2009-10 Salary Cap Figures

Mbah a Moute, Collison and Afflalo led UCLA to the Final Four before re-uniting in Oakland

2009-10 Salaries
Baron Davis ($12 million)
Jason Richardson ($12 million)
Stephen Jackson ($11 million)
Monta Ellis ($9 million)
Andris Biedrins ($7 million)
Al Harrington ($5.25 million) 
Ronny Turiaf ($4.1 million)
Matt Barnes ($2.1 million)
Roy Hibbert ($1.5 million)
Arron Afflalo ($1.08 million)
Darren Collison ($1 million)
Luc Mbah a Moute ($736K)

D-League
Dominic McGuire ($711K)

$67 million Cap number

Saltzman Decides...Sign Ronny Turiaf

The Following SIGNING has been  approved for 

ALL WARRIORS FANS

by the Saltzman Decides Association of America, inc.

Ronny Turiaf is the perfect center to compliment not only Andris Biedrins, but to allow Roy Hibbert to be brought along slowly.  His signing in 2008-09 to a three year contract was certainly worth it.

He was signed in 08-09 for 3 years at $12 million.

Saltzman Decides...2009 Draft

With the 7th pick, the Warriors selected Stephen Curry out of Davidson.

Assuming the Warriors were better than the 7th worst team in basketball, here is a more likely scenario.

With the 20th pick in the 2009 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors select Darren Collison, UCLA

Since I "took over" as GM, I have drafted PG Darren Collison, SG Arron Afflalo, SF Dominic McGuire, PF Luc Mbah a Moute and C Roy Hibbert.  Certainly a good group with solid defense all around, a good shooter in Afflalo and a low post scorer in Hibbert.

Saltzman Decides...Extend Jackson and Sign Harrington

My first two obligations to the 2009 off-season would be to keep my starting forwards.

1st, I would give Stephen Jackson a 2 year $22 million extension.  This slots Jackson 3rd in salary on the team behind our backcourt of Davis and JRich. 

2nd I would sign Al Harrington to a 4 year $21 million contract, or the Mid-Level Exception.  This will also allow Harrington to come off the bench and be able to be more of an offensive threat, and let Luc Mbah a Moute handle the defensive duties on the power forwards of the West.

This would lock in our rotation through the 2010-11 season.  This will also allow our draft picks to continue to develop and grow and allow them to step into more prominent roles as players retire.

Baron, JRich, Jackson, and Barnes's contracts will all be up after the 2010-11 season, and that will let others replace them.

Saltzman Decides...Keep Al Harrington

Don Nelson has a tendency to play power forwards at center, then criticize them for not being able to play center, and then getting rid of them.

As the GM, it would be my job to be the buffer of the two. 

First, by drafting Roy Hibbert and keeping Andris Biedrins, I have allowed the team to have centers to keep Harrington at PF. 

Second, I would not pull the trigger on trading Harrington mid-season.  I would tell Nelson that I would like him to retire a Warriors coach, and I hope that is a few years away, but Harrington is staying and I want him to play. 

Saltzman Decides...Wait on Jackson Extension

Stephen Jackson is my favorite Warrior not named Baron Davis since the Run TMC days.  He is the most volatile player I have ever seen play, and yet, I love the guy.  That being said, bobby rowell's extension to Jackson was a ridiculous move at a ridiculous time.


I would have given Jackson the extension in the off-season, and for less money.  I would have sat Jackson down and said, if you look at our other signings, we are trying to keep this core together.

We signed Baron, Monta, Andris, and Matt.  We plan on extending you next, and then Al.  We also have some great draft picks in Afflalo, McGuire, Mbah a Moute and Hibbert, so we are not looking to sign anyone more than 3-4 years. 

2008-09 Salary Cap Figures

2008-09 Salaries
Baron Davis ($11.25 million)
Jason Richardson ($11.11 million)
Al Harrington ($9.25 million)
Monta Ellis ($9 million)
Stephen Jackson ($7.14 million)
Andris Biedrins ($7 million)
Ronny Turiaf ($4 million)
Matt Barnes ($1.9 million)
Roy Hibbert ($1.46 million)
Arron Afflalo ($1.05 million)
Luc Mbah a Moute ($757K)
C.J. Watson ($711K)

D-League
Dominic McGuire ($711K)

$64.5 million Cap number

Saltzman Decides...Sign Matt Barnes

Matt Barnes signed a three year deal with the Warriors after the 07-08 season. It paid him $1.9 million in 2008-09, $2.1 million in 2009-10 and $2.3 million in 2010-11.  Barnes was a terrific player for the Warriors.

