Maggette coming to Oakland, Air France flies to Orlando.
If you look at this lame mashup of an image in soft focus, it sort of looks like Mickael Pietrus is about to smash on Corey Maggette. Which roughly sums up my feelings about the early returns from “signing Wednesday.” Which is apparently sort of not unlike our category of “Hater Tuesday,” but without the sarcastic snark. Sure, everyone in Warriorland clearly felt that Pietrus had some rather monumental brain fades over his tenure, but he was kind of like the cute puppy peeing on the area rug. After a while, we got a bit irrational and acceptant.
This brings me to Corey. Now would be the diplomatic time to adjust my stance of the past couple of days, but I’ll wait until the Dubs win their 40th game with a healthy Maggette for that. Sorry, I’m still not pleased and I’m going to turn no further than the straight-talkin’, sharp shootin’ sideline Matt Steinmetz for some backup on this.
First off, Maggette is injury prone. He’s been in the league nine seasons and has played 70 or more games just four times in his career. Maggette’s body says Iron Man; his stats say Tin Man.Maggette is a great sub, the kind of aggressive scorer you love coming off the bench. He has a shoot first mentality and is a mediocre defender at best. In other words, as a sixth man he’s great, as a starter he’s not.
Maggette has made it clear he wants to start and be a primary offensive option. But he’s the type of high-maintenance player who doesn’t make teammates better. In fact, because he doesn’t create much, there tends to be a lot of standing around when he’s got the ball on the perimeter.
Maggette has never played for a winner. His teams have missed the playoffs in eight of the nine seasons he’s been in the league. The one year a Maggette team made the playoffs was in 2006, when the Clippers made it to the postseason. That year Maggette played 32 games.
Corey Maggette at three years, $16 or $17 million or so … maybe. Corey Maggette at five years for $40 million? No way.
And that, ladies and gents is what one member of the Warriors’ broadcast team had to say. Wow. But the free-agent pains don’t quit. Perhaps just as sad for all of FTB’s new readers to the south, Elton Brand was pillaged from the Clippers tall ship by the 76′ers. Oy. No Brand and no Maggette. Don’t trip though, BD. Al Thornton is nice. But I digress. Former 76′ers owner Pat Croce loves pirates. He even owns a pirate-themed restaurant and museum. Coincidence? Not so much.
Turman
Did I mention that Maggette’s deal is for five years and $50 million? Somebody else say something quick before I write like eight more comments.
Comment by admin | 07.8.2008 | 11:18 pm
Patience, young Admin. Remember the last time we got an injury prone scoring threat with limited playoff experience and a history of coach killing?
Looks like that contract karma didn’t work out after all, BD. Davis to Kaman? Oops! I think he and the Clips kinda both got what they deserve. Say what you want about the Warriors not offering him a big enough contract. The W’s were protecting their wallet; so was Baron; and so was Brand. And guess what? Not one of them will be in the Finals anytime soon. It’s a business, like everything else these days.
Maggette’s been stuck in Clipper-land for most of his adult life. Let’s give the guy a chance. He puts up big numbers and I think he could thrive with Nellie-ball. Steinmetz exaggerates his injury history. He’s only had 1 season where he didn’t play 75% of the games. I’d bet a few Bejamin Franklins that he plays MANY more games over the life of his contract than Baron will, for example.
Let’s see what else Mully can put together before we rush to judgement.
Comment by beardedbarman | 07.8.2008 | 11:44 pm
But what about his beard?!
Comment by Gd. | 07.9.2008 | 4:30 am
New beard on the way? If the Lakers choose not to match…
Comment by sven | 07.9.2008 | 4:38 am
With Maggette and Azubuike both on the team, they can change the name to The Golden State Biceps.
Comment by matthewmeschery | 07.9.2008 | 7:29 am
we’re making a run at ronny turiaf….THE BEARD IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by robcollins | 07.9.2008 | 9:04 am
Oh hell no Cleezy. That’s a poor substitution of Bearditude. Unless Monta grows a Grizzly Adams, nobody on this team can fill the void we have in the beard position right now.
Comment by matthewmeschery | 07.9.2008 | 9:57 am
Baron Davis, Warriors, Clippers, Elton Brand… it all kinda reminds me of the classic “prisoner’s dilemma” game theory. By trying to maximize their own pay-offs rather than cooperate, they all end up with the least desirable individual outcomes. Tragic, but entertaining I suppose. If they had taken the individual risk of cooperation with each other more, greater things probably would have been achieved.
