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Dubs' stare down with Baron risky
Oakland Tribune, May 12, 2008 by Monte Poole
IT'S A POTENTIALLY dangerous game the Warriors are playing, matching stares with Baron Davis and his agent. They are practically daring the point guard to shop himself.
Given BD's emotional nature, his acute level of vanity and his immense stubborn streak, it invites a showdown.
Moreover, low-balling Davis and failing to re-sign him would lead to the loss of the Warriors' most comprehensively talented player, resulting in a dramatically different team next season.
If you're a Warriors fan, you can't be happy to hear, as reported in this newspaper over the weekend, negotiations between team and player are not close.
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Yet the team's tactic, under the circumstances, is sound. Discerning businessman that he is, Davis likely would handle it this way if he were on the other side of the table.
The Warriors operate fromleverage in just about way imaginable. For one, they have BD under contract for another season, at about $17.8 million. For two, they know he likes his cash. For three, they know he enjoys it here and is close to his teammates. For four, they know that he knows he's well-suited to Don Nelson's system. For five, they know he turns 30 next season, which gives pause to other teams pondering a long-term deal.
For six, the Warriors' commitment to Davis, one more year, precisely matches that of their commitment to Nelson -- as well as to vice president of basketball Chris Mullin.
Put another way, the Warriors are positioned to make notable changes, if they desire, in July 2009.
If Davis decides to opt out and sign elsewhere, the Warriors simply alter their plan and move forward a year early.
As for Davis, he's a great player, a fiery leader, one of the top six or seven point guards in the NBA. There is a reason the Warriors like him and his teammates respond to him.
Then, too, BD's arrival brought a new energy to the Warriors. He arrived in February 2005 and, aside from the 21-27 blip in his only full season starting for Mike Montgomery (2005-06), the Warriors are 99-64 (.607) with a healthy Davis.
So he can take credit for igniting the organization's long- awaited revival.
But that about sums it up in terms of leverage points for Davis.
For there also is a reason Mullin gave up very little (Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis) to acquire what then was a 25-year-old point guard one year removed from being named third-team All-NBA, with two appearances in the All-Star Game. Davis came with baggage, most of it related to conflicts with coaches.
Well, the "difficult" tag remains. Thus, some organizations won't be interested and some coaches don't want him. His reputation surely was a factor in coaches not voting Davis to the Western Conference All-Star team.
And it certainly would play a part in any consideration other organizations might have for him.
That the Warriors are aware of this gives them another point in the leverage count.
Their stance is in line with the new commitment to fiscal responsibility initiated last summer. In the wake of giving excessive contracts to mediocre or complementary players -- Derek Fisher, Adonal Foyle, Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy etc. -- ownership and team president Bob Rowell, seeing no link between high payroll and high winning percentage, drew a line. It cost them Jason Richardson, but that's price of doing business without running a charity.
Mullin consistently says the Warriors fully intend to keep youngsters Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins, whose combined contracts could approach $100 million. Brandan Wright clearly has an intriguing upside and could command a big contract in 2010. The Warriors' fiscal plan is allow these three, none over age 22, to become the foundation for the next era.
Where does that leave Davis? As the centerpiece of the current foundation. Right along with Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Matt Barnes and ... Nelson.
To connect the dots is to see one more season with Nelson, who has retired twice and often hints at doing it again. He turns 68 on Thursday, which means he'd turn 70 in the first year of his next contract. That wouldn't seem best for the Warriors or the coach.
So 2008-09 is, most conceivably, is Nelson's last opportunity to win the championship which has eluded him all these years. It's a longshot of absurd magnitude, but Nellie's only chance comes if he can blend BD's current crew with the best of Ellis, Biedrins and Wright.
Absurd, yes, as we said, especially given the allergy Nelson develops at the thought of demanding defense.
Yet any chance at all for the Warriors to reach the postseason and make noise after getting there requires a healthy and productive Davis. With anyone else at the point, they are .500 at best.
They know that. As does Davis. Their hope is his hope, his hope theirs.
They don't want BD to opt out any more than he wants to opt out - - even if, according to the rumor circulating in San Francisco, Davis plans to sell his South of Market loft.
Monte Poole can be reached at (510) 208-6461 or by e-mail at mpoole@bayareanewsgroup.com.
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