Golden State of the Union

The Golden State Warriors are a year removed from crashing the playoff party, going into a drunken rage while beating down the Mavs, and then passing out when the Jazz came around. No one really thought they had it in them; the Warriors were that weird quirky guy who doesn't come to the party often. All the regulars have a sneaking suspicion that he might not be quite right in the head, and every once in awhile he would have a loud, violent outburst causing everyone to turn their heads and wonder where all that passion came from and in turn, where it went when the explosion was over.


Although they've been very much watchable and even damn good at times, the Warriors haven't had that consistent fire all season (or even most of the season) that we saw in last year's playoffs. Baron is the engine that makes the machine go, Stephen Jackson is the key for the ignition, and Ellis is probably just a huge cannon or something strapped to the top for extra firepower. But sometimes the engine just wouldn't start (such as in the biggest game of the season), or Don Nelson might lose his keys. The result is one everyone knows: rather than crashing the playoff party this year, the Warriors will be at home, miserable, wishing they could just be invited.

Still, they don't have that much to be afraid of, do they? After all, they were just the victims of an ultra-competitive West. They drew the wrong straw and came up just short. I mean worst case scenario, Don Nelson retires like he's always threatening to, Captain Jack goes as crazy as we think he might be, the Warriors don't give Ellis the money he wants, and Baron opts out of his contract and bolts...wait, what?

Now, given that the reality of all the aforementioned events occurring is very minute, it still has to make the Warrior faithful a tad scared. In order to establish how the team would be able to cope with the circumstances they may be facing, we'll look at a few fundamental questions:


Can this team continue to play at a high level without Don Nelson?

Well, here's the thing. It takes a lot of self-discipline in the NBA to orchestrate chaos. It may seem counter-intuitive, but there are not many coaches in the league that could do what Nelson does with his offense, and I'm not sure there are other coaches that could replicate his style. Eventually, the need to control steps in, and the scheme would be abandoned. Not so with the Warriors and Nelson. So in short, the answer is no. Not because the players themselves are incapable of performing at such a level under other circumstances, but more due to the fact that they've grown accustomed to Nelson's ways (or in the case of Ellis, it's really the only way he's ever known) and a sudden change may cause some major chemistry problems in a locker room that many consider to be already volatile.

What happens if Baron opts out and leaves?

I can't see how you could spin Baron's departure as a positive for the Warriors. He's an all-star caliber point guard who can single handedly defeat and embarrass opposing defenses. His importance to this team is paramount, and they don't have any other true point guards on the roster who could replace him. Ellis would likely have to step in at the 1 if the Warriors couldn't find a solid choice via draft, trade, or free agency, and I think that would only be harmful for the team and his development. It would in part destroy the identity of this team, what many consider to be its leader by play as well as emotion, and an integral part of the team's play on both ends. If Baron does leave, the negative effects on the team would be devastating. They would fall behind the Trailblazers in next year's playoff race, and possible even behind another team or two. Still, I can't imagine this happening -- although GM Chris Mullin has shown relative restraint recently (compared to the Dunleavy-Murphy days), he simply has to give Baron some money, and probably will. Still, if Baron opts out and jets, wouldn't that only facilitate the retirement of Don Nelson?

Will Monta Ellis get his payday from the Dubs?

If you read the last sentence of the last response, the answer would seem to be "most likely". Still, the Warriors cap situation isn't exactly the best. Monta is obviously a free agent (unrestricted), and the team has Andris Biedrins to worry about as well (restricted, though, just as Ellis is). That being said, assuming Davis either chooses not to opt out or assumes a similarly priced contract, the Warriors are looking at almost $54 million in committed salary. A note though: that's looking at a 9-man roster without re-signing Kelenna Azuibuike, Austin Croshere, Mickael Pietrus, and Matt Barnes. And what if a rival team goes nuts and offers Ellis oodles of money? Are the Warriors prepared to match any and all offers? You'd have to think so; despite his defensive shortcomings, Monta's offensive game is something transcendent. His offensive skill and his age will likely make him a long-term Warrior, although if Ellis and Biedrins are in the money it decreases the chances of Baron getting his big long-term deal.