The Clippers aren't done dealing. They signed Golden State forward Kelenna Azubuike (8.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) to a three-year, $9.3 million offer sheet last week.

The Warriors have until Friday to match the offer, but two NBA sources said they will not because they signed forward Maurice Evans, who split time between the Lakers and Orlando last season, to a three-year, $6.4 million deal. -- The Press-Enterprise

NBA front-office sources say that the Warriors -- eager to add someone of quality to spare young Monta Ellis from inheriting all of Davis' old ballhandling duties -- are highly intrigued by the idea of signing Sixers guard Louis Williams to an offer sheet.

It's not yet clear whether Golden State would have enough leftover salary-cap space to extend an offer to Williams sufficiently prohibitive for Philly to match after the Warriors' expected re-signings of their restricted free agents, Ellis (coming soon) and center Andris Biedrins. There also would be questions about how much Williams and Ellis could play together in a less than physically imposing backcourt and with Maggette and Stephen Jackson sure to command lots of minutes.

It's also possible the Warriors could choose to go the trade route instead, since I'm told they're evaluating numerous scenarios these days.

Yet there's little doubt Williams' scoring knack would make him an intriguing fit in Don Nelson's system. Which must be why one plugged-in source believes the Warriors, in spite of the obstacles, are planning to make a "big run" at him.

Thoughts???

for more go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/19/SPDN11S586.DTL

Well, it's not official, but it seems that Elton Brand has pulled a bit of a Judas move himself (L.A. fans, it sucks doesn't it?). If everything goes according to plan, Elton will be reppin a $42 black Philly jersey by tomorrow morning, can you believe it? In other news though, it seems Mickael Pietrus is headed to the orange state to play some ball for the up and comming Orlando Magic, best of luck Air France, love ya man. The Warriors although losing the EBrand sweepstakes (God this is just too sweet), are pursuing Corey Maggette, which I can't complain about. A smooth, athletic, and strong two guard that can score on virtually any defender in the NBA. We may have to shop around a little more, but for now, I'm happy about it, welcome up north Corey...

Which brings me to my next point...what is Baron gonna do? Should we welcome him back up to the Bay if he so chooses to break his "verbal" commitment with the Clippers? Should the wise father welcome back his disobedient and homeless child? What if Baron leaves his wicked LA lifestyle, and comes up back to the Warriors and runs the point with Monta, Maggette, Jax, and Andris...Othella off the bench...i'm so down. What do you guys think?

Thank you bay area? I would be nothing without you? Up yours man. You're not welcome. We took a chance with you, we stuck up for you, we fought for you when you weren't an all-star, we became the best fans any NBA team could ask for, for you. And all you've got is thank you? Your thanks isn't welcome here, just get ready for when the Clipps play OUR Warriors next season, cause boom dizzle, 110 decibels is gonna sound a lot louder when it comes in the form of "BOOOO"...Ya Digg?

Baron Davis shocked the Warriors by opting out of his contract on Monday. Imagine their surprise now.

Davis

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the guard reached a verbal agreement with the Clippers on Tuesday night and will sign a new multiyear contract with Los Angeles after the leaguewide moratorium on signings and trades is lifted July 9.

Davis was in line to make $17.8 million in the last year of his deal with the Warriors, but after telling the team that he wanted to stay, opted out at the last minute.

Sources told ESPN.com that Davis, 29, will receive a five-year deal worth an estimated $65 million.

Forward Elton Brand also opted out of his contract with the Clippers on Monday, and speculation quickly began that the team would try to keep Brand and sign Davis. This scenario is only possible if the Clippers renounce the rights of Corey Maggette and Brand takes a slight pay cut.

Sources say the Clippers are expected to do just that and quickly reach a verbal agreement to bring back Brand.

Maggette opted out of his deal on Monday as well.

Davis averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season for a Warriors team that won 48 games but did not make the playoffs.

This just in...I heard this on KNBR, an ESPN source has revealed that Baron made his first reaction to the opt-out after texting JA Adande with "Clippers are possibility, but I want to stay in the Bay Area"

what'd ya'll think?

Both the Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors have offered Gilbert Arenas max deals, according to a source close to the three-time All-Star point guard.

