The 2006-07 NBA season might be over, but after last Thursday’s
draft trade talks are seriously heating up.
The 2006-07 NBA season might be over, but after last Thursday’s draft trade talks are seriously heating up.
Especially for the Golden State Warriors.
By trading veteran Warrior Jason Richardson to the Charlotte Bobcats for No. 8 draft pick Brandan Wright, Chris Mullin seems to have positioned the Warriors as the front-runner for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ aging, yet still dominant Kevin Garnett.
This is the player all Warrior fans are asking for: A dedicated, talented, team-oriented, and who can forget, All-Star big man to anchor Golden State’s undermanned frontcourt.
To acquire Garnett the Warriors will have to give up some sort of combination of vital components from last year’s stunning playoff squad. But it is a necessary step to make the team championship level contender.
Speculation revolves around budding stars Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins, freshly acquired Al Harrington, the recently drafted 19-year-old Wright and also last year’s first-round draft pick Patrick O’Bryant, who is seven-feet-tall.
Ellis, Wright and O’Bryant are almost sure to be included in that trade, but the question is who else are the Warriors willing to give up?
The Wolves want Biedrins, whom the Warriors seem reluctant to give up because of his size, youth and improved play.
Giving up Biedrins or Harrington will further compromise the Warriors’ delicate frontcourt, which otherwise includes rookie Josh Powell and veteran benchwarmer Adonal Foyle.
To make the Warriors a Finals contender however, that compromise is necessary.
The Warriors found problems in round two of this year’s playoff run, as they were stopped short by the Utah Jazz. The reason was the front-court combination of Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur. In competing with the Jazz, it became obvious that the Warriors lacked size and strength in the frontcourt and would need an inside presence to beat the “larger” teams.
Enter the 2007 NBA draft and an early, shocking trade.
The Warriors’ first round draft pick, Italian guard Marco Belinelli, might be a good fit for Nelly Ball, but the acquisition of Brandon Wright is even more important.
Belinelli put up mediocre numbers in the European and Italian leagues. He represented Italy at the 2006 FIBA World Championships, where he scored 25 points against the United States in a preliminary round game.
Known for his athleticism and shooting skills, Belinelli could be the next Manu Ginobli. However, he could also be the next nobody, so we’ll have to wait to see his worth.
By trading Jason Richardson to Charlotte for the 6’9″ forward from the University of North Carolina, Brandon Wright, the Warriors have opted to put their faith in Stephen Jackson, Ellis and Belinelli at the shooting guard position and are taking a chance with Wright at power forward.
Losing J-Rich is bitter-sweet for me and many Warriors fans who I’ve spoken with.
As a high-flying, three-point shooting, ruthless competitor, J-Rich was the face of the Warriors for six-years.
Warriors fans fell in love with a guy who made the games exciting to watch and was eager to revitalize a seemingly eternally losing organization.
By trading Richardson though, the Warriors freed up $10 million to use towards acquiring a free agent through a sign-and-trade deal. Couple that $10 million with a plethora of young talent to use as trading pieces, and the Warriors stand poised to capture Garnett.
At present, teams can negotiate contract offers with players, but the earliest the NBA allows for players to begin signing contracts is July 11. Forward Matt Barnes and guard Mickel Pietrus, both of whom played vital minutes in Don Nelson’s eight-man playoff rotation, have increased their stock around the league and could be key departures.
And whether Don Nelson returns as head coach also remains a mystery.
A lot of variables are revolving around the campfire that is Garnett, so for the next eight days Golden State will remain a burning ember in the trade rumor inferno.
For Warriors fans, after watching the historical upset of Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, this is shaping up to be the most rousing off-season in history.
Contact Paul Doherty at [email protected].
