Build Around Monta Now

The Warriors need to build around Monta right now. After watching another disappointing effort against the Detroit Pistons, it hit me. Now is the time. How many times have we “waited” for players to develop only to see them flounder and turn into average players? By the time Anthony Randolph, Stephen Curry, and whomever else “develop” they will be looking for the first ticket out of town. In the past the W’s have given up on their youth for unsatisfactory results. Bad trades for players that are just past their prime, or players with a similar career to the very players they’re trying to get rid of. The Donyell Marshall and Tom Gugliotta type trades. Everyone including me is hoping that Randolph will turn into a star. The likelihood of this is about 20%. With the W’s it’s even less. There is no cultivation of youth in this organization. There never has been. Vladimir Radmanovic currently starts at Power Forward. Yes he is starting over Anthony Randolph. A 29 year old 40% FG shooter is starting over the “future” of the franchise. The W’s claim that Randolph “doesn’t work on the things they need him to do.” Presumably defense and rebounding, as if Vladimir’s providing those things! Look at his numbers! He’s 29 years old! Why on earth should he be starting over Randolph? If Anthony can’t start right now, then forget about him ever becoming a star with this team. You don’t think that he’s even more outraged about this than I am. He actually has to deal with this, where I just write about it.

Exactly one week ago he played a game against the Orlando Magic.

This is Don Nelson after the game:"This is kind of what I envisioned when I drafted him," said Nelson, who used Randolph to instigate the offense. "Other than the one early jump shot that he took, he played a perfect game."

The very next game Randolph came off the bench, again. After a 28 point performance for a team going nowhere he came off the bench. What incentive is there for him to play better if he’s not rewarded for it when he does? Here’s what acting head Coach Keith Smart said after the following game: "If you've been around the league awhile, you can tell when a guy has something extra in him because he's focused through the practices, shoot-arounds and come game time," acting head coach Keith Smart said. "He just gave the feel that he was looking good and feeling good."

"He's back to working again. It's not that he wasn't working, but he's back to working in the areas that he's supposed to be working."

Working at what exactly Keith? Working at what? After Randolph had only 4 points and 7 rebounds the next game, listen to what Keith had to say: "You just hoped that he could build on the last game."

How is he supposed to build on something when he doesn’t enter the game until there’s 2 minutes left in the first quarter? You can’t build a house if your late to work every day can you? By the way, Vladimir scored 4 points on 1 of 9 shooting in the same game and he was able to start the very next game as well. You get the feeling that Randolph is being blamed for the losing. The worst part of it is that there is no method to this madness! How is this benefiting him? Can someone please tell me? “Working in the areas he’s supposed to be working?” What does that mean? He averages 7 rebounds a game off the bench. He blocks shots off the bench and he hits his free throws. What exactly are they expecting from him? In no way am I comparing Randolph to Dunleavy Jr. but this is exactly what ruined his confidence too. Mind games from a team with no credibility or direction. It won’t be long before the fans start to believe that Anthony doesn’t work hard in practice and therefore he doesn’t deserve to start. Trust me, its coming. Allen Iverson put it in perspective: “We’re talking about practice man, practice, not a game, not a game, but practice.”

These words really can’t describe how I feel as I am writing this. The W’s are 7-16 so yes we are out of playoff contention in every way possible except mathematically speaking. So now there’s really no excuse for not playing him. In the 4 games, that’s right 4 games, that he’s cracked the 30 minute mark he’s averaged:

19.25 ppg 1.75 bpg 9.75 rpg and 2 spg.

While we’re at it, do the W’s doing anything to actually help his development, when they give him playing time that is? He plays out of position as a Power Forward even though he’s adjusted pretty well to doing so. He’s never in pick and roll situations (probably because the staff hasn’t taught him how to set a screen) even though he’s developed a nice little 12-15 feet jumper. He has shown that he’s adept to starting the fast break but he never actually finishes one because you can tell he’s worried about making a mistake so he passes it off far too early even though he’s usually 4 feet in front of whoever is guarding him that night. In conclusion it’s now or never for Randolph. He’s clearly discouraged from the way the staff treats him, as if it’s his fault that they’re losing because he hasn’t “worked on the areas he needs to work on.” You would think he went snowboarding and broke his shoulder or something.

I’ll give the W’s a little credit though. Maybe Randolph doesn’t work hard in practice, but even still, we’re 7-16. Vladimir clearly isn’t any better in the games, and you can’t tell me he’s lighting Anthony up in practice. If he is more power to him, but he still shouldn’t be starting. He’s

So let’s talk about trading him and seeing what we could get in return in order to help Monta right now. Since the coaching staff won’t let Anthony help and management obviously isn’t forcing their hand either. Monta has 4 more years on his contract with the dubs but in reality that’s probably 1½, maybe 2 tops if you’ve followed the pattern of W’s players in previous chapters of this book. The W’s will decide that he’s no longer the future and it’s time to semi-rebuild again, or, he will decide that the W’s have no future and it’s time for him to rebuild somewhere else. So let’s make some trades.

Anthony Randolph and this year’s 1^st round pick plus the expiring contracts of Speedy Claxton, Devean George and the horrible contract of Corey Maggette for the unhappy Rudy Gay! We’ll take back the less terrible contract of Marko Jaric if we have to and Steven Hunter’s expiring contract in return. Check Rudy’s numbers if you have a problem with this trade.

