Post by heelsguy25 on Jan 29, 2011 18:29:03 GMT -5
Moving Forward
The Warriors did not perform the way the fans and more importantly GM Williams thought. They brought in a scoring threat in Glenn Robinson, but he could not save the team. They used different lineups, which may have hindered the team's overall progress. Playing with a big lineup was a thought Gm Williams had, but it failed. Using Robert Traylor was not the way to go. Traylor was out hustled by the opposing SF every night. There was some light at the end of the tunnel for the Warriors last season though. Young guys Raymond Felton and Andris Biedrins showed that they are maturing day by day and should be solid players this coming season. Gm Williams has made it very clear that those two are not going anywhere, yet other GMs still waste their breathe.
2006 SSBL Draft
Heading into the draft, the Warriors were sitting without any selections. The team is relying solely on the core of guys they have now, for the next few years. This strategy may not help them, if they struggle again this coming season. The 2006 draft didn't look that strong of a draft, so GM Williams wasn't too worried about not having a pick. However, as the clock passed, Williams saw some guys that could help the team. He decided to pull the trigger and acquire a late 1st round selection. The deal was with the Washington Wizards. The Warriors sent cash to Washington in exchange for the 20th overall selection.
With the Warriors now on the clock at 20, the search for a player was on for the Golden State front office. A few players struck the fancy of GM Williams, but they ultimately decided to grab a guard. The best guard on the board, in their eyes, was Spanish PG Sergio Rodriguez. Rodriguez is know for his flashy play and great decision making skills. The Warriors front office felt Rodriguez would be a nice piece to add to Felton. Other GMS wondered why they would go with a PG, but the Warriors front office had plans for the young Spaniard. GM Williams was not sure of who would be the starting 2 guard come this season, so grabbing Rodriguez helped ease that pain abit. Rodriguez could easily play in the backcourt with Felton. Other teams around the league have gone with a 2 PG backcourt and Williams felt it could be an option if they failed to find one in free agency.
Free Agency
The Warriors headed into the free agency period with just over 10 million in cap room. A big hole on the roster was at SG. There were a few names that jumped out at GM Williams, so he targeted them almost immediately. As the days passed, the roster for Golden State stayed the same. The front office began to wonder if they would find a starting SG this time around in FA. With just one day left of FA, the Warriors looked to fill their roster by any means possible.
The Warriors landed a couple guard with their money, but still lacked the necessary depth. Joining the Warriors were some younger veteran guys. John Salmons signed with Golden State for 4 years. Casey Jacobsen signed for 5 years. Both will add much needed depth to he 2 and 3 spots. Both will look to fill the empty 2 spot on the roster. GM Williams likes the play from both, and may not make a decision on who starts until after the preseason sim. Jacobsen is with Golden State for the 2nd time in just 3 seasons. The first time around, Jacobsen was used as a reserve and played pretty well. He averaged just over 8ppg in 19 minutes of action. he is known for his shooting skills and could be the shooter the Warriors need to get over the hump and become the team most think they are capable of being. Salmons is an all around type player, and should be a nice addition to the Warriors.
With FA officially over, the time to sign players to 1 year minimum contracts was upon us. The Warriors saw a few players that fit their needs, so they wasted no time. Signing with the Warriors were Marcus Moore, Evan Eschmeyer and Brian Skinner. Moore, a 2 year player out of Washington State, will be a nice addition to the backcourt. With the addition of Moore, the Warriors have decided to send Rodriguez to the D League for the season. Rodriguez will only benefit from the time there. He must work on his defense and outside shot more to become the player the Warriors front office see him as. Eschmeyer, back with the club, will fill a reserve role in the frontcourt., He played sparingly for the team last season, but his a presence when on the court. he may not be used as much this year, but should add size if Podkolzin or Biedrins go down with injuries. Brian Skinner, a solid veteran, will add more frontcourt help. He should be a backup to Robert Traylor, and will help with the rebounding side of the ball.
Trade Options
The Warriors are an overall younger team. The front office has reached out to other teams in search of a veteran player. Glenn Robinson is a solid scorer, but he may not be a long term option in Golden State. The Warriors would like to move Big Dog for some future 1sts or smaller contracts. So far, no one has taken the bait. Another player that could be on his way out is Robert Traylor. After signing Traylor to a long term deal, the Warriors have seen his intensity drop. The Warriors would like to see the player they saw not too long ago. The Warriors would like to find the same for Traylor in terms of returnable assets. The roster is shaping up nicely after FA, but the Warriors are always open to a trade. They have made it clear whose staying, so it may not leave much for movable pieces.
Looking Ahead
The Warriors seem better on paper than last season. GM Williams is hopeful that this team will gain more confidence and will start to gel as a single unit. Look for the play of Felton and Biedrins to progress and keep this team in the playoff hunt. If the Warriors don't find suitors for Robinson and Traylor, they should still be able to find a way to win. The 2006-2007 season is another chapter in this story book.
Stay tuned for a look at how the team faired during the preseason.
