Warriors News

Amare deal on life support
Comment
July 1
Contra Costa Times
 
"What seemed like a near certainty on draft night - the Warriors acquiring power forward Amare Stoudemire - has fizzled into an unlikely trade. The Warriors declined to comment, per team policy, but recent reports indicated Stoudemire doesn't want to play for Golden State, which figures to end any possibility of the trade happening. A source told MediaNews that Stoudemire thinks the Warriors would be giving up too much (leaving him with little left to work with) and that he doesn't want to play center. Also, the Arizona Republic, quoting Stoudemire's agent Charles Grantham, reported Stoudemire's focus is on winning an NBA title, preferably in Phoenix. Considering the Warriors are a ways ..."
Law jumps at second chance with Warriors
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June 30
Contra Costa Times
 
"Point guard Acie Law didn't get much of a chance to play with the Atlanta Hawks. His second NBA season was spent trapped behind starter Mike Bibby and backup Flip Murray. But now, Law gets a new beginning. Now he's no longer the caboose in the Hawks' point guard logjam. They traded him away. "Atlanta didn't work out the way I wanted it to," said Law, who was at the Warriors' downtown facility taking his physical to complete the trade that brought him and Speedy Claxton to Golden State for Jamal Crawford. "This is a fresh start. This style of play suits my game. I'm looking forward to it." One small problem. He was acquired by the Warriors. Golden State already has four guys on the roster ..."
Acie Law was at a barber shop when an NBA opportunity finally might have arrived.
Comment
June 30
San Francisco Chronicle
 
""I was ... getting my hair cut when I started to hear about the trade, and a couple of days later, it was official," said Law, who was in Oakland on Monday for a physical that completed his trade from Atlanta to Golden State. "I feel like this is a better situation for me, and I think I can fit in here." If those thoughts are to become reality, Law is in for some hard work. When the Warriors traded for Law last week, just hours before the draft, they needed a true point guard. Now the team has voiced its commitment to Monta Ellis and C.J. Watson, drafted Stephen Curry and acquired Speedy Claxton in the Jamal Crawford-for-Law deal. Marcus Williams, the Warriors' third point guard last ..."
Not to worry about Curry
Comment
June 28
Contra Costa Times
 
"There they sat, Warriors general manager Larry Riley and Davidson star guard Stephen Curry. The interview was part of the pre-draft camp in Chicago in late May. He was a bit concerned, perhaps even nervous. Wanting badly to make a good impression, the questions raced through his head. Is he even interested? Does he even know who I am or how good we can be together? But the uncertainty, the concern wasn't on the part of the 21-year-old college junior. He had already nailed his first impression. The fret belonged to the 64-year-old first-time NBA executive. "I did a sales job," Riley said. "I was concerned that he might not be as interested in us as he should be. . . . All the other guys we ..."
Nellie has his new Nash, and his new point guard
Comment
June 27
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Cam Inman
"WARRIORS COACH Don Nelson loves his new point guard. Monta Ellis? No, silly, Stephen Curry, the seventh overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft. Nellie is so enthralled with Curry's point-guard ability that he (a) repeatedly declared Friday that Curry won't be traded and (b) said Curry is his preferred point guard over Ellis, the embattled but potent scorer. "Monta still has to work on his point-guard skills as well as his passing skills. That was part of his (offseason) program to get better at," Nellie said. "This guy (Curry) already has that. Monta has some work to do in that area. But they'll be fine together." They had better be if the Warriors are to succeed in "The Year of Nellie," ..."
Warriors got a keeper in guard Stephen Curry
Comment
June 27
Contra Costa Times
 
