Summer League: Waiting for Wright
Let the conspiracy theories begin. From the Warriors’ summer league blog:
One thing that has been missing thus far at summer league has been Brandan Wright, the eighth overall pick in last week’s Draft that the Warriors acquired from Charlotte in a draft-day trade. Wright is feeling the effects of a strained right hip flexor that he suffered during his workouts leading up to the NBA Draft.
Since he is not yet 100 percent healthy, the organization has decided to keep him out of action for precautionary reasons. The hope is to have him back on the court at some point before leaving Las Vegas, but the team is being cautious with him at this point.
Even though Wright is not able to play, that doesn’t mean he isn’t learning while down here. He sat alongside Coach Nelson for the entirety of Thursday night’s practice session and the rookie was able to discuss everything that was going on with Nellie.
First it was JRich’s physical holding up Wright’s debut, now it’s this. The injury is to his hip, not his wrist, so it shouldn’t keep him from signing a contract. A contract, however, would prevent him from being moved for 30 days. Wright also doesn’t need a contract to play in the summer league. Lots of players sign a waiver and play without contracts. If you’re looking to move a guy, however, the last thing you want to do is risk an injury. Of course, he could really just be banged up and taking a few days off. Time will tell, but the longer we go without seeing Wright with a deal or on the summer league court, the more doubtful I am about his future with the team.
UPDATE: Wright signed his rookie contract Thursday night when the trade was finalized, according to Janny Hu. The 30-day period is no guarantee that Wright won’t be traded, but it’s pretty close. The last thing you want to do in an active trade market is tie up assets. To avoiding sparking another round of KG rumor-mongering, let’s just see how things play out after free agents can be signed late next week. Summer league recap on Monday. Until then, have a good weekend.
For those interested in watching the Warriors games that are NOT being televised on NBATV (tomorrow @ 1pm vs. Hornets; Tuesday @ 4:30pm vs. Spurs; and Friday July 14th @ 7:30pm vs Sonics), it looks like they will be airing it on NBA.com - http://www.nba.com/summerleague2007/
The games that are on NBATV are not being broadcast on the web.
Hope this ok, Adam, but check out Janny Hu’s blog at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/warriors/logout?blogid=39&entry_id=18312
According to Hu, the contract has been signed.
I’m not a conspiracy nut, but something’s fishy about this. I don’t buy the injury report at all. Adam may be right: they are playing it safe and trying to avoid injury with an eye on a trade. But my take is a little different. I suspect that the Dubs are keeping their cards close to the vest by not exposing Wright and keeping his trade value veiled. It seems that they don’t want to risk him having a less than stellar summer league and diminishing his trade potential.
The only argument against this kind of talk is that Wright would have to be complicit in all this. Why would we be willing to go along with these games?
Too bad. I’d love to see this guy on court.
Thanks, Nevin.
Son of Ahmed - thanks for the link. We both filed our “updates” at the same time.
I think a KG trade is a long shot for all the reasons I’ve laid out at length on this blog, but if you want to keep straining logic, the Warriors sign Wright because they need his salary to help get the package up to KG’s salary and then sit him for 30 days until you can make the trade. We should also talk about the second gunman and NASA faking the moon landing.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they go Wright for Yi. They may have been eying him all along and Mullin vehemently saying that they were after Wright all along is somewhat fishy. I don’t see him playing in Milwaukee and he can definitely thrive in a Chinese community like the Bay Area. I don’t think he is a better prospect than Wright but a swap of 2007 lottery players wouldn’t shock me.
Is the Yi Movement still alive?
I don’t think anything can suprise me with Mullin anymore. I wouldn’t do the Yi for Wright trade if it was my choice. I think if Yi plays hard ball with the Bucks we could get him for less. Maybe they’ll do POB for Yi if they get really scared.
Shrewd Nevin, shrewd. I like the cut of your jib…
I am with the non-KG/non-Yi people at this point. But there is a wrinkle to the conspiracy nutting all about us: Keep Wright out so that he does not upstage someone who the Ws want to move in the worst way. Use your own imagination as to who that is, but it is a thought.
Cheers.
Cheers.
I guess we’ll keep Belinelli then.
good guess.