The Wizards early Tuesday morning offered Arenas a six-year $127 million deal, according to the source, and the Warriors offered Arenas five years for $101 million. The Wizards, because Arenas was under contract with them, are permitted to offer six years while other teams can offer only five. -- The Washington Times

According to a source close to Arenas, the three-time all star is mulling the offers but is leaning towards staying with the Wizards and is willing to take less than the maximum if it will help Ernie Grunfeld make other moves he needs to make this summer.

Also, I heard from a very reliable source that the Sacramento Kings contacted Arenas and said they are willing to do "whatever it takes" to land his services even if they have to "trade their entire team." -- The Washington Post

Because of his $35 million deal with Adidas, Gilbert Arenas has flexibility and -- according to a close friend of the guard -- could consider signing for another team for less if it meant having a greater chance at contending for a title more quickly.

But the source added Arenas has not scheduled any visits with other teams and will not consider fielding outside inquiries until any possible scenario that includes a return to the District is ruled out. -- The Washington Times

Gilbert Arenas will soon board a flight to Toronto and then China for a promotional trip he's doing for Adidas. When he lands later today, Arenas is scheduled to have a phone conversation with Wizards' owner Abe Pollin. The subject will be Washington's offer of a lucrative longterm contract. -- The Washington Post

With no long-term contract reached and with the advice of his agent, Baron Davis has opted out of his last year with the Warriors, forfeiting $17.5 million. It was unexpected, its confusing, and a little foolish if you ask me. Is he just waiting until the Warriors re-sign Andirs and Monta? Is he playing hardball and trying to reach a new longterm contract with the warriors? Or is he just over the whole bay area scene...because the only place that he could be going is to LA...as a Clipper. It bothers me that we already let JRich go, a player who was so dedicated to the Warriors and to the fans, despite a number of years of losing records and missed playoff opportunities.

Warrior fans, stay hopeful...I leave you with this, a quote from Dizzle himself: "I know what's in my heart and the people in the Bay Area know what's in my heart." Well Baron, we don't know where your heart is, but we certainly will in the next few weeks to come...

Damon Powell....wow. This kid is 6-5 and graduates high school in 2009, thats right hes just a baby...but damn is he explosive, mad respect.

Bay Area boys know whats up...

Al Harrington, who recently switched agents -- from Arn Tellem to Dan Fegan might not mind a change of scenery. But Chris Mullin seemed lukewarm to such a move, and league sources believe the Warriors, who would be down to just one Nellie-trusted big man ( Andris Biedrins) without Harrington, won't move him without getting a legitimate player in return.

"Hmm ... under contract, heck of a player, I anticipate him being here," Mullin said. "Al's played a lot of different positions throughout his career, and that's real valuable, especially for us. -- San Francisco Chronicle

It's been few months since my last post, but I was busy watching the Lakers lose to the Celtics (sorry Laker fans, I really really really don't like Kobe Bryant). Anyways, I thought it was a good time to start back up and discuss the upcoming NBA Draft. A lot of mock drafts have Michael Beasley being selected as #1, I beg to differ. Beast-ley is a solid player, outstanding athlete, and bound for definite stardom in the NBA...however, D-Rose is exactly what the bulls need. He's 6-3, superb athlete, can shoot the ball and create for others, but most importantly he is a true point guard. It's a fact that the hardest positions to actually come across in the draft are true centers and point guards, everything in between is kind of a grey area. Although, I have been hearing things about a Wade trade to the Bulls for the #1. I think that could only help the Miami Heat, since they are truly the worst team in the NBA, but really could negatively effect the Bulls. If I were a Bulls fan I wouldn't want to give up the chance of having potentially a star point guard like Derrick Rose. However, Miami has nothing to lose, they might as well try and stack up their roster with young guys and see what happens.

Two guys I am really questioning in the top 5 are Kevin Love and OJ Mayo. Mayo has got a great offensive game, but he lacks on the defensive side and his attitude and ignorant mentality aren't going to get him too far in the L. But i'm sure once Bron throws one down in his juggular, hes going to get quite the reality check. KLove is a baller, he can rebound, shoot, and hes fundamentally as sound as you can be...but he just doesn't have the athleticism to compete with the likes of KG, Amare, Superman, etc etc. Hes a great college player, but I don't think hes going to cut it in the NBA.