"The question was inevitable. Before Friday's news conference introducing rookie Stephen Curry, word had circulated that the Warriors' trade talks with the Phoenix Suns regarding All-Star power forward Amare Stoudemire were being held up by Curry. The issue? The Warriors wanted to keep him, and the Suns insisted he be part of the deal - leaving the status of the seventh pick in Thursday's NBA draft up in the air. But when asked whether the Warriors would let Curry get away, coach Don Nelson had an answer ready. And it was definitive. "No," Nelson said. "I should be clear about that. He wasn't drafted for somebody else. He is not going to be traded. He was drafted because we think he is ..."
Warriors, keep Curry
Comment
June 27
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"If I'm running the Warriors, I'll give up Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Kelenna Azubuike and Marco Belinelli for Amare Stoudemire. Those players are expendable, given that Stoudemire replaces Biedrins in the middle. Throw in Stephen Curry, and the deal's off. The Warriors just acquired a 21-year-old player who will be a star in the NBA for years to come. He won't be Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, but Curry will be one of the league's top three-point shooters, guaranteed, as well as a clever passer who understands the nuances of a half-court set. He comes from good stock and won't be intimidated by any player or any team. You don't give up players like that, especially if a miracle brought ..."
Clarifying the Suns-Warriors situation
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June 27
Arizona Republic
 
"When Minnesota picked Jonny Flynn with the sixth pick Thursday night, the Suns basketball operations office erupted in elation audible from a floor below. They had their guy ... or at least they thought they did and still believe they do. The Suns had an agreement in principle with Golden State about a deal that would send Amaré Stoudemire to the Warriors for Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli and the No. 7 pick. It was the Suns' understanding that the Warriors were drafting Curry for them. But with Biedrins' base-year compensation status, a deal can't be completed immediately because his cap number is lower than his actual $9 million salary until July. The Suns were ..."
Warriors notebook: Trades remain possibility
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June 26
Contra Costa Times
 
"After selecting Stephen Curry with the No. 7 pick in Thursday's NBA draft, Warriors general manager Larry Riley said there remains a need for a big man who can defend and rebound. And he said he wouldn't mind alleviating the logjam at shooting guard to acquire that player. With Stephen Jackson penciled in as the team's starting shooting guard, it's possible the Warriors could move one or more of their guards and wings to get a versatile power forward who also could play center or small forward. Marco Belinelli, Anthony Morrow, Monta Ellis, Kelenna Azubuike and C.J. Watson all have spent time at shooting guard, and the team also acquired guards Acie Law and Speedy Claxton on Wednesday from ..."
Warriors, Curry perfect blend at 7
Comment
June 26
Contra Costa Times
 
"The Warriors got the guy they wanted all along in Thursday's NBA draft, selecting Davidson guard Stephen Curry with the seventh overall pick. "We did have Steph on the board at seven probably a month or six weeks ago," Warriors general manager Larry Riley said. "Then he was rising. I was concerned at one point we might not get him. I thought he might go ahead of us. ... He's a guy we targeted." The only question now is how long they keep him. Riley said he was operating as if Curry will be a Warrior this coming season. But the Warriors, according to multiple sources, are in trade talks for Phoenix Suns All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire. The Warriors would send the rights to their ..."
Warriors insist they have a place for a great shooter
Comment
June 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Warriors didn't feel the choice would be that difficult. Either Jordan Hill or Stephen Curry would be available as the No. 7 pick in Thursday night's draft, and that would be that. Instead, an organization-defining choice was staring them in the face. Bypassing the chance to improve their defense and rebounding, they chose Curry, the best shooter in collegiate basketball, as the backup point guard - at least for now - to Monta Ellis. Warriors general manager Larry Riley said he had been tracking Curry's progress throughout the past season, twice in person, and that there are no plans to trade him. "This is a great day for the Golden State Warriors," Riley said. "Everything we saw told ..."
Warriors trade Crawford for guards Law, Claxton
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June 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Warriors traded for a point guard Wednesday, a player once considered one of the finest in the nation, but fans shouldn't take this the wrong way: Acie Law, acquired along with guard Speedy Claxton in the deal for Jamal Crawford, is not considered the team's point guard of the future. This is mostly a flexibility move regarding the salary cap, a glaring issue for the Warriors with so many players locked into long-term deals. It's all about expiring contracts (both Law and Claxton), unloading salary (Crawford) and creative ways to improve the roster in the long-term. Coach Don Nelson and general manager Larry Riley were not in position to comment on the deal, first reported by ESPN on ..."
Picking Curry may help Warriors deal with Suns
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June 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"It's hard to know just how invested Warriors fans should be in first-round choice Stephen Curry. After all, he may not be here all that long. Then again, he, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson and Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire may form the nucleus of a dramatically different Warriors team. Not necessarily better, mind you - the franchise history demands low expectations and dismal forecasts - but different. The Stoudemire trade has been rumored for awhile now, with changing components that swirl around Andris Biedrins, but also include some combination of the draft choice, Marco Belinelli, Kelenna Azubuike and Brandan Wright. That rumor has only grown in intensity since the Curry selection. ..."
Curry pick part of likely Amare deal
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June 25
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns likely landed their man in Thursday night's draft before their pick ever came up. Golden State's selection of Davidson point guard Stephen Curry at No. 7 was likely made for the Suns as part of an Amaré Stoudemire trade that can't be completed until Wednesday. That is because Phoenix would be acquiring Warriors center Andris Biedrins, a base-year compensation player, as part of a Stoudemire deal that would include more Warriors players, possibly power forward Brandan Wright and/or shooting guard Marco Belinelli. The Suns were hoping they could land Curry or Arizona power forward Jordan Hill with the Warriors' seventh pick but had their choice after Minnesota took neither with its ..."
Curry adds spice to Warriors
Comment
June 25
Contra Costa Times
 