His mother loved the season her son had with the "We Believe" Warriors so much, when she died, she was buried wearing her son's Warriors jersey.

That is a man who belongs in the Bay Area.

The Warriors had chose to bring back Kelenna Azubuike to a three year deal over Barnes, and I am changing that.  Barnes is the better defender, and with Arron Afflalo, Dominic McGuire, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, we have others who can replace 'Buke's production.

Saltzman Decides...The Contracts of Ellis and Biedrins

The contracts of Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins have been a source of much debate through the years.  It is something, that as a fan, is easy to second guess and criticize.  That being said, both players were so young and so full of potential at the time of the 2008 off-season.  I do agree with the signing, but I don't agree with the length or money.

I would have drawn a hard line in the sand that no contract be longer than 4 years.  I also would have been more realistic about the roles these two players were going to play.  In a salary capped world, no role player should be making 20% of the cap room.  They shouldn't make more than 10-15%.

Warriors sign Monta Ellis to a 4 year $36 million contract.  This contract will pay Ellis $9 million a year.  This will ensure that the NBA's best 6th man remains with the Warriors for a long time.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have Monta under contract for the next several years," Warriors president of basketball operations Chris Mullin told The Associated Press. "He has been one of the top young players in the NBA for the last two years and enjoyed a tremendous season last year. The growth that he has demonstrated at such a young age is incredible and we look forward to him playing a big part in our future success."

Warriors sign Andris Biedrins to a 4 year $28 million contract.  This contract will pay Biedrins $7 million a year. This will ensure that of the game's best young centers remains with the Warriors for a long time.

“We’re extremely happy to have Andris under contract for many years to come,” said Mullin. “He is clearly one of the top young centers in the NBA and, much like the young player we signed a few days ago (Monta Ellis), he has continued to improve every season. It’s not easy to find quality young big men in this league, but we certainly think we have one of them and he’s only 22 years old.”

Saltzman Decides...The Baron Extension

Baron Davis has certainly had his problems on and off the court.  However, one thing that could have been avoided is the ugliness of the his departure from the Warriors.  Baron opted out of his contract because he was promised an extension.  Then, the tweedle dee and tweedle dum, better known as chris cohan and bobby rowell, overruled the move.

Well, in this blog, they are long gone.

The Warriors have announced Baron Davis has signed a three year extension for $36.5 million to remain a Warrior for the next 3 years.  He will earn $11.25 million in 2008-09, $12 million in 2009-10 and $12.75 million in 2010-11.

Saltzman Decides...2008 Draft

The 2008 Draft brought the Warriors a gifted, young athletic freak from LSU named Anthony Randolph.  He was so raw, he never did find an NBA position that he was good at.  He had a physical skill set that was second to none, yet not enough work ethic and determination to do anything with his gifts.


Instead, I decide we need to draft a C as an upgrade over Patrick O'Bryant.  Where do you find centers from college?  Georgetown, obviously.

With the 17th pick in the 2008 NBA draft, The Golden State Warriors select Roy Hibbert, Georgetown University.

The Warriors have traded their 2nd round pick along with C Patrick O'Bryant to the Portland Trailblazers.

After drafting Afflalo last year, and assuming that with Matt Barnes and Baron Davis, there might be something to drafting players from UCLA...

With the 36th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, The Golden State Warriors select Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA.

With Hibbert and Mbah a Moute, we have two big men who can replace O'Bryant and Austin Croshere on the roster.  It gives us great depth in the front court, and allows us to develop them slowly since they won't have to start. 

Saltzman Decides...Sign C.J. Watson

The Following SIGNING has been  approved for 

ALL WARRIORS FANS

by the Saltzman Decides Association of America, inc.

On January 8, 2008, The Warriors signed C.J. Watson out of the D-League.  Monta Ellis was getting heavy minutes as a backup point guard, and we needed a guy better suited to backup the position and let Ellis play the 2 guard.

