Admittedly this blog has nothing to do with the NBA or the Golden State Warriors but I have to vent, if the rumors that the Warriors have signed G/F Corey Maggette to a 5 year $50 million deal, then I'm having a bad, bad day!
While Maggette is a decent scorer, he plays little defense, isn't a great distributor and plays the one position that the Warriors are stacked at (off guard / small forward). So while the Warriors are in desperate need of a low post scorer and a point guard, they spent the vast majority of their available cap space on another '2' or '3' man?
I never expected the Warriors would nab PF Elton Brand, he just didn't seem interested in GS, which is fine. However why wouldn't the Warriors throw their cap space at a permanent fix at PF or Center (since there were no great points available) such as Josh Smith (Atlanta - PF) or Emeka Okafor (Charlotte - C) who would actually improve our lineup and fill a true need - one that I will add has been a need for the past thirteen plus years.
I'm seriously bummed by this news, if true (especially if they're paying him $10 million a year), since this is essentially a step backwards to last year when the team unloaded then 'cumbersome' contract of Jason Richardson (who was owed $10 million a year for 4 more years). Maggette is nearly a carbon copy of Richardson, so he's valuable and worth having on your team but not when it means you're compromising an opportunity to fill a real need for the next couple of seasons.
At least the Warriors signed Ronny Turiaf to an offer sheet reportedly for 4 years $17 million. Turiaf is a very productive low post player, who isn't a solid starter but a strong reserve who rebounds, blocks shot and shoots in the post for a high percentage. GS would give him 20+ minutes a night and get 7/5/1.5 (points/rebounds/blocks) a night, something they desperately need! If they can bring in Maggette & Turiaf, the squad actually could be better next year - more scoring punch, better low post rotation and presumably more athleticism w/ Brandon Wright playing big minutes.
Now if we could just dump Al Harrington for veteran PG & a servicable / backup power forward, we'd certainly be better in '08/'09.
Posted by: Beavercat | July 09, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Dude, Magette will be fine. He doesn't play defense, but the Warriors don't care about defense and Nelson has never been able to field a decent defense in his career (which probably won't end in the Hall, he's missed some votes already).
The Warriors may or may not make the playoffs, where they will lose in the first or second round max. Don't expect anything more until Nelson retires.
Posted by: Black Liberace | July 15, 2008 at 10:15 PM