"DYNAMIC GUARD Stephen Curry played his final collegiate game in the Bay Area, and he's coming back to start his NBA career -- barring a potential trade to the Phoenix Suns for Amare Stoudemire. The Warriors selected Curry with the seventh overall pick in Thursday's draft, making their Road to Relevancy a lot more exciting. Curry can shoot, score, pass, defend. He can smile, talk, make for a nice (baby)face of the franchise. But can he lift the Warriors out of their funk? It's a start, and finding a smooth guard to ride shotgun with Monta Ellis was a must for the Warriors and coach Don Nelson. "That's dangerous for an opponent, to come in with three guys (he, Ellis and Stephen Jackson) who ..."
Suns and Warriors in talks about Amare, #7 pick in draft
Comment
June 25
Yahoo! Sports
 
"League executives say the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors have discussed a possible trade that is centered around sending Amare Stoudemire to the Warriors for a package that would include Andris Biedrins and the No. 7 pick in the draft."
Warriors' draft pick in for rude awakening
Comment
June 25
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Monte Poole
"THE WARRIORS this week rolled out their big wheels, with general manager Larry Riley taking a seat and responding to the questions of summer while coach Don Nelson declined to sit and was baffled about having to address any questions at all. Given the general state of the Warriors, Nelson's stance, while unbecoming, actually might be more appropriate. For today brings another NBA draft, which means another lottery pick for a franchise so accustomed to playing lotto that it treats its selections like paper cups - useful, yes, but not at all enduring and entirely disposable. Though there is plenty of hope for youngsters Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright, the team's most recent lottery ..."
Warriors unload Crawford to Hawks
Comment
June 25
Contra Costa Times
 
"Last November, guard Jamal Crawford was elated about being traded to the Warriors. He was back on the West Coast, he was playing in a fun offensive system, and he was on a team with promise. Seven months later, Crawford is again elated, this time about leaving the Warriors. "I was excited when I came," Crawford said when reached by phone Wednesday. "But towards the end of the season, that had faded. It became too uncomfortable with too much uncertainty." Team sources confirmed Golden State agreed to trade Crawford to the Atlanta Hawks for point guards Speedy Claxton and Acie Law. The deal can't go through the league office until July 1. The trade won't affect what Golden State will do in ..."
Hawks close to deal for Golden State's Jamal Crawford
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June 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"The Hawks and Golden State are close to finalizing a trade that would bring Jamal Crawford to Atlanta and send Acie Law and Speedy Claxton to the Warriors, according to two different sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Hawks general manager Rick Sund declined to comment through Hawks' spokesman Arthur Triche. In Crawford the Hawks would get a veteran player capable of playing both guard positions. Crawford, 29, averaged 19.7 points, 4.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds last season, splitting his time with New York and Golden State. He also gives the Hawks insurance in the backcourt since starting point guard Mike Bibby and backup guard Flip Murray are both unrestricted free agents. Law and ..."
Sources: Hawks to deal two to Warriors
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June 24
ESPN.com
 
