Michael Pina has a BA in English with a concentration in Journalism from the University of Delaware. He is currently living in his hometown of Boston. Mike is also the creator of the sports site Mike and Jeremy Like Sports.
On the surface, the Golden State Warriors look like a mess but they don’t have to be. The aftermath of a forgetful media day that cast a dark cloud over a hopeful season has thankfully undergone serious damage control.
Guard Monta Ellis immaturely proclaiming who he can and can not play beside, has amended his statements less than 24 hours later with the help of his head coach Don Nelson. Mercurial Warrior Stephen Jackson has been so insistent in his demand to leave the Bay Area, he was willing to pay a $25,000 fine by the league for being so vocal. Jackson has a point in wanting to leave after Golden State effectively failed to keep any roster pieces (Baron Davis, Al Harrington, Mickael Pietrus, Jason Richardson) from the 2007 squad that upset the Mavericks. They keep getting younger and in doing so have performed as one of the worst teams in the league.
Ellis, who led that magical team in scoring at just 21 years of age, is a key piece of the puzzle for the upcoming season now that he’s fully healthy. He’s one of the least talked about point guards in the league, but the four-year veteran is truly a blurry marvel on the basketball court. 2009 should be a huge year for him if he can focus on the game.
Their roster is one of the more talented to run Nelson’s system in recent memory, filled with incredibly athletic swingmen and hybrid forwards. The thing is, it could have been better.
The proposed trade to sooth all the naysayers over was rumored to be first round pick Stephen Curry, rebounding machine Andres Biedrins and the unpopular Brandon Wright for Amare Stoudemire.
No introduction is needed when speaking of the pogo stick, high flying 26-year old super star Stoudemire. Starting at center and being the quickest one in the conference he would thrive, as he once did earlier in his career with Phoenix.
Arguably the best offensive big man in the game, averaging over 25 points per playoff game in his still young career, Stoudemire combined with Ellis would be one of the most exciting backcourt, frontcourt combinations in the league.
With all the talent they have, the 2009-10 Warriors look like a team that might not recover from this trade that never transpired. It’s in the back of their fan’s minds and could have made them a serious candidate to not only get to the postseason, but make a little noise and ruffle some feathers upon arriving.
No team in the league would be as explosive. No team since the ‘06-07 Phoenix Suns, not coincidentally the team which the deal was to be made with, would have made more highlight reels and roped in more casual fans. The Warriors would be a likable bunch of rugrats, running wild under Don Nelson’s affable brand of basketball.
This isn’t to say Stephen Curry won’t be a good addition to the Warriors because he could easily be the rookie of the year. He could easily find himself in their backcourt for years to come as an integral guard in a guard oriented system. Future Warriors teams, with Anthony Randolph, Ellis and Curry at the core will surely be competitive.
At the worst, Curry’s career will follow the path of Ben Gordon, an undersized one dimensional two guard who is one of the streakiest shooters in the league. That’s at worst. At best there’s no telling what can come of him. He’s a very talented scorer who can light things up from long distance, inside and mid-range.
But looking at the trade that wasn’t, getting Stoudemire quiets Ellis. It quiets Jackson. It quiets critics.