Kind of like getting a meaner Iguodala with a little less passing skill isn’t it? But he does play better defense. You probably don’t want to give up a first rounder but Nelson doesn’t like rookies and another rook wouldn’t help this team anyway. We’ve also gotten rid of Corey’s contract and we’ll be able to resign Rudy after he enjoys living in the Bay Area and running with Monta for the rest of the season. And yes I’m using the same pitch from the Iguodala courting, same pitch. Also, if I told you today that Randolph would be as good as Gay in the next couple years, would you believe me? That’s why you make the trade. Randolph won’t be. Why would Memphis make this trade? Because they want to save money and would regret letting Rudy walk away for nothing at season’s end. He’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season because Memphis wouldn’t give him an extension. Plus they get another pick to “rebuild” with and O.J. Mayo is their supposed future now anyway. They’re business practices are very similar to the W’s if you haven’t noticed.

The W’s need a post presence and this is no secret. Brandon Bass is a proven low-post scorer who can rebound and he’s got explosiveness. He’s also got docent range on his jump shot. He played with the Mavericks so he knows how to run and he produced whenever he was given minutes. Plus he’s cheap at just $4 million a year with 4 years left on his current deal. Don’t like him? Then how about making a call to the Rockets for Carl Landry?

Yeah, he’s a beast on a 13-9 team. He can block shots, hit free throws and he does it all off the bench. The best part is that he’s a restricted free agent at the end of the year and someone’s going to overpay for him anyway. Why not rent him for a year and give up Raja Bell as insurance for Houston. They would love to have Raja on their team. They can’t get enough players like him. The Rockets would love to have a “future star” like Anthony Randolph but he’s already in Memphis and I don’t believe this deal would get done anyway. That’s why it’s my second option. I think Bass would do the same things Landry would, plus we’d probably be able to get a draft pick in return from Orlando. To make the Landry deal work we’d probably have to give up a draft pick. There’s also a strong chance we wouldn’t be able to retain Landry so the deal’s pretty risky. So let’s save that one for wishful thinking.

Let’s trade Curry. We all know that he and Monta can’t play together forever so just get over it. And take into account that whatever his ceiling is, it won’t reach where Monta is playing right now. Seriously, can you envision that? Again, it’s not fair to him to think it would. So, since I already got Rudy for Randolph I wonder if the Magic would trade me Bass and Redick plus a future first round pick for Curry and Bell. I would like to think so since Bass can’t get any playing time and Jameer Nelson can’t stay healthy. Curry would be a great insurance policy for the future and he’s another marketable young gentleman for the Magic. Bell can play defense and shoot the three, plus Van Gundy loves having a surplus of those guys. In addition, the Magic were after C.J. Watson in the summer of 09’ so they’re in the market for another point guard. Redick is a free agent at the end of the year so why not get something for him? Plus we get another shooter to replace Curry and Raja. I think this fits well for everyone. Here’s how we look so far:

PG-Monta Ellis

SG-Anthony Morrow

SF-Rudy Gay

PF-Brandon Bass

C-Andris Biedrins

I have to say that I am pretty impressed with this team. Monta and Rudy are playing the best ball of their young careers right now and Bass has a huge chip on his shoulder for still not being a starter. But we’re not done here. We need a true point guard off the bench. Someone who could get 4 to 5 assists a game and play with the top four on the team at the same time. He would also have to not be concerned about getting shots. What if we sent our 2^nd round pick to Oklahoma for Shaun Livingston? All he’s doing is sitting on the bench. He’s a free agent as well so let’s ask for a second round pick in return. To add even more depth and another potential point guard that might actually fit better, but with less potential, how about sending Ronny Turiaf to the Clippers for Mardy Collins and Craig Smith? Plus the second round pick from OKC if they think asking for Smith is too much. If so I’ll even throw in Brandan Wright, but for something in return though.

Now check out that bench.

PG-C.J. Watson, Shaun Livingston,

SG-J.J. Redick, Mardy Collins

SF-Kelenna Azubuike, Marko Jaric

PF-Vladimir Radmonovic, Mikki Moore

C-Craig Smith,

You don’t think Brian Shaw or Avery Johnson could turn this team into a playoff squad? Of course I’d let Nellie finish out the season after he got the record for all-time wins. Avery and Brian aren’t going to be unemployed for much longer though, so a change would have to be made. Let’s take a look at that complete roster now.

PG-Monta Ellis

SG-Anthony Morrow

SF-Rudy Gay

PF-Brandon Bass

C-Andris Biedrins

PG-C.J. Watson, Shaun Livingston,

SG-J.J. Redick, Mardy Collins

SF-Kelenna Azubuike, Marko Jaric

PF-Vladimir Radmonovic, Mikki Moore

C-Craig Smith,

This is the best future the W’s have had in awhile. All of the trades are within reason and the salaries match up. We might not be a great defensive team but we are improved over what we had, plus we still have free agency ahead of us and we’ll have a little money to sign a Sean Williams type from New Jersey, or Marcus Camby. The immediate future looks bright, and that’s something that W’s fans haven’t been able to say for a long time.