"The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are closing in on a trade that would find a new home for Jamal Crawford. NBA front-office sources say that the Warriors and Hawks will soon complete a deal sending Crawford to Atlanta for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. Warriors coach Don Nelson made no secret of the fact that Crawford wasn't in his future plans. By shedding Crawford's longer contract and by virtue of insurance payments that will cover some of the costs of Claxton, Golden State would secure a decent measure of payroll relief with the trade."
Riley faces dilemma in first draft as Warriors GM
Comment
June 23
San Francisco Examiner
 columnist Glenn Dickey
"New general manager Larry Riley talked at length to the media Monday about the Warriors and the NBA draft, and coach Don Nelson even made a cameo appearance. Riley was genial and Nelson grumpy, but the unintended message for Warriors fans from both was the same: You'd better like what you saw at the end of last season because you're going to see more of it in the upcoming one. Nelson is usually playing golf in Maui at this time of year instead of watching film of collegiate players, which may have accounted for his foul mood, but it was appropriate that he be there because he's the one who created this mess. Departed GM Chris Mullin made the moves Nellie wanted, not that it did him any ..."
Wizards Rebuffing Inquiries for Butler
Comment
June 23
Washington Post
 
"The Washington Wizards hold the fifth pick in Thursday's NBA draft and President Ernie Grunfeld has spoken openly about his willingness to move the selection, opening the door for numerous inquiries and trade discussions in the past few weeks. About half of the teams in the league have spoken with the Wizards, according to a league source, and most of those discussions have revolved around the draft choice. Some teams, though, have also asked about the availability of the Wizards' top players, with most focusing on Caron Butler. Multiple sources have confirmed that the Wizards engaged in conversations with the Phoenix Suns about acquiring all-star forward Amare Stoudemire last month, but ..."
Warriors not afraid of a little competition after draft
Comment
June 23
Contra Costa Times
 
"Warriors general manager Larry Riley acknowledged with playful reluctance that he's 64 years old. He's been in the league for decades and around the sport even longer. So, he's bona fide old school. Which is why he has no problems with competition. He is likely to create some on his roster with the No. 7 pick in Thursday's NBA draft. Riley, in a session with the local media Monday, said the Warriors are likely to draft either a point guard or a power forward, with the discussion centering mostly on Davidson guard Stephen Curry and Arizona big man Jordan Hill. A selection at either position would create interesting roster decisions this offseason and, if a point guard is drafted, perhaps ..."
Hill the guy - if Warriors pass on point guard
Comment
June 23
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Ask anyone who has followed Don Nelson's career: Could you imagine him starting a front line of players standing 6-foot-11, 6-10 and 6-10, each of them under 24, none a proven NBA scorer? If the predraft indications are correct, that's the Warriors' plan for the coming season. They appear to be targeting Jordan Hill, the 6-10 power forward out of Arizona, if he's available at the No. 7 slot of the first round Thursday night. Nelson and general manager Larry Riley were noncommittal in a Monday gathering with the media in Oakland, but they dropped enough hints about the point-guard position - essentially leaving it in Monta Ellis' hands - to make their priorities clear. Nelson took one look ..."
Two drafts made Warriors turn a sickly green
Comment
June 21
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"With the NBA draft looming, Warriors fans can comfort themselves with the knowledge that the team cannot have its worst-ever draft. No way the W's can top (bottom?) what they did in 1978 and 1980. Phil Jackson's 10th NBA title set off a mini-debate over best coach - Jackson (10 titles) or Celtics legend Red Auerbach (9)? Correct answer: Jackson. Auerbach was an excellent coach, but he coached a glut of stars rounded up by his general manager ... Red Auerbach. Auerbach destroyed the Warriors for a decade, and the fallout lingers, maybe. It's a story so gruesome it should be told every Halloween. In 1978, Auerbach drafted Larry Bird with the No. 6 overall pick. Bird was a junior at Indiana ..."
Ellis impacts who Warriors pick
Comment
June 21
Contra Costa Times
 
