Today, Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber and business partner Joe Lacob successfully outbid billionaire Larry Ellison to buy the Golden State Warriors for $450 mil. Guber has porduced some great films, including Midnight Express and Rain Man. Lacob, a Warriors' season ticket holder, appears to be a true sports fan.
This change in ownership could be exactly what this troubled franchise needs. The Warriors front office is notoriously disorganized and continues to make baffling decisions. With Don Nelson as coach, the team has failed to develop it's young talent and repeatedly drafts long, lanky big men. In 2007 they drafted North Carolina F Brandan Wright; a raw 19 year-old oozing with talent. Of course, Don Nelson and his musical chairs starting lineup never gave him consistent playing time to develop (he has also had some injury problems). A year later, the Warriors drafted a clone of Wright in Anthony Randolph. At the time of the draft, Randolph was considered a risky high upside pick. In his limited playing time, Randolph has exhibited himself to be an extremely versatile, shot-blocking bigman. Unfortunately, Randolph also succumbed to Don Nelson's unstable substitution system and wasn't able to see consistent minutes. Just last week he was traded to the Knicks for rebounding machine David Lee. Randolph is going to explode in New York under Mike D'Antoni's system -- I'm thinking 16 pts, 8 boards and a few blocks per game. Rewind to the 2010 draft, and the Warriors yet again drafted a long, lanky, unproven F in Ekpe Udoh. I think the odds that Udoh is a bust must be 2-1. After moving starting SF Corey Maggette, it would have been prudent for them to draft a small forward (and safer pick)-- maybe Xavier Henry or Gordon Hayward.
On the bright side, the Warriors do have a cornerstone PG in Stephen Curry. The son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry, Stephen had a fabulous rookie season averaging 17 points and nearly 6 assists, including a staggering 26 pts, 8 ast, 6 reb, and 2.6 stl/game in the final month of the season. Flanking Curry is Andris Biedrins, a 6'11 C from Russia. Only 24 years old, Biedrins has already been in "the league" (that's what pro players call the NBA) for 6 years and still has room for improvement. In 2009 he averaged a robust 12 pts and 11 boards a game. Complementing Steph Curry in the backcourt is 24 year-old chucker Monta Ellis. A proven scorer, Ellis averaged 25.5 pts/game last season.... while taking 22 shots/game - eek. Only 6'3, Ellis probably isn't the long-term answer playing alongside Curry. He is rumored to be on the trading block, but with 4 years and $44 mil left on his contract, he will be difficult to move.
The Warriors aren't going to improve unless they instill a more stable front office and get rid of Don Nelson. His defensive schemes are incredibly inept and his offensive style and substitution patterns are so inconsistent that it makes it difficult for players to understand their roles and develop a rhythm during the season. Hopefully new owners Guber and Lacob will turn the culture in the Golden State Warriors organization around. They have some nice pieces in place with Steph Curry as the floor general and David Lee and Biedrins crashing the boards, but they need a new coach and a precise strategy as to how they can build the Warriors into a championship contender.
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