Anyways, I don't really care to much about picks 1-13, but more about #14 and who the dubs are gonna draft. We're projected to take Donte Greene from Syracuse, and judging by our past habit of drafting big men in the first round, I think it could be a reality. I hope Mullin really thinks about it though, because players like Brandon Rush and Joe Alexander could be much better options. Or, maybe we could use that $10 million dollar exemption and the likes of Pietrus or Al Harrington (aka Othella) to try and pick up a solid forward. At this point I hope we just concentrate on re-signing Monta and Andris, and maybe renegotiating with Dizzle. I think we've got all of the tools to really go far next year, but we just need to sharpen everything up and really be on point (for example maybe we shouldn't start 0-6).

Also, rumor has it that Diaw and Barbosa are on the trading block which we may want to consider because they fit quite well into the run and gun mentality and style of play the dubs use. I also heard we were looking the Yi and Charlie V, oh and Varajeo...let me be the first one to say, if we get anyone of those three on the warriors I will burn my jerseys and swear my allegiance to another team...please don't make me do that Chris...anyways thats all for now, peace.

As far as I'm concerned, the Western Conference Finals are a stronger indicator of who is going to be dubbed the NBA Champions. Lets face it, the East hasn't been good since Jordan decided to call it quits (the first time). But don't take it from me…just check out the cold cut facts. The Warriors are 40-24, yet they have been sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot for weeks now. But apparently no one else in the league office finds it slightly alarming that they are 1.5 games back from snatching the seventh seed from Dallas, and a measly 5 games back from being the #1 team in the West. Now lets transition over to the Eastern Conference and see what it would be like if they playoffs started today…

Obviously Boston and Detroit are going to claim the number 1 and 2 spots in the playoff hunt, I mean they are the only two teams the West should be worrying about. Cleveland holds the fourth playoff spot in the East with a record, get this, of 37-29. Well to put it in perspective for you, the Denver Nuggets are in the ninth slot in the West with a record of 38-26. This means if Cleveland was in the West they would be in the 10th playoff spot and virtually would have no chance of making it on to the post season. But why stop there? The Western Conference playoff contenders have to play each game with the same intensity and motivation, they have to play like its their last game just to get into the post-season. But on the other hand, we have teams like the lackluster Nets, who are going to stumble into the post-season with a 27-38 record? Well, lets not forget about Chicago and Atlanta who are both neck and neck with 26-38 records.

So what's the problem? It most certainly is not an issue of talent. Yeah, the West has Kobe, Dirk, Nash, CP3, Duncan, Shaq, Booz, Dizzle, etc…think about the East though. They boast the likes of LJ, KG, D-Wade, Jesus Shuttlesworth, Dwight Howard (a.k.a. Beast), Chauncey, Rip, Arenas, etc. There is plenty of talent on both sides, but why is the East so bad! They won the damn all-star game for Christ's sake. My proposition, just take the top 16 teams. Forget about East and West, North or South, just take the best 16 teams in the NBA. What sense is there in the fact that the 26-38 Bulls might have a run at the championship, but the 40-24 Warriors might have to go fishing early this season? How are Joe Johnson and Caron Butler all-stars in the East, but Baron isn't for the West? I guarantee you put Baron back in the East, whatever team you want, and he'll be a starting all-star. The disparities between the two conferences and the post-season showings is almost unbearable.

I'm just tired of having to see quality teams pack it up early because the West is so competitive, and inversely have to painfully watch garbage teams like the Nets and Bulls playing for the ship. It's not right, and David Stern should do something about it, otherwise were just gonna keep seeing the same Western domination that we are already readily accustomed to.

keep it real.

How good do you feel right now if your from Boston? The pats are undefeated, possibly headed towards another championship ring, the Red Sox are gonna win the World Series, even if they have to play in snow, and the Celtics made possibly one of the biggest blockbuster trades in NBA history acquiring KG and Ray Ray, and hey lets not forget the #2 team in college football, Boston College. Hell, the Bruins are even second in the Northeast division.