"Warriors general manager Larry Riley and coach Don Nelson flew to Memphis, Tenn., last week to hand guard Monta Ellis the keys to the locker room. "Coach came down here, and that's exactly what it was," Ellis told KNBR's "Fitz"
Randolph bigger, vows to be better
Comment
June 16
Contra Costa Times
 
"After the Warriors' season ended, rookie forward Anthony Randolph went home to Dallas to take some time off. He was determined to relax for a while. That is, until he made a mistake. He attended a playoff game, a first-round matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. "It (ticked) me off," Randolph said. "The atmosphere, I want to play in that bad. I want to get there." His break lasted a week and a half, and he hated it. Driven by a desire to experience the postseason as a player, Randolph began working out furiously and hasn't stopped since. Remember some seven months ago, when Randolph was drawing the ire of coach Don Nelson for his poor attitude and work ethic? That ..."
Hill's solo predraft debut is with Warriors
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June 13
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Jordan Hill says he has his draft-day suit picked out. He's just not quite ready to announce the brand, style or color that might connect him with a certain NBA team. In fairness, Hill simply doesn't know what team will choose him. Once considered a sure-fire, top-five pick in the June 25 NBA draft, Hill has started to fall into the range of 6-through-10. His first individual workout was Friday with the Warriors - who own the seventh pick - but they are expected to pick a point guard. "I really don't care about that, man," Hill said. "What you read are what people who aren't around think. They're not with the coaches or the GMs or with the people who make the decisions. "It sounds like I'm ..."
If Hill doesn't climb, Warriors might take him
Comment
June 13
Contra Costa Times
 
"What if, when the Warriors are on the clock during the NBA draft June 25, a lauded big man is there for the taking? What if a 6-foot-10, 235-pound, athletic inside player who some predict could go as high as No. 2 overall, is still on the board for Golden State? What if the Warriors have a chance to nab a player who eventually could fulfill their need for a low-post scorer without slowing down their pace? "I hear some people saying they do need a point guard," Arizona junior power forward Jordan Hill said of the Warriors. "But that could change. It could be they want a big man." Hill, 21, is perhaps unlikely to be there when the Warriors' turn comes at No. 7, considering he's regarded as ..."
Is Jennings the point of Warriors draft?
Comment
June 12
Contra Costa Times
 
