing piece to make a serious run at the championship.

The Ws? They get Boozer. A terrific player, no doubt, even if he is sometimes accused of not playing defense (and who on the Ws roster isnt in that boat?). But he is on loan for 1 year, and that's the beauty for the ownership - Boozer's $13mm salary comes off the books after this season, and the Ws ownership get out from under Biedrin's 5 year, $50mm contract.

The Ws lose their only legit center and leading rebounder on a team starved for rebounding.

And, us? The fans? Tantalized for one more season of almost making the playoffs. Just a thought....

Until next time....

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As always, Go Ws!

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#3

Golden State Warriors Update - July 5, 2009

WARRIORS NAME IS MUDD TO FREE AGENTS

There's a bit of massaging the evidence to fit the theory in the article below, but, for the most part, its right on. One can only hope that: 1) the rumors that Cohan selling the team are true 2) none of this keeps Shawn Marion from looking for his perfect home in Nellie-world.

They can sell the gorgeous landscapes and the mild weather. They can sell the distinctive cultures, the splendid urban/rural blend.

They can offer more than enough money to take the sting off the cost of living in a place Tyrone Willingham, who has lived in a dozen states, refers to as "God's Country."

What the Warriors have a devil of a time doing, though, is selling their organization to the NBA's most desirable free agents.

It's not that nobody who can make a difference on an NBA team wants to come to the Bay Area. It's that nobody who can make a difference on an NBA team wants to be a Warrior.

That's the enduring curse of the Chris Cohan regime.

Once again it is July — the busiest month on the NBA calendar — and once again the Warriors are finding it exceedingly difficult to overcome their culture of erratic ownership, instability in the front office and capricious coaching. That's the league-wide perception and they do more than enough to foster it.

So once again, they're finding none of the league's better players showing even the slightest bit of interest in coming to our lovely corner of the world.

Coach/emperor Don Nelson, through general manager Larry Riley, has made clear that his No. 1 offseason goal is to acquire a veteran low-block scoring threat — which has been this team's goal since the Civil War. They have identified several, including Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire, who would have to come as part of a trade. Except Stoudemire,surveying the field, sniffed and said he'd rather not come here.

Meanwhile, stars sprint toward new regions. Hedo Turkoglu dashes into Toronto, Vince Carter floats into Orlando, Richard Jefferson rushes into San Antonio, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are galloping into Detroit. Shaquille O'Neal rushes to get to . . . Cleveland.

So, with Stoudemire expressing the feelings of most around the NBA, the Warriors' arduous search begins anew.

Cruising the free-agent market finds little to inspire the fan base. Does your pulse race at the thought of reacquiring the likes of Joe Smith or Donyell Marshall? Didn't think so. But Joe and Donyell, both on the dark side of their careers, are about as good as anybody out there in the dual roles of grabbing rebounds and making shots.

Thus the Warriors only real chance is to make a trade and force someone to come here. In case you have forgotten how that ends, we have a long list of names — beginning with Nick Van Exel, Danny Fortson, Mookie Blaylock and Rony Seikaly — to remind you.

Yet this is bind into which the Warriors have placed themselves. There was, for the briefest of moments, an attempt to shed this ugly tradition. Five years ago this month, new GM Chris Mullin overpaid for Derek Fisher, who was the first "name" free agent to sign up since Mark "Well Past His Prime" Price in 1996. Mullin conceded the Fisher signing was as much about bringing credibility to the franchise as it was about improving the team.

Credibility, however, did not rear its welcome presence until seven months later, when Mullin traded for Baron Davis. Davis eventually led to Nelson's return, which led to the impact trade bringing Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington, which led to consecutive winning seasons for the first time in Cohan's ownership, which began in 1995.

We saw that unravel in true Warriors fashion, from the top down. When Davis opted out last July, the Warriors chased Gilbert Arenas. Familiar with the club from his two seasons here, Gil chuckled, declined and contacted Baron. The Los Angeles buddies, realizing Mullin's juice had been drained, found the overture rather desperate.

The Warriors then turned to Elton Brand, who became a California guy during his seven years with the Clippers. Brand politely declined and went to Philadelphia.

The Warriors wound up overcompensating Corey Maggette and picking up Rony Turiaf after making an offer the Lakers declined to match. A one-dimensional wing and reliable backup big man represent the best of the Cohan-era free agents.

Unless you found something irresistible about Fisher, Price, Speedy Claxton or Cal Cheaney, in which case you should congratulate yourself. You've been influenced by a lifestyle your friends in Cleveland and Detroit only wish they could have.

Enjoy your July, Warriors fans, and remember to keep your expectations low.

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As always, Go Ws!

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#1