Watson was a great signing by the Warriors and certainly improved the team.

Dominic McGuire will be sent down to the D-League to work on his game, to allow Watson to join the 12 man roster.

2007-08 Opening Night

Opening Night Roster

6     Arron Afflalo           
7     Kelenna Azubuike    
22   Matt Barnes              
15   Andris Biedrins        
44   Austin Croshere       
5     Baron Davis             
8     Monta Ellis              
3     Al Harrington         
1     Stephen Jackson       
34   Dominic McGuire   
26   Patrick O'Bryant     
2     Mickael Pietrus      

Saltzman Decides...Keep Kelenna Azubuike

The Following SIGNING has been  approved for 

ALL WARRIORS FANS

by the Saltzman Decides Association of America, inc.

This re-signing was a smart move for the Warriors at the time, because it was simply bringing back Kelenna Azubuike for $687,456.  It was a 1 year deal.  It was a perfect contract considering the skill set Azubuike had, yet the logjam we had on the wings.

Saltzman Decides...2007 Draft

 We had two picks heading into the 2007 draft.  We used the 1st round pick (18th overall) to select Marco Belinelli.  His only asset at the time he was drafted was his ability to shoot.  The Warriors were full of shooters.  We didn't need to add more of what we already had an abundance of.  What we needed was more defense.  If we couldn't get a true backup point guard, or a dominant big man, we simply needed defense.

Considering the players available at the time of the pick:



With the 18th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, The Golden State Warriors select Arron Afflalo, UCLA.

Both him and Belinelli play SG, and Afflalo can lock down his man, which is something both Richardson and Ellis struggle with.  By bringing in Afflalo, it gives us insurance on two fronts:

1. As Richardson's defense declines, we have a perimeter defender to replace him with in the starting lineup. 
2. Also, because of Ellis' struggles on defense, we can justify keeping Ellis a 6th man.

In the 2nd round, we should be grabbing the best defender we can, regardless of position.

Considering the players available at the time of the pick:

With the 36th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, The Golden State Warriors select Dominic McGuire, Fresno St. University.

 

 

With these two defenders, we have a more balanced, deeper team heading into the season.

Saltzman Decides...Keep Jason Richardson

Jason Richardson was the blood, sweat and tears of this franchise since he was drafted.  He is the heart and soul of a passionate team.  He is everything the fans are and his energy throughout his career fueled the passion in the stands.  Even if Brandan Wright had become a great PF, he was not worth trading for at the time this trade was made.

Charlotte was willing to take on Richardson's contract, and while our rationale was to get younger, save money and clear a spot for rising star Monta Ellis, our decision was flawed.

1. Richardson is still a better player than Wright
2. Ellis was never going to be a smart fit as the starting 2 guard.
3. Ellis would have thrived in a 6th man role, being allowed to be an offensive force off the bench (i.e. Manu Ginobli, Ben Gordon, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, etc...)
4. We never gave our We Believe team a chance to play together a full season.

Therefore, by the power of this blog, I declare the Richardson for Wright draft day trade ERADICATED

Turn Back the Clock...May 17, 2007

 

The Golden State Warriors, coming off the most exciting season in their franchise's history since the days of Run TMC have just lost game 5 to the Utah Jazz to be eliminated from the playoffs.

It was a special year, a special run and included players the fans will never forget.

The biggest mistake the team made was trying to be financially responsible immediately following their most financially productive year in nearly 15 years.

I am creating this blog to change the course of history.  Not to give my Warriors an NBA Championship...but to give the fans what they have always deserved: A great team that plays it's heart out for them. Period.  So, join me on this nostalgic, yet futuristic look back at what the Warriors might have done differently.

Here is the scenario: chris cohan, former owner of the franchise, is losing money.  Instead of keeping the team through 2010 like he did, he sells the team in June of 2007 to an ownership group led by my billionaire father.  cohan, never caring about the team, wants to maximize his return on the Warriors so he can pay off his debts, and sells the team for $400 million.

My father, knowing how much I love our Warriors, decides to hire me as the team's general manager.  He promotes Chris Mullin to President of Basketball Operations and fires cohan's long time right hand man, bobby rowell.

Follow my blog as I reveal what decisions I would have made differently...