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Archive for June, 2012

SOURCES: Warriors Simply Don’t Have Enough to Trade Up

For those holding out hope the Warriors will trade up into the draft to land Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, you can forget about it.

It’s looking like the Warriors’ best hopes for trading the No. 7 pick will be to move down in the draft, according to multiple sources. With two days left before the NBA draft, it’s turning out that the Warriors don’t have a worthy offer.

“Dorell Wright isn’t enough,” one league source said. “The offers in the top five are better.”

Golden State has been dangling the No. 7 pick and their starting small forward, Wright, who has one year left worth $4 million. But the Warriors 7th pick is too low for teams above Golden State to still get a player they want. For example, Charlotte is reportedly looking to trade the No. 2 pick. But Cleveland’s No. 4 allows them to get Harrison Barnes, someone they like. The Warriors’ No. 7 leaves them choosing between Andre Drumond and Dion Waiters. That’s just not so desirable a spot.

And Wright isn’t the ooomph in the deal the Warriors’ need. His expiring contract is relatively small and he’s coming off a down season. But the Warriors don’t have much else to offer to a team holding a top five pick. The No. 30 doesn’t raise any eyebrows. Klay Thompson is off the table. The other players the Warriors have are either free agents or sitting on undesirable contracts.

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Posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 23 Comments »

Mock Draft v. 1 – Where My Opinion Takes Over

There are a million mock drafts out there. Some people put lots of work to produce credible mocks (Jonathan Givony, Chad Ford, Sam Amick). This isn’t one of those. My insight/research/reliability certainly won’t be better than theirs. Here, however, is my take on what should happen. So at each pick, I’m going to take over the war room of the respective team – because my insight/research/reliability is certainly better than theirs!

But first, I want your take. I set up a way for you to submit your mock draft to me. On Wednesday, I will post the consensus mock draft based solely on your choices.

OK, my GM cap is now on …

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Posted on Monday, June 25th, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 22 Comments »

Moe Harkness, Quincy Miller or Terrence Ross — Which Should the Warriors Draft and Where?

Mo Harkless, the freshman small forward out of St. John’s, said it doesn’t matter to him where he’s drafted. Unfortunately for him, it probably matters to the Warriors.

Even though Golden State may like Harkless, their best-player-available mantra all but rules him out at No. 7. The Warriors could still get him if they want. They could trade down to snatch him up late in the lottery. They could use the No. 30 pick and their second-rounders (Nos 35 and 52) to get a pick in the middle of the round.

“I can bring a lot of energy,” Harkless said Saturday from the Warriors’ downtown Oakland facility. “A guy who plays hard, rebounds and can score in a lot of ways.”

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Posted on Sunday, June 24th, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 21 Comments »

Meyers Leonard is Good, But at No. 7 Will He Be The Best Player Available?

Warriors fans would probably love Meyers Leonard, should the Warriors draft the 7-foot-1, 250-pound center out of Illinois. Humble. Mature. Appreciative.

But whether his game is as mature and as likable as his personality is the question Golden State will have to determine heading into Thursday’s NBA draft. Some in the Warriors’ contingent, including co-owner Joe Lacob, figure since the Warriors can’t get one of their coveted players or fill a need, they might as well go big.

While Connecticut’s Andre Drummond might have the higher ceiling, Leonard – who worked out for the Warriors on Saturday — seems to be the better fit because he’s definitely a center and figures the be less of a risk.North Carolina’s Tyler Zeller may be more ready to contribute and better in the post, but Leonard is younger and noticeably more athletic.

He’s been compared to Robin Lopez and Tiago Splitter, dubbed a poor man’s Tyson Chandler and Chris Andersen without all the tattoos. Just about any combination of those would be perfect off the bench behind projected starters David Lee and Andrew Bogut. It would be reasonable to expect Leonard to rebound, block shots, knock down an occasional jumper and finish as a rookie.

But Leonard’s value is in his upside. Physically, Leonard rates pretty high. He’s a legit 7-footer with 7-foot-3 wingspan and a frame begging for more bulk. He runs the floor well and has some hops. He’s got and some  elements to his game on which to build.

“People say I’m raw,” Leonard said. “I wouldn’t necessarily characterize it as raw. I think I have a little more of a skill set than some people think I do. The ability to step out and shoot it, get up and down the court, use my athleticism, those are things I can do. I know that at the same time, coning into the gym every day, working on my footwork, back-to-the-basket (game), face-up (game), is very important.”

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Posted on Saturday, June 23rd, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 24 Comments »

Less Than a Week to Go, Warriors Still Weighing Tons of Options

By Marcus Thompson II mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com

Jerry West, Warriors’ board member and consultant,  has been drilling this word into the psyche of his front-office cohorts. Assets. Assets. Assets.

