Our (my) dream of a Golden State Warriors locker room inhabited by Nate Robinson and Stephen Jackson at the same time has been crushed. Instead, the Warriors dealt Jackson to the San Antonio Spurs for Richard Jefferson and a conditional first round pick. What are the conditions? No one’s informed anyone in the media yet, but according to Marcus Thompson, “Warriors are confident they will get the pick. ’90% chance’ one team source said.”
Jackson only has one more year left on his deal, while Jefferson (who’s averaging less than 10 ppg for the first time since 2001-02, his rookie season) has two more years left if you count his player option in 2013 for a shade over $11 million. And for a declining player like Jefferson, that player option is sure to be exercised.
So did the Warriors make a good move or were they fleeced by the Spurs? Here are the positives and negatives.
Positive: Golden State has a “90% chance” of getting into the first round, a feat they were desperate to achieve since it’s somewhat doubtful they’ll be able to tank hard enough to move from the 11th-worst record in the league into the bottom seven, especially with Portland making trades like Marcus Camby for Hasheem Thabeet and Jonny Flynn, two first round busts.
Negative: The Spurs currently have the 4th-best record in the league — even in a deep draft it’s pretty hard to hit a home run with pick No. 27.
Positive: The Warriors have two picks in the second round, so there’s a possibility they can make a deal and get a higher first round selection.
Negative: Trading up in a draft like this … easier said than done.
Positive: A motivated Jackson might have detracted from the Warriors’ tanking efforts (isn’t pro sports fun?).
Negative: Jefferson’s a more expensive, less effective version of Brandon Rush, has $21 million in guaranteed money coming to him and moves from a perennial winner to NBA purgatory. If he puts effort into anything other than stat-padding, it’ll be a surprise.
In all, the Warriors dealt Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown for Andrew Bogut, Richard Jefferson and a late first round pick. Here’s what the roster should look like next season, not counting future draft picks and/or free agents:
PG: Stephen Curry, Charles Jenkins
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Dorell Wright, Jefferson
PF: David Lee
C: Bogut, Andris Biedrins, Jeremy Tyler
Rush, Dominic McGuire, Robinson and Chris Wright are free agents, and the Warriors will probably look at bringing back at least one of those guys, perhaps more. Dorell Wright is also a candidate to be traded, since even though Wright denied saying he wanted to be included in the Monta/Ekpe trade, those types of rumors are often followed by the player getting his (rumored) wish. Biedrins probably wants out too, but it’s hard to imagine another team granting his wish with two more years and $18 million remaining on his contract.














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Stan, you make a good point in reference to the 'montes character' thing. We don't really know what goes on there internally in Warriorland. That being said, I never undertsand why the Warriors get blamed for the handling of Monte's 'mopedgate.' What were the Warriors supposed to do? Give Monte a pat on the back and a 'job well done.' That ruined the season for the team and the fans and it stated in his contract he wasn't supposed to be doing it. And by the way, everyone knows it wasn't a 'moped', it was a motorcycle from all accounts. And I thought the Warriors were more than gernerous in covering for Monte at least publically. And the recent sexting scandel didn't help matters though I don't know about the validity of the woman's claims. Still, I go back to his play. Truth be told, GM's around the league who know the game invaraibly describe Monte as 'one-dimensional' and 'over-rated.'Warriors fans have gotten so used to hamburger many can't reognize filet mignon.
Ironic-double maybe...but as Monta thinks he's getting revenge..he's really helping the Warriors get closer to a great draft. Just more of why Monta was always a dead end for Golden State.
Probably right; Monta played "exciting basketball" but that doesn't always translate to "winning basketball". I was pretty surprised by the trade (as I'm sure lots of people were), if for no other reason than I didn't think the new ownership had the nerve to do something like that. But as the shock wore off and part 2 of the trade played out, I'm less troubled by the trade than I was initially. (Not that Lacob & Guber care what I think :-) ). I would have liked to see higher value in return for Monta, but at the end of the day I think Stan has it right: GSW wasn't going anywhere *with* Monta, and you have to give up something to get something (TANSTAAFL). The injury situation with Bogut (and ongoing with Curry) is still risky, for sure, but I have to give Lacob & Guber credit for taking it.