"With a half a smile, point guard Brandon Jennings said he's heard the Warriors are interested in drafting him with the No. 7 overall pick. But it was evident in his grin, his evasive answer, that he knows Golden State is considering him as their selection. If the mock drafts and media speculation weren't enough to convince him, if the Warriors' need for a true point guard doesn't do the trick, if he wasn't sold by general manager Larry Riley's weeklong visit to Italy, then Jennings got another hint Thursday. After his workout with the Warriors, the lefty from Los Angeles had a brief chat with Riley and coach Don Nelson. "They were just thanking me for coming by and said 'See you soon, ..."
Jennings, Flynn audition for Warriors
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June 12
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"If we are to believe a bevy of mock drafts that link either Brandon Jennings or Jonny Flynn to the No. 7 overall pick, the Warriors might have gotten a personal look at their newest player Thursday. The point guards went head-to-head in about an hourlong, six-player workout at the Oakland facility, but the focus at all times was on Jennings and Flynn. There was no consensus as to who won the day, but both made their pitches for being the Warriors' first-round pick June 25. Flynn "is a great player who goes hard every time and that's what I love," Jennings said. Jennings "is so crafty with the basketball and he's a tough guy to keep in front of you," Flynn said. "He's definitely one of the ..."
6 players visit Warriors for pre-draft audition
Comment
June 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Warriors' whirlwind tour of evaluating potential draft picks continued Saturday, when they brought in a six-player group highlighted by Louisville forward Earl Clark and Wake Forest forward James Johnson. USC guard Marcus Johnson, Clemson guard K.C. Rivers, LSU guard Garrett Temple and DePaul guard Dar Tucker also participated in the workout at the Oakland facility, but only Clark - and possibly Johnson - is considered worthy of the seventh overall pick. Clark, who was measured with a 7-foot wingspan at the combine, consistently creates mismatch problems for opponents. He has a good overall offensive skill set and is a solid rebounder and defender. "I know the Warriors have a really ..."
Despite poor economy, NBA will not eliminate luxury tax
Comment
June 5
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Although several teams have taken a hit financially, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Thursday the league has no plans to eliminate the luxury tax until the economy recovers. With his team's player payroll projected to exceed $76 million, Hornets owner George Shinn could have to pay a luxury tax bill of more than $5 million next summer. The Hornets were one of the 12 teams that received loans from the league this spring. Since 2003, 17 of the league's 30 teams have borrowed $2 billion since the league began establishing a line of credit for loans used by teams. "There's a difference between choosing to and having a need to," Stern said at state of his league address before Thursday's ..."
Warriors loaded at wing, but still looking?
Comment
June 5
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Anthony Morrow, the league's most accurate three-point shooter last year, was concentrating on a series of agility drills with strength and conditioning coach John Murray on Thursday. The Warriors' wing, though, had to wonder what was happening on the other court at the team's Oakland facility. Two days after Louisville wing Terrence Williams said the Warriors are interested in selecting him in the June 25 draft, they worked out another wing, USC freshman DeMar DeRozan on Thursday. The Warriors will also evaluate Louisville wing Earl Clark and Wake Forest's James Johnson as part of a six-player workout Saturday. Arizona power forward Jordan Hill will work out individually next Friday. It ..."
Warriors like shooter Williams
Comment
June 3
Contra Costa Times
 
"Perhaps the last thing the Warriors need is another swingman. They have a roster full of shooting guards and small forwards. But if they are going for best player available when theyNo. 7 overall in the NBA draft June 25, the pick may be another swingman. Louisville senior Terrence Williams - an athletic and physical 6-foot-6, 220-pound shooting guard - might make the Warriors consider adding to their excess. He's been linked to them in the draft rumor mill. Plus, a team source said coach Don Nelson loves Williams. "Right after they call my name, I'd be on the next plane and come here," he said of his reaction should the Warriors draft him. "And won't leave here. Ever." Williams was the ..."
Leading Off: Warriors making Kings look like a smooth ride
Comment
May 27
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Bill Bradley
"Kings fans shouldn't feel too badly about all of their team's problems. After all, they could be fans of the Warriors. Northern California's other NBA team looks like a broken bicycle trying to navigate the hills around Napa. They look great going downhill, but the Warriors' climbs are brutal. Golden State's latest woe, as pointed out by the San Francisco Chronicle's Ray Ratto, is that the team's public relations director commented on a Warriors fan site to defend the promotion of Larry Riley to general manager - but did so anonymously. Their other issues include coach and basketball operations chief Don Nelson being a ghost, former impressive general manager Chris Mullin being slowly ..."
Warriors latest PR fiasco
Comment
May 22
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Cam Inman
"TODAY'S MUST-READ comes from Bay Area News Group colleague Tim Kawakami's blog, where he reveals a stunning propaganda ploy by Warriors executive director of public relations Raymond Ridder. I'm posting the link below so you can fully grasp Ridder's improper attempts to create positive mojo among the frustrated fan base. In short, Ridder admitted to using an alias in posting several pro-Warriors comments to a Warriors fan blog (not TK's). In my opinion, this stinks on two levels: One, it's a slimy way to drum up positive chatter on the Internet, especially in a forum designated for fans and instead taken advantage of by a team employee (albeit one in charge of putting the team's image in ..."
No lottery luck for Warriors
Comment
May 21
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Tim Kawakami
"So there was no immediate Warriors miracle to start Larry Riley's stewardship, just like there was none for Chris Mullin or for Garry St. Jean before them. Poll: Who do you think the Warriors should take with the No. 7 pick? And when poor Riley is replaced in due time, there almost certainly will be no miracle for the next guy either. Draft miracles just aren't in the cards for this franchise - cursed, besotted, ridiculous, and fiercely and forever unlucky. The Warriors went into Tuesday's draft lottery with a new general manager and sitting in the seventh slot, which is exactly how they exited once the pingpong balls quieted and the envelopes were opened. It would have taken a miracle for ..."
Warriors don't beat odds; Kings big losers in lottery
Comment
May 21
Contra Costa Times
 