Oh yeah, we keep Belinelli. As they say, “It’s only one game”; but wow, what a game. Good use of the #18 pick, Mully. Any doubts about the curent acumen of the Warriors, and I had my share after the draft, have now been erased. We are in good hands. I’d like to see how Marco and BWright play together, but maybe the Ws will continue to hold Wright out of games. The Ws could still work him in practices. As long as Mully and Nellie give Wright a good look, I’ll trust their judgment on keeping or trading him. The Yi angle is intriguing. I wonder what BD and Jax are thinking.
Hmm…
If Kosta Perovic is signed, will a trade of Biedrins be far behind?? Just like when they drafted Belinelli, you knew J-Rich was gone…
No way Nellie keeps 3 seven-footers!
Did you guys see what Marco Belinelli did in the summer league. He literally burned the house on fire with his long range shots. It looked very easy for him. I say he is a very good upgrade of J-Rich minues the flashy dunks. The guy is oozing with confidence. His performance was nearly flawless. 37 pts on 14/20 FG and 5/7 3pt FG., plus the guy handles the ball better than J-Rich and Monta. Very high basketball IQ. This gunner is what the Warriors need at crunch time. Now the W’s have 3 weapons in BD, Jax and Marco.
Forget about this Yi guy. His two games in the summer league are very pathetic and this guy and his party got the nerve to ask for a trade wherein the summer league co-team mate Wang Zhi Zhi performs better than him Remember Wang is a former NBA player that did not last long. Yi, IMHO, is going the same road as Wang.
Patrick O’Bryant should be traded. Some guys suggested that he should get more touches to be effect. During yesterdays summer league game, he got a bout 5 to 6 drop passes and this guy is like soft-hand Foyle can’t get a good handle for the ball. Centers like this one should always anticipate drop passes and should be alert for a possible rebound. This guy finished with 3 pts, 10 RB and 2 or 3 blks. Could have finished with 12 pts had he al least caught half of those drop passes.
W’s should keep Wright as going for Yi is Wrong!!!!
u guys r nuts J Rich carried this team for years and when he went MIA you guys just forgot about him! Watch he will be an All Star in Charlotte and I’ll be laughing!
Sure JRich is a wonderful player. Big deal! Fact is, the off guard position on this team is not going to either carry this team deep into the playoffs or even compete with the upper echelon teams in the west. In this run and shoot system, it’s all about chemistry and players who can shoot. Do we really need to pay a premium price for skills that can be found elsewhere. We all know getting to the next level for the W’s is not in strengthening the backcourt. I say CM pulled a gutsy move and will pay off come playoff time. Looks like Marco and Azebuke will fill in just fine.
I agree with Jan, and I love JR’s game, but this was a bold, necessary move that makes sense in terms of the roster, the payroll and the team’s guiding philosophy under Mullins and Nelson. You simply can’t pay $10+ mil for your third scorer with D and ballhandling deficiencies. Most of us hope he does well in Charlotte and he definitely has a legit chance to be an all-star so it’s a good move all the way around.
Remember he carried the team, yes, but those were some very mediocre teams he carried. As the team got better, his importance diminished no doubt.
Cheers!
Ouch why does Belinelli praising have to automatically come with JRich bashing. Can’t we be happy about our future without bashing the one shining beacon of our dark past. I know in business it’s typical to step on the ones that got you where you are in order to move up but damn…
From what it appears the trade will work out great for us and our future. I like Belinelli, he’ll fit great in our system. The move also cleared up alot of cap space that’ll help us make moves in the future whether it be via trade, free agency, or resigning our young core.
I also loved JRich’s game and will miss his heart and passion sorely. See how easy it is guys???
Also I’m with Nevin, No Yi for Me thank you. Allegedly falsified his age docs, HUGE entourage(all of frikkin China), and is already trying to force the hand of the team that had faith enough in his talents to draft him. What happens when Nellie, who notoriously doesn’t like to play rookies, sends his ‘Robot from I-Robot” lookin arse to the pine for long stretches of time. Will he get China to fedex him to the Knicks for Quentin Richardson and a bag of peanuts?
Stick with Wright or trade him for an established player. The Yi Movement is dead.
Can’t believe I actually agree with Mano but his comments were right on and far from bashing JRich, explained in succinct terms why JRich was an important piece on a team that went straight to the lottery. Was it his fault? Of course not. But as Mano says, as the team improved and Nellie instituted the up-tempo play, less focus was placed on JRich and his ability to create his own shot. We are all JRich fans and wish him well but it’s time to move on. I’m just glad that the ’system’ is bigger than any one player. We should applaud this. Hard to imagine Montgomery or Musselman having such a clear vision. That’s why I’d be reluctant to take on a KG. When Nellie leaves, then maybe. Just not now.