Now-I've brought up Monta's attempted affair as a real possible part of the trade..here on BASG blog. A few minutes ago on Comcast Bob Meyers talking about the trade and team said.."We've changed to a talented and HIGH CHARACTER TEAM" Well,it doesnt take Freud to understand that statement. I'm sure the ORG. wishes he hadn't put it that way..but as Monta would say "At the end of the day ,it is what it is"...!
Stan, I like Larry as he's smart and informed but lately he's more DBruce than logical, rationale, informed host. He seems like he's playing the 'say outrageous stuff I don't believe' game to get ratings which I don't find stimulating.
Actually, this is kind of how Larry Krueger is. This is how he was on Sportsphone, when he hosted Sportsphone years ago. He will go on rants, and I usually agree with what he says most of the time.
Funny too ..I WONDER WHAT lacob makes of Larry Krueger just ripping Joe's kid? Something could come back to haunt Larry.. once again.
Wanted to comment on the rumors that the Orlando Magic are willing tl let Dwight Howard pick the coach and owner if he resigns with the team. Talk about a story that should be talked about more. No wonder the NBA is losing viewers and ratings. Absolutely pathetic. That's like asking a 14 year old kid to choose his own parents. kis says, "I want parents that let me skip school, not do homework and stay out all night." At 26 I could barely balance my checkbook let alone run a 500 million dollar business. These situations never work out well. Lebron did the same thing is Cleveland with disastrous results. Frankly I blame the Magic more than anyone for capitualting to this. Furthermore, it makes the NBA look pathetic.
By the way, for all the Lacob haters out there this trade once again proves that Locab is nto only passionate about winning but is also willing to spend and make less money in order to succeed. Jefferson (who realistically the Warriors don't want) was not the reason they made this trade as he has a 2 year contract at roughly the same amount at Jackson who only has one year. Lacob made this trade to get that number one pick. Lacob also bought a second round pick in last years draft for 2 mill and just bought another one from the Hawks in this year's draft. Those are not the moves of a cheap owner who doesn't want to win. Those are the moves of a bright owner who realisez this is the only way to build a contendor is through picks and is willing to spend money to do so.
I see it as-Lacob saw the fans revolt over the do nothing for two years. If not for loud voices..He might have kept Monta and small ball..and "One day get that big man"..well,we got that day now.
Great move! This is the deepest draft in the last 6 years. The Warriors will not attract top tier free agents so the draft is the best and only way to go to build this team. By the way, I looked through the CSN site and specifically the responses to the trade. God those folks are dumb. They would fail any logic or critical thinking 101 class.
I'm happy with the trade! Stephen Jackson coming back to the Warriors wasn't going to work out. I just wasn't going to be able to root for him again. I'm sure most Warrior fans felt the same way. Why root for a player that stabbed your team in the back, by conning them for an extension and then asking out? The guy is a douche. I'm happy he will not be playing for the Warriors! I'm glad the Warriors saw how much of a PR nightmare that would've been if Stephen Jackson would've come back to play for the Warriors. Plus, the Warriors got a conditional 1st rd. pick in the deal, so they are at least guaranteed one 1st rd. pick this year, albeit a lower pick. As far as Richard Jefferson goes, I don't have any expectations for him really. At least he will be able to play for the Warriors this season.
I'm surprised they (Warriors) got that much for Jackson, I think the upside is pretty good on this trade, even though your thought of Jackson And Nate playing on the same team would have been at the very least much watch Basketball.
Agreed John... Now this makes up for getting rid of udoh... Still need to bottom out but at least the monta move was coupled with a savvy move of Jackson to his old team he won a ring with early in his career... As for dubs, I am glad they got this "extra" draft pick because based on two games without monta losing enough games to fall into 7 th or worse... Solid solid move I commend them for being resourceful... Now let's shut down curry and pray for healthy bodies going into next year
Udoh seemed like another version of Anthony Randolph. Randolph had some good games with the warriors to show off his potential. But not enough to get that excited over him.
The huge upside on Udoh (besides his raw talent) was his age, so I still feel the sting on that one, Although I have heard there was some friction between him and Lee...maybe that could have been one of the things that pushed it that way.