I wish I could say the same for Cali. Warriors and Sharks...check. I just don't know about the Giants, Raiders, or 49ers...enjoy it Boston. This is one of those once in a lifetime things, and probabley wont happen for another 1000 years.

First its annoying fans, then its ugly baby blue jerseys, then its embarrassing Russian nationalists on the court (i won't name any names), and lastly its the annoying fans again. Apart from the fact that Carlos Boozer sweats more in one quarter than Patrick O'Bryant did all season, the Jazz aren't all that bad of a ball club. I think were beginning to see the birth of a rivalry between the Golden State Warriors and the Utah Jazz. The team, who should of just stayed in New Orleans under the Pistol, has instead moved to the weirdest of the fifty states, Utah. Now I admit it, I was a big Jazz fan back in the Jordan era, I wanted to see Malone and Stockton win a championship. Plus, I loved watching the all-time assist leader and mailman run the pick and roll to perfection. That aside, now i'm stuck with looking at Memet Okur's awestruck face after every 10-foot jumper he hits, no flare. But hey, at least we have one of the best shot-blockers in the league to watch right? (Adonal was a good shot blocker too…ha). The guy who blocked 7 shots one game? The guy they named after the most famous assault rifle in history, that's never supposed to jam on you, right?

Wrong, were talking about the guy who brought "posterization" to a whole new level. The guy wants to leave the league, and go play in Russia because he's so embarrassed. Now I give credit where credit is due, and Kirilenko is a solid player, he's fairly consistent and he can drop 11-12 ppg, a couple blocks, a steal here or there, and 5 or 6 boards. But, he doesn't have the competitive attitude and motivation to be a driving force on this Jazz team, then again who would if their wife's anniversary present each year was the chance to sleep with another woman?!

It was an interesting series last playoffs, and the main reason for the Jazz's success was their height and rebounding ability. But with a couple additions like Kosta Perovic, Branden Wright, and Al Harrington's improved rebounding skills, we should see a different Warriors coming out to play October 30th. Everyone is in better shape, team chemistry is at an all time high, and we are all eager to see who is going to step up and fill the role of the OG Warrior himself, Jason Richardson.

At least we have seen the very creative side of the Utah fans (I hope my sarcasm has set in by now), who sported tee-shirts, in response to the "We Believe" shirts, which said "We Don't Believe" and "Its Electrifying"? What's electrifying!? You want to see electrifying, look at the picture at the end of this article. (By the way, referencing that dunk never gets old, in some countries, getting dunked on that hard is punishable by death by firing squad…). As one writer put it, nothing is going to beat the disgusting sight of 20,000 puke yellow color shirts packed into Oracle Arena.

The Jazz had a good run, but now with rumors of Jerry Sloan, the heart and soul of that organization, leaving is as terrifying to Utah residents as Kobe's soon departure out of the purple and gold is to the city of L.A. They will however be helped by possibly the best shooter in the draft, besides Marco Belinelli, in Morris Almond out of Rice. So you've got Deron Williams, Gordan Giericek, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur. Not bad, but its no Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Matt Barnes, Al Harrington, and Andris Biedrins. With the shooting of B-Nelli, Monta, Air France, and the veteran leadership of guys like Austin Croshere and Troy Hudson, this team is gonna be plain fun to watch. Yeah, yeah, I know everyone knows the game plan...rebound, outlet, run, score. Well, now that you know it, please, tell me how in God's good name are you going to stop it. Four of the five starters are high percentage and reliable three-point shooters, all five can rebound well, all move without the ball, need I say more. Plus Baron wants to concentrate on more assists this year, I guess its a reasonable goal for a point guard who is already so well rounded. What can't he do, score at will (and I mean at will, not even Bruce Bowen has a chance), play excellent defense, rebound, pass, jump, dunk, lead, etc etc.

Either way you go, its going to be a fun game to watch, and Jazz fans, please, a little original creativity might go a long way. But for now, allow me to rip on the old Mastercard slogan (I think its just too appropriate), one yellow shirt $20, one warrior upper-level ticket $35, cold beer and a nachos $16, 110 decibels…priceless.

Peace