I’m all for moving on, and I understand JRich was a great player on some lousy teams but as you said, it’s not his fault those teams were lousy.
As bad as those teams were the Warriors ticket sales were always among the league leaders. Was it because of Dunleavey, Murphy, Fuller, Foyle, Jamison, Pietrus, or Diogu? JRich gave us hope when we had no right to have any.
That being said I have moved on and am as excited as ever with the upcoming season. I just dont feel it is necessary anymore to justify our promising future by making disparaging remarks about JRich.
Keep Wright?
All the rumors were that we had a KG trade in the works and the JRich/Wright trade was one of the pieces. But clearly the trade fell through. So was Wright an actual target of the Warriors or not? It’s definitely worth watching. If not, then why are we championing Wright over Yi? Of course if we can get both…al la 420’s suggestion, with a POB for Yi trade…Then again, we’re seeing POB in Summer League and I’m not so impressed. Also in Summer League for the Chinese National Team, Yi hits the game winner. Plus Belinelli goes bonkers, hot damn we got a live one. Some say the Suns and Spurs were expecting Belinelli to drop to them. If so, way to go Mullin!
Question for Adam, if, as some are suggesting, the Warriors buyout Foyle’s contract, when does his salary hit come off the Warriors salary cap? Is it more valuable to hold onto his salary as trade bait or do we gain cap maneuverability as soon as he’s bought out? Ether way, Cohen still has to pay him, but one way, we maybe get under the cap and the other way, Cohen flirts with the luxury tax and Mullin might end up trading the expiring contract for an even longer one, right?
JRich…Kick butt in Charlotte!
JustPuked -
Here’s the link to my analysis on a Foyle buyout when we were talking about it last year:
http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/warriors/2006/11/14/anatomy-of-a-buyout/
Note that (1) I was wrong in my prediction and (2) I botched the amnesty point at the bottom.
The key to a Foyle buyout will be his belief that he can actually get some money from another team. With the relatively small deals we’re seeing for bench players, I’m not optimistic. I would say it makes sense at this point to hold onto him and trade his deal in the last year, but we won’t want to take on more cap space at that point either, even if it is for a contributing player. Maybe Adonal can fake a heart problem and convince Isiah to trade for him. Also, on a karmic level, trading for Adonal would balance out the Knicks getting Randolph.
Adam,
Wow, you’re omnipresent AND all knowing…So basically a Foyle buyout is fairly unrealistic. I can’t imagine even Isaiah paying Foyle to baby sit Randolph the Schizophrenic Swinger. We’ll just have to sit on this contract and patiently wait for it to expire. On the plus side, Adonal seems a nice enough fellow, I’m sure he’s able to contribute to the team as a great teammate, set an example of a professional, and as an all around great guy. Right. Right? Aw well…
Foyle will play an integral role in the upcoming season. Who else will teach the Notorious POB what it takes to be a BUST lottery pick center who rides the pine more than a chipmunk. Is Todd Fuller available?
Honestly I give Adonal more credit than that; I figure if he were paid about $5-6 mil that’d be fair. He’s a legit NBA bench center who hustles, plays solid D with blocking ability. He could pick up 10-20 min a night on a lot of half court teams. He’s just incredibly overpaid for his skill set. CM’s mistake (on the job training) from when he really believed that solid characters like Foyle, Dunleavy, Murphy and Richardson would grow into their contracts.
They didn’t, but seems like Mullins learns anyhow, since he’s not making the same mistakes. He’s cleaned house in a professional manner and he’s brought together a roster with a cohesive playing style. He’s been honest enough to acknowledge what didn’t work and willing to try bold new plans. Having Nelson around helps quite a bit in this regard. Never underestimate the power of a clear vision of the way things should be.
I have a lot of confidence in the dubs basketball braintrust right now, and I can barely remember the last time I felt that way.
—
Ha! No worries Jan, complete accident - probably won’t ever happen again!
Not complete confidence mind you - I’ve been a dubs fan for way too long to manifest that y’know?
“He’s cleaned house in a professional manner… ”
Does that include lying to JRich’s face about not trading him and then not picking up his calls once he heard about the trade on TV? Very professional…
And no I am not related to JRich in any way although after today I should be inducted as an honorary member….