“We can’t afford to let assets pass us by and address need,” said Warriors general manager Bob Myers, explaining West’s philosophy. “If the best asset is a guard, we have to take him at seven.”

With the NBA draft less than a week away, the Warriors options are still wide open. That’s especially so because every available prospect is in play even if he dupllicates what’s already on the roster. The only draft-related certainty Myers was willing to reveal in Friday’s chat with the media was that Golden State will take the best available player.

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Posted on Friday, June 22nd, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 16 Comments »

Warriors Notes: Could Deng or Dion Be Fits for the Warriors?

Still have a week before draft day, meaning still a lot of time for things to change. Here is what I’m hearing regarding the Warriors.

Per the NBA rumor mill, the Chicago Bulls are entertaining giving up Luol Deng to get into the NBA draft lottery. According to sources, Golden State hasn’t talked with Chicago about Deng yet. But Deng is on the Warriors’ short list of veteran small forwards they’d be interested in.

Chicago would have to take some of the Warriors’ baggage in return, such as Richard Jefferson or Andris Biedrins, along with the No. 7 pick. The Bulls may get better offers. Trade talks, from the Warriors end, have been fairly slow. But things won’t pick up in earnest anyway until next week, as the June 28 draft nears.

***********

Here is a couple name to throw into the mix for the No. 7 pick: Syracuse SG Dion Waiters and Washington SG/SF Terrence Ross.

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Posted on Thursday, June 21st, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 50 Comments »

Oakland native Damian Lillard to Workout Solo for Warriors on Sunday

Golden State officially announced the workout schedule for Sunday. The six-man group is not the real story. The real story is the seventh guy: Damian Lillard. He’s going to wait until the six guys workout, then he’s going to do a private workout for the Warriors – at Golden State’s request.

The point guard from Weber State, who is from Oakland, is projected to go top 10. Could he be going No. 7 to the Warriors? Could the Warriors be sizing him up to see who wants him, and maybe use him as trade bait? Or do they know they don’t want him but want to do their due diligence on the prospects in their backyard?

Here’s a theory: Word is Portland wants Lillard. So maybe the Warriors are working out a deal with Portland to trade down – giving Portland the No. 6 pick and Lillard. Golden State could swap No. 7 for No. 11 and other stuff (say J.J. Hickson). Why would the Warriors need to work him out privately to pull that off? I don’t know! I said it was a theory.

Posted on Saturday, June 16th, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 30 Comments »

Jared Sullinger: “I Don’t Have to Rely on Athleticism”

Since I’m out at the U.S. Open, our Jimmy Durkin held down the fort at the Warriors’ workouts Thursday. Here is Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger keeping it real about his lack of athleticism.

What do you need to show teams?

“Just I can play. Pretty much just show them that I can play with length, play against length. Just show them that I’m a basketball player.”

Would you fit in with the Warriors?

“Any place I feel like I can fit in because it’s the NBA. You want to get to that spot so you’ve just got to find your niche. But the Warriors have two veteran bigs in David Lee and Andrew Bogut. I’d love to pick their mind and learn how to play in the post in the NBA.”

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Posted on Thursday, June 14th, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 21 Comments »

Warriors Summer League Schedule

Golden State will play five games during the Las Vegas Summer League, the NBA announced.

July 11: practice

July 12: practice

July 13: vs. Los Angeles Lakers

July 14: vs. Denver Nuggets

July 16: vs. Phoenix Suns (scrimmage)

July 18: vs. Miami Heat

July 20: vs. Chicago Bulls

July 21: vs. New Orleans Hornets

Rookies Charles Jenkins and Jeremy Tyler will play. Klay Thompson may not take part in summer league since he’ll be practicing with Team USA from July 6-11. Even before Thompson’s addition to the Team USA select team was announced, GM Bob Myers suggested Thompson played enough as a rookie to negate the need for him to play in summer league.

However, Thompson is a gym rat who just might talk himself onto the court.

The Warriors could also have as many as 4 draft picks on the squad, too, since they have pick Nos. 7, 30, 35 and 56

Posted on Thursday, June 14th, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

An Open Letter to LeBron James

I am not a sports journalist right now. I am a LeBron groupie coming out of the closet. And I am speaking on behalf of a nation of King James’ apologists.

Please, sir, get it done.

We don’t care that Oklahoma City is a better team and has home-court advantage. We don’t care that one of your key players, Chris Bosh, still isn’t 100 percent. We need you to come through for us.

We’re so tired of getting ‘The Decision’ thrown in our face every time we come across a hater. It no longer works to run off a list of Hall of Famers with no ring in defense of your bare knuckles. Your all-around greatness is no longer a sufficient rebuttal to attacks on your killer instinct. It’s time for you to come through. No excuses.

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Posted on Tuesday, June 12th, 2012
Under: Uncategorized | 25 Comments »