nashzilla
06-25-2008, 04:10 PM
PISTONS REPORTEDLY HAVE INTEREST IN WARRIORS POINT GUARD
By Geoff Lepper
Bay Area News Group
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 01:36:09 AM PDT
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Golden State Warrior Baron Davis goes up surrounded by arms trying to... ( DAN ROSENSTRAUCH )«1»
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As the hours tick down to an NBA draft that will start the ball rolling on the Warriors' potentially franchise-changing off-season, the team can be sure of one thing: Point guard Baron Davis will remain under contract.
But that doesn't guarantee he'll be wearing a Golden State uniform next season.
A team source said Davis has told teammates he will not exercise the opt-out provision in his contract before its June 30 expiration date, meaning that he will play out the final year of the deal at a salary of $17.8million.
Todd Ramasar, Davis' agent, said Tuesday that "it's not likely" his client will opt out. However, the source said Davis was "realistic" about the difficulty in recouping that guaranteed money in a free-agent market that is not flush with cash.
The threat of an opt out was one of the few pieces of leverage Davis had in talks with the Warriors regarding a contract extension, but it did not spur the team into action. The sides were far apart in terms of numbers when they sat down last month, and although the dialogue has continued, there appears to be a stalemate.
It's possible that Davis - who wants to stay in the Bay Area but was disappointed with the Warriors' offers - will ask to be traded. The Detroit Pistons, rebuffed initially in their attempts to pry forward Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, are now looking at Davis, the team source said.
Pistons executive Joe Dumars gave notice after Detroit lost the
Eastern Conference finals that anyone on his veteran-laden team could be traded, and the source said Detroit is willing to divest itself of Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups.
Wallace, like Davis an unrestricted free agent after next season, would give the Warriors their best power forward since Chris Webber's first stint in 1993-94 and has three-point range that Coach Don Nelson would love.
The inclusion of Billups, who has been made more expendable by the emergence of rookie Rodney Stuckey last season, would ease any concerns from Nelson about the point-guard position. Although Nelson says Monta Ellis eventually needs to move to point guard, he played him primarily at shooting guard last season, allowing Davis to direct the team on the floor.
Since Wallace and Billups will combine to earn nearly $25 million next season, the Warriors would need to package more salary in a potential Davis trade to make the salary-cap numbers work.
One possibility is adding forward Al Harrington. He is leaning toward requesting a trade this summer, although he will not make a decision until after the draft Thursday, a source close to Harrington said.
Harrington clearly was frustrated at being bounced in and out of the lineup by Nelson last season and at being asked to become a three-point specialist on offense. His role could further diminish if Nelson follows through with his plan of bringing second-year forward Brandan Wright into the rotation.
• A Warriors representative said the team has heard nothing from Kosta Perovic or his agent to back up overseas media reports that the second-year center was looking to jump from the NBA back to the Euroleagues with Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv.
• Sign-ups for the Warriors' summer camps and Davis' program are open. The team camp has eight sessions spread over July and August. Check warriors.com or call (510) 986-5310 for information.
Davis' camp is July 21-25. Sign up at rsoa.net.
• KNBR will broadcast a Warriors Roundtable from team headquarters Thursday from 9 to 10 p.m.
By Geoff Lepper
Bay Area News Group
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 01:36:09 AM PDT
Click photo to enlarge
Golden State Warrior Baron Davis goes up surrounded by arms trying to... ( DAN ROSENSTRAUCH )«1»
Blogs about the Warriors
Fast Break: Warriors Fan Blog
Morning Buzz Blog
Talking Points with Tim Kawakami
More on the Warriors
Warriors Forum: Talk with fellow fans
Your Photos & Video: Post your game day pics and video
Warriors section: News and more
As the hours tick down to an NBA draft that will start the ball rolling on the Warriors' potentially franchise-changing off-season, the team can be sure of one thing: Point guard Baron Davis will remain under contract.
But that doesn't guarantee he'll be wearing a Golden State uniform next season.
A team source said Davis has told teammates he will not exercise the opt-out provision in his contract before its June 30 expiration date, meaning that he will play out the final year of the deal at a salary of $17.8million.
Todd Ramasar, Davis' agent, said Tuesday that "it's not likely" his client will opt out. However, the source said Davis was "realistic" about the difficulty in recouping that guaranteed money in a free-agent market that is not flush with cash.
The threat of an opt out was one of the few pieces of leverage Davis had in talks with the Warriors regarding a contract extension, but it did not spur the team into action. The sides were far apart in terms of numbers when they sat down last month, and although the dialogue has continued, there appears to be a stalemate.
It's possible that Davis - who wants to stay in the Bay Area but was disappointed with the Warriors' offers - will ask to be traded. The Detroit Pistons, rebuffed initially in their attempts to pry forward Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, are now looking at Davis, the team source said.
Pistons executive Joe Dumars gave notice after Detroit lost the
Eastern Conference finals that anyone on his veteran-laden team could be traded, and the source said Detroit is willing to divest itself of Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups.
Wallace, like Davis an unrestricted free agent after next season, would give the Warriors their best power forward since Chris Webber's first stint in 1993-94 and has three-point range that Coach Don Nelson would love.
The inclusion of Billups, who has been made more expendable by the emergence of rookie Rodney Stuckey last season, would ease any concerns from Nelson about the point-guard position. Although Nelson says Monta Ellis eventually needs to move to point guard, he played him primarily at shooting guard last season, allowing Davis to direct the team on the floor.
Since Wallace and Billups will combine to earn nearly $25 million next season, the Warriors would need to package more salary in a potential Davis trade to make the salary-cap numbers work.
One possibility is adding forward Al Harrington. He is leaning toward requesting a trade this summer, although he will not make a decision until after the draft Thursday, a source close to Harrington said.
Harrington clearly was frustrated at being bounced in and out of the lineup by Nelson last season and at being asked to become a three-point specialist on offense. His role could further diminish if Nelson follows through with his plan of bringing second-year forward Brandan Wright into the rotation.
• A Warriors representative said the team has heard nothing from Kosta Perovic or his agent to back up overseas media reports that the second-year center was looking to jump from the NBA back to the Euroleagues with Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv.
• Sign-ups for the Warriors' summer camps and Davis' program are open. The team camp has eight sessions spread over July and August. Check warriors.com or call (510) 986-5310 for information.
Davis' camp is July 21-25. Sign up at rsoa.net.
• KNBR will broadcast a Warriors Roundtable from team headquarters Thursday from 9 to 10 p.m.