"The Warriors lost out on the Blake Griffin Sweepstakes in Secaucus, N.J., on Tuesday. They didn't move up in the NBA draft lottery. Of course, it could've been worse. They could've been the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors' Northern California rivals came away with No. 4 pick despite having the league's worst record and a 25 percent chance of nabbing the top pick. Sacramento is undoubtedly the team most in need of a franchise-changing player. Instead, Griffin, the star power forward from Oklahoma, will presumably go to Los Angeles, as the Clippers came away the winners of the lottery. It's the 21st time in the 25 years of the NBA draft lottery that the team with the worst record hasn't ..."
Same as it was for Warriors
Comment
May 20
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In his first official responsibility as Warriors general manager, Larry Riley couldn't entice Lady Luck into moving his squad up in the NBA draft lottery. Now, the movements he actually can control start to take precedence. The Warriors stayed at their prelottery slot Tuesday night in Secaucus, N.J., and willseventh in next month's draft. With the draft position established, Riley said he can begin to move trade talks past the preliminary stages. "Everyone is going to tell you that they are open to anything, but we really are open to moving up, moving down or making a trade," Riley said. "But we've thought all along that we could get a pretty good player at No. 7." The Warriors have been ..."
Warriors playing the NBA lottery
Comment
May 19
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Warriors feel like the stars are aligning for something magical to happen tonight, when a series of whirling ping-pong balls will determine the order of the first 14 picks in the NBA draft and possibly change the fate of a franchise. Magic beats Celtics 101-82, advance to East finals 05.18.09 Never mind that they have a 4.3 percent chance of moving from their current slot at No. 7 to the top spot. "You have to think positive," coach Don Nelson said in a phone interview Monday. That's easy to say from Maui, but Nelson has some experience at the event's annual site in Secaucus, N.J., too. He was the Warriors' representative there in 1993, the last time their pre-lottery position was ..."
Richest coaches are not the best
Comment
May 18
Philadelphia Inquirer
 columnist John Gonzalez
"It's a cruel, unjust world.Forbes recently released its list of the 10 highest-paid professional coaches. If you haven't seen it, be sure to have some Kleenex and high-quality vodka handy - it's enough to make you cry, or drink, or both.Lakers coach Phil Jackson is No.1, earning $10.3 million per year. It's an obscene salary, but he has won nine championships. Only four other guys in the top 10 have titles: Larry Brown (No. 2, $7 million), Doc Rivers (tied for No. 5, $5.5 million) and Tom Coughlin (No. 8, $5.25 million) each have one pro championship, while Bill Belichick (tied for No. 10, $5 million) has three.The rest of the list haven't won a thing: The Knicks' Mike D'Antoni and the ..."
For Warriors' Cohan, there's room to get worse
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May 13
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Warriors called a news conference Tuesday to make a major announcement: They are damn upset that Chris Cohan is only the league's fourth-worst owner, and they're going to do something about it starting NOW! As Bobby Rowell tried to pass off Larry Riley as the general manager and sell a line of bull that Bobby and Nellie aren't running the franchise back into the ground from which it had emerged (like a groundhog) for a brief spell in the spring of 2007, Sports Illustrated's Web site posted a list of the five best and worst owners in the four major sports leagues. Coming in at No. 4 among the NBA's worst was Cohan. It's going to take a lot to break into the top three — the Clippers' ..."
Warriorsanother rung in public eye
Comment
May 13
Contra Costa Times
 