Not excited about Corey, but it doesn’t sound like they _totally_ broke the bank to get him, which is good. Hey, maybe the new cat from LSU can turn into a Tracy McGrady type for the Warriors.
:-]
Turiaf seems like a decent pick-up, as long as expectations are realistic.
Still lot’s of time to make moves.
Comment by skinnykahuna | 07.9.2008 | 11:43 am
I think if you look at us getting Maggette as a replacement for Pietrus we just upgraded. We will probably end up starting Maggette rather then play him as a 6th man like we did Pietrus. But apples to apples Maggette is better then Pietrus plain and simple. I always liked Pietrus despite everyone I know hating on him constantly. He was athletic as hell he just didnt know basketball very well. I think this move might work out for the best. However I do agree wait until we have 40 plus wins before we start cheering this move as a good one. 13 times bitten twice shy…..
Comment by GldnSt8Warrior | 07.9.2008 | 12:05 pm
If the Dubs can swing the Harrington-for-Hinrich trade, I like Maggette as a 6th man behind Monta & Jax — instant offense in big minutes off the bench a la Ginobli. But Ellis + Maggette as our starting guards? We’ll give up 120 every night.
Comment by sven | 07.9.2008 | 2:12 pm
I’m not sure that I see much in the way of chemistry developing here. And Pietrus was a solid defender, in spite of his well-chronicled foibles offensively. Maggette doesn’t like to play much D and these other moves that are out there, Turiaf and Hinrich the two most popular, don’t do much for me either. Actually, I kind of despise Turiaf. Which apparently means that he will too be signed.
Comment by admin | 07.9.2008 | 2:26 pm
Just read Tim Kawakami’s interview with Don Nelson on his Talking Points blog. It looks like his starting 5 looks like this:
1. Monta
2. Jax
3. Maggette
4. Harrington
5. Biedrins
So, sounds like Nelson is committed to Monta at the point and that’s been his intention for a while. Not sure how I feel about that one. Overall, I’m seeing a BIG leadership gap on this team. Maybe Captain Jax, but I’ve always viewed him as a good lieutenant to Baron’s captain. Maybe Nelson doesn’t want anyone running the show but himself, but that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me either. Scary.
Comment by matthewmeschery | 07.9.2008 | 3:06 pm
To be fair, this is the same Don Nelson who told us he wanted to use Mike Dunleavy as a point forward, and then claimed he would limit Baron to 28-30 minutes per game last season. It’s too early not to take anything he says at face value. I’m sure there’s more going on in Nelson & Mullin’s head than is immediately apparent — I just hope they are secretly looking for a playmaking guard.
Comment by sven | 07.9.2008 | 3:47 pm
I think the playmaking guard is Monta. Pairing him up with anyone his size or smaller is going to be too risky defensively. So he becomes a classic “combo guard” who handles the rock and scores a lot. My main questions: leadership and assists. Those were two of the biggest losses with BDs departure and I don’t see where that’s going to be made up with this lineup. I see a ship with a bunch of solid lieutenants but no captain. And I see Al Harrington standing alone in the left corner waiting for a pass that never comes.
Comment by admin | 07.9.2008 | 4:03 pm
Having both Monta and Maggette having the exact same strength - getting to the basket at will - is either going to be really fun to watch or a recipe for bad team dynamics. Oh, and we know Jax likes to go 1 on 5 too, so, I agree with you DT, I’m not seeing a lot of ball movement here.
Comment by matthewmeschery | 07.9.2008 | 4:35 pm
Yeah, I didn’t mean to say that Monta isn’t a playmaker. He & Maggette can make plays for themselves, but I don’t really see either of them creating shots for their teammates. It could lead to plenty of Sportscenter highlights without many wins. That’s why I’m still pulling for Hinrich, a better-than-average point guard who can set him teammates up on offense and play a little D, neither of which are Ellis or Maggette’s strong suit.
Comment by sven | 07.9.2008 | 4:47 pm
i like the thought of hinrich coming to the dubs….but are monta or meggette ready to compete for six man of the year come june????
a line-up that looks like:
pg hinrich
sg magette
sf jackson
pf turiaf/wright
c beindrins
could make some noise.
Comment by robcollins | 07.9.2008 | 8:41 pm
yeah, I don’t like Monta at the point, or combo guard or whatever you want to call it. Mostly because I don’t like the idea of Jackson at the 2 - cause he’s too inconsistent. We need Monta’s FGP for that spot.
Comment by matthewmeschery | 07.9.2008 | 8:46 pm
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