Independence Day special: throw this free-agent “tea” into Tha Bay.
Welcome to the red, white and blue special edition. Apparently, not satisfied with making a super-sized offer to just one LA Clipper, he of the torn Achilles tendon, Elton Brand, now there’s another Clip allegedly on the Warriors’ list. And it’s a name I had hoped not to hear mentioned in the same breath as the word “Warriors” this summer: Corey Maggette. I’m not even sure I spelled his name right. That’s how little I want to see him suit up for the Dubs. There’s a reason everyone says that he should have stayed another year at Duke. Hell, some of us think he should still be there. And what am I missing here? Were the Clippers the ones in the title series two weeks ago? Is this some kind of dynasty being broken up? Adding Baron to the squad makes them lightweight nice, but do the Warriors have to go after every free agent of theirs in a vindictive vendetta-fueled haze? Yo, Mully, it’s not “Gangs of New York.” And memo to you and yours: I’m not sure that the rest of last-year’s Clips are that good.
This brings me to the fireworks.
Yo, Warriors. Hear me on this. If you go and blow your bankroll on Corey the Underachiever and someone coming off of a season in which they played seven games and ruptured their Achilles tendon, and then somehow fail to have enough in the old Schwab One account to re-sign Monta Ellis, I will mock your ineptness relentlessly. As in, unrelentingly. Without stopping. From now until next-year’s lottery. While very publicly courting a new hoops team to follow. Take these words lightly at your own peril. Because I have followed this team avidly, lovingly even, for more than 35 years. I can still name-check the last roster to win a title for you down to about ten places on the pine. But if I find out that Monta is a Grizzly because Mully, Nellie, Cohan and everyone else didn’t have enough perspective to see that there just might be some big-azz offers coming his way from the hometown squad, I am telling you this now. Two things. One: the soft fuzzy gloves with which I have talked about all things Warriors will come off. Two: I am quite likely to categorically refuse to root for two ex-Clippers, a couple of cats I remember and four rookies, while we start another 15-year rebuilding process.
But seriously. How in the name of Andrew DeClerq did you let this happen? Guys! Monday, you had a team that the Bay Area loved. Four days later, you look desperate as hell. And now we are turning our lonely eyes to goddamn Corey Maggette? All I can say is, this. Don’t get fooled again. Do what you can to keep what remains of the team that we enjoyed watching so much these past three seasons. How you perform your duties will determine how I perform mine. Today at least, I, unlike y’all, I am trying to perform them for something we can all get behind.
In service of freedom from the tyrrany of mediocrity,
Daniel Turman
PS. Props to Shahid for reminding me of the finest rendition of the anthem ever. And at the NBA All-Star Game, no less. Make the jump for the vid. RIP Marvin.
Turman,
What if Maggeddy grows himself a serious beard and goes all-star?
Seriously, I’m all with you on our boy Ellis. Better go outta our way to keep this cat in town.
Comment by Shahid | 07.4.2008 | 10:03 pm
Happy 4th of July with some Marvin Gaye Bearditude!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvVzaQ6i8A&eurl=
Comment by Shahid | 07.4.2008 | 10:22 pm
In the words of Big Cleezy - “This is a hot mess.”
Shahid,thanks for the link. I can never get enough of that clip.
Comment by matthewmeschery | 07.4.2008 | 10:31 pm
I’ve kinda been speechless the last few days.
Trying to read every blog/sportswriting/trade/rumer/spin on His Bearded exit- and its ramifications (possibilitities?).
But-
This post actually scares me.
DT…
Mabey it IS time to put the “goon-hand” down on the W’s mis-management.
I’d feel better if I THOUGHT we had some guys in the field trying to work real players (JSMith or Okafor(sp), with PRECISION, rather than throw out long-distance cat-calls to non-getters.
Desperate never looks good.
Money looks good.
But only when you’re cool.
Oakland is cool.
Tell ‘em FTB…
*smack*
Comment by cocomotion | 07.5.2008 | 1:33 am
I forgot to mention…
I agree w DT-
OF COURSE we need to take care of our core guys.
I thought that was a given.(oops)
MONTA
Ellis, AB, Capt’n JAX, BOOKIE, Wright, Rand?, -I think CJ can play, too.
my 2 cents:
spend some money (not 100 mil) to get another, proven player (Smith was #2 in blocks last year? and has some fire- and a good achillies)- and shuffle the rest
sorry Harrington
Comment by cocomotion | 07.5.2008 | 2:00 am
sorry about my spelling- it’s two AM.
cheers
Comment by cocomotion | 07.5.2008 | 2:01 am
I feel ya’ cocomo.
Comment by Gd. | 07.5.2008 | 3:43 am
It’s my opinion that The Dubs are going to try and get a difference maker this season even though the prudent thing might be to create a stop gap solution, and wait it out until next year or 2010 when more big names come up in FA. The reason why is this:
1. Mullin’s reputation as a GM is now on the line if the Warriors don’t have a competitive season coming up (if he gets this team into the playoffs, he’ll look like a genius)
2. Nelson doesn’t want his last year (or years?) in the NBA to be a throw-away, rebuilding effort
3. Cohan finally got a taste of what it was like to have an exciting fan-friendly team on the court that wins games (He also just raised ticket prices again, and therefore needs this team to perform to avoid a full-on fan rebellion)
Given that, if Brand doesn’t work out, not only will we resign Monta and Biedrins no matter what, but we’ll probably also go after one of the other RFA’s (J. Smith, Iguodala, or Okafor), or make a big trade. I think the Warriors would love to sign Brand, or force the Clippers into a sign and trade.
Comment by matthewmeschery | 07.5.2008 | 5:00 pm