How ’bout “a typical NBA manner” then? “Professional” like a hit man more than a courtisan…
I gotta agree with Mully, I’m still not thrilled with how Mullin handled the whole trade with JRich. The players gotta be talking about that to each other, especially if it was true that he wouldn’t answer calls from Richardson’s agent.
While Mullin’s sudden acumen at reshaping the roster is being credited to the influence Nelson the Negotiator, I wonder if it’s been all good. Chris used to “hang” with “his guys” now he can’t bother to pick up the phone?
Understand, I’m not complaining, I enjoy winning a hell of a lot better than losing…year after year after year. The fleecing of the Posers was instrumental in that regard. Just about all of Mullin’s moves have been working lately. Even the JRich trade looks to be a winner although we won’t know for sure until a) Wright’s “hip flexor” feels better and he starts developing into the next Chris Bosh or b) Wright is included in a package for KG (more rumors!!!) and suddenly it’s the JRich for KG trade…that just happened to take two months.
Either way, Mullin is the man…just one too busy to talk to the guy that earned his reputation over the last six seasons as the heart and soul of the Warriors. Like I said, I’m more than willing to live with Chris Mullin the GM with the Red Aurbach/Jerry West touch if the Warriors are winning. I’d just prefer it didn’t come with Chris Mullin the GM with the Jerry Krause personality.
re: JR: g-r-o-w u-p.
JR himself knew what he was getting into with his max deal. He knows the dynamic of the cap and all that, and he still went into the deal. He was bleeding yellow and blue (or whatever the Ws marketing sets the colors to be) and now he is bleeding red and whatever the trim is for the ‘cats.
good luck with the EC JR.
Cheers.
FDA-
Seriously, it can’t ALWAYS just be business. Otherwise, why are you a fan? Does it make good business sense to be a fan…no. It’s an emotional choice.
BTW JR DID get over it and handled his first long interview with class. So your very adult “g-r-o-w u-p” comes across as rather childish. But I guess that’s good for business.
Cheers!
Oh bloody hell since when is EVERYBODY English?
JR’s all class, that’s why we love him. As a player he’s gone to a “better place”, at least for his skill set. He can be top banana in NC. He gets to hang with MJ, his idol. They have some nice pieces, could make the playoffs in the East. It’s not like Mullins passed him off to a totally suck situation.
fan = fanatic = kinda irrational
But it’s just a game too. It’s not like he died; he just moved job sites y’know?
Hey all-
What do people think of Don Nelson asking for more money. He already makes over three million bones for nine months of work and he rarely stands up more than twenty-five times in one game. What did he do to deserve an extra few million? This bullshit about him working harder than he ever has last season is non-sense.
The guy shows up to games hungover, doesn’t do anything to work the officials besides ocassionally glaring at them from the bench and is generally a disgrace to those who embrace the protestant work-ethic and the puritanical life-style. What did he do to deserve more $$?
Well, for one he disses the protestant work ethic and puritanical lifestyle; that’s worth a few dead Jacksons isn’t it? Oh and there’s that playoffs, exciting game plan, positive trajectory, wicked inspiration t’ing.
Truthfully Nellie’s got me excited and intrigued (but I’m tender prey). Guessing all my other b-ball junkie muchachos y muchachas also salivate when considering what’s been put together and how it’ll hold up on the court next season (or if this is even the lineup we’ll be sporting).
Got to keep our favorite slacker paid; good Scotch doesn’t come cheap. Ugly business this bickering for money, but he delivered, and then some. Do we have any better options? Keith Smart someday, but the next year, two max, are Nelson’s to do with what he wills.
He’ll take us farther than he’s ever gone before (or get a hangover trying). That sounds like a bad Journey song doesn’t it?
Right-o!
Darko’s Mom -
Well I can’t speak for everyone but Marcus Thompson the XIVI covers it pretty well here:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/warriors/ci_6327234?nclick_check=1
Tally Ho!
Okay! Okay! ~ what’s that smell?
I think I just stepped in some rabid fandom. Excuse me while I go take a foot bath…
…On a more serious note, if there were a move to feature POB it is failing miserably. This reminds us how closely the bad old years still cling to the Ws.
A few misplaced contracts, a few bustly draft-picks…
(PS - I have said Cheers from the days I first started with email … won’t try to date myself).
Cheers.
Cheers it is then! And maybe a darkarse stout to go with that?
Good Times…