"THE CHARACTERISTIC the Warriors needed most was the very same characteristic Chris Mullin worked hardest to bring to the organization. Not talent, though talent is required to assemble a quality product. Not genius, for that's missing from some of strongest organizations. Nor is it a definitive offensive or defensive identity, for there are myriad ways to assemble a contender. No, the first priority for Mullin was to restore the credibility lost under the decade-old ownership of Chris Cohan. As someone who played in the NBA and observed the business models of three ownerships, Mullin realized no worthwhile aspiration can be realized without credibility. The last traces of the credibility ..."
Warriors new GM is 'no puppet"
Comment
May 13
Contra Costa Times
 
"Larry Riley is not a puppet. That was the overriding message at the news conference introducing Riley as the Warriors' new general manager. Sure, he is a close confidant of coach Don Nelson, who is presumed to be the real basketball string-puller at Golden State. No doubt, he was hand-picked to replace Chris Mullin by team president Robert Rowell, who is believed by many to be the organization's puppet master. Yet, Riley stared down local media at Oracle Arena on Tuesday to proclaim his independence. "That's already out there. We were joined at the hip when we came out here," Riley said of his relationship with Nelson. "Does Nellie dictate my life? No. Is he a good friend? Yes. Do I listen ..."
Tuesday's scene at Warriors news conference was not a complete picture
Comment
May 13
Contra Costa Times
 
"AFTER THE NEWS conference in which they announced their new organizational schematic, the Warriors thoughtfully arranged a photo op. Team president Robert Rowell stood on the left. New general manager Larry Riley stood on the right. Not pictured: The man with the biggest voice in the building. Ironic, isn't it? Don Nelson came to the Warriors in 1987 as a general manager who claimed to have no interest in coaching the team. Now he's the head coach who claims to have no interest in being the general manager. But that, in essence, is where he sits after Tuesday's news conference, during which Rowell and Riley were more defensive than most of the lineups Nelson threw on the floor last season. ..."
Warriors another rung in public eye
Comment
May 13
Oakland Tribune
 columnist Monte Poole
"THE CHARACTERISTIC the Warriors needed most was the very same characteristic Chris Mullin worked hardest to bring to the organization. Not talent, though talent is required to assemble a quality product. Not genius, for that's missing from some of strongest organizations. Nor is it a definitive offensive or defensive identity, for there are myriad ways to assemble a contender. No, the first priority for Mullin was to restore the credibility lost under the decade-old ownership of Chris Cohan. As someone who played in the NBA and observed the business models of three ownerships, Mullin realized no worthwhile aspiration can be realized without credibility. The last traces of the credibility ..."
Decision to make, playoffs to reach
Comment
May 13
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"When a franchise icon is ushered out the door and replaced by a virtual unknown with close ties to the coach, the perception is obvious. So before any questions were even asked during Tuesday's introductory news conference, Warriors President Robert Rowell and new general manager Larry Riley were already defining and defending their roles in Golden State's hierarchy. "I know a lot of you are probably sitting there going, 'Well, geez, this is just Don Nelson's buddy. This is the guy who's put in a position to be Nellie's puppet,' " Rowell said during his opening statements. "Let's not fool anybody about that nonsense," Riley added. "Now, does Nellie dictate my life? No. Is he a good ..."
Warriors are masters of the art of saying little to nothing
Comment
May 13
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Ray Ratto
"Larry Riley's introductory news conference was an extraordinary success - at the one thing it was meant to be, that is. Specifically, it was meant to be the news conference every high-profile hire deserves as one of the perks of the job. You know, "See, kids, I really was the general manager of the Golden State Warriors once." Beyond that, the Warriors did what they always do when confronted with tough questions about the way they do business. They work around the twin elephants in the room, Chris Cohan and Don Nelson, neither of whom is ever in the room at times like this. They go vague with their responses to most questions, and refuse to answer the most direct ones. It's what Bobby ..."