Warriorsworld.net recently had the chance to talk with Geoff Lepper from the Contra Costa Times about the Warrios off-season, upcoming season and other Warrior related items.

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WW.NET:  Adonal Foyle was finally waived, was it a good move or would it have been better to hold on to his expiring contract next off-season?

Geoff: I think it was a great move for both sides. The Warriors recoup a ton of cash, and OD gets a chance to play again. And the W’s obviously can now sign Stephan Lasme (or some training-camp wonder, a la Matt Barnes last season) and get some use out of that roster spot.

WW.NET: Pietrus wants to go to Miami but needs a sign and trade to make it happen, who would you pry away from the Heat?

Geoff: MP’s agent, Bill McCandless, said the Heat have put him on the back burner and are targeting a couple of other players instead. Cleveland will always be in the running, because they’re willing to go into luxury-tax to try and get over the top after making the Finals last season, and McCandless touted two new teams in the chase -- although I’ve heard the W’s are dismissing those deals. 

WW.NET: Biedrins and Ellis both are eligible for extensions, what will it take to re-sign them?

Geoff: Four vans loaded with unmarked bills? The general consensus for AB’s starting point is Chris Kaman’s deal with the Clippers (five years, $50 million), and Monta’s the reigning MIP of the league. I wouldn’t be surprised if their combined price tag in ’08-’09 is upwards of $15 million. 

WW.NET:  Any truth to the rumor that the Warriors are looking at Pavlovic and Gooden?

Geoff: Mullin never talks about specific names, but his general philosophy is that he’s open to any idea. However, their recent trade history has been one of gathering up supposed “problem” players (Baron in New Orleans, Jackson in Indy) at a discount. Neither Pavlovic or Gooden fit that bill.

WW.NET: Warriors still have their Trade Exception, do you see them using it or does ownership not want to spend the extra money?

Geoff: Unless the Warriors have determined that they’re going to deal AB or Monta, I can’t see them using anything close to the full $10 million exception, because they don’t want to tie up more money under the luxury-tax threshold. If you trade for a guy like Gooden, for example, you’re committing $7.1 million for ‘08-‘09 – a move that will almost certainly push them into luxury-tax territory and double his salary. Is Gooden really worth $14 million a season? I’m not sure the Warriors are convinced.

WW.NET: Austin Croshere, in limited minutes can be effective, 10-15 minutes a night is that realistic for him?

Geoff:I think 10 minutes as an average is a good guess, with more on nights when he’s hot from deep.

WW.NET:  Brandan Wright is ideal for "Nellie-Ball", can he be part of the regular rotation this season?

Geoff: He’ll get every opportunity to prove himself. Nellie has a well-earned rep for coming down hard on young players, but he certainly gave Monta and AB a chance last season, and they ran with it. Ultimately, I think it’ll come down to how hard Brandan wants it. 

WW.NET: Back-up point guard still needs to be addressed, would Gary Payton be a option, if not who else is out there?

Geoff: I’m not sure the W’s are convinced this question is true. Even assuming Sarunas is gone, Monta’s still here, and Jackson and Barnes (and probably Belinelli) will spend some time initiating the offense each night. As for GP, I didn’t see him much last season, so I don’t know how much is left under the hood. It would be a great story to see the Oakland native return, but he’s a 39-year-old point guard who’s never been part of an NBA team that plays as fast as this one. Earl Boykins is another name, but his size would force the Warriors to change some things up defensively when he’s on the floor, so I’m not sure that’s the answer. There was moderate interest in Jannero Pargo, although it appears to have cooled.

 WW.NET:  With the roster the way it is today, do the Warriors make the playoffs next season?

Geoff: It’s no sure thing, but they certainly haven’t fallen out of position. Somebody from outside the bubble last season is going to have to knock them out, and that’ll probably take 45 wins. The Clippers aren’t doing that without Brand, the Kings are more likely to deal Bibby at the trade deadline than compete, and the Timberwolves, Sonics and Grizzlies are just too far away. I think the biggest threats will be the Hornets and the Trail Blazers. 

Surviving that first month is going to be a brutal chore. Six 50-win teams out of the first seven home games, Jackson’s suspension . . . it might take a similar kind of end-of-season rush as this year did.

2) The whole Dallas series was a blast, but the best moment came at the very end, when Ron Artest was parading around the Warriors’ locker room, going from player to player, having them sign a “WE BELIEVE” shirt and saying he was going to frame it and put it on his wall. Never even heard of anything like that happening before. 

1) C’mon now. May 11, 2007, Oakland. 2:48 remaining. Baron Davis vs. Andrei Kirilenko. End of story.

WW.NET:.  Do you visit Warriorsworld.net?

Geoff: I probably visit a dozen or more sites, including WW, as part of my daily research. I have to say, I kind of miss the daily salivating over KG on the boards.

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Thanks to Geoff fortaking time to speak with Warriorsworld.net.

All comments are welcome, discuss in the forum: forums.warriorsworld.net

The Warriors announced that they have waived Adonal Foyle after reaching a buy-out agreement with him. Terms of the buy-out were not disclosed. Foyle was never a fit in the up-tempo system that Don Nelson brought with him to Golden State. Foyle played sparingly last season and his season can be remebered by not his actions on the court but his facial expression after Baron Davis dunked on Ak-47 in the playoffs.

Foyle can ideally join a team in the Eastern conference in which the slower tempo is better suited for his game. There are rumors that the Boston Celtics are interested in Foyle and will look to him to fill their void at Center.

What do you think of the move? Come discuss your thoughts with the rest of the forum: http://forums.warriorsworld.net/main

I recently had the oppurtunity to conduct a Q&A with Bob Fitzgerald who has done  the Warriors TV play by play for over a decade.  Fitz discusses the off-season moves, current state of the teams and other interesting information.

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WW.NET: Other than Portland, is there a better young core than Ellis/Belinelli/Wright/Biedrins?

It's right up there.  Chicago has Tyrus Thomas, Sefolosha, Gordon and Hinrich.  I like Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson.  Also Charlotte has done some good things with Raymond Felton and Okafor.  But excluding Portland, I don't think any team has 4 guys 21 and younger like the Warriors.

WW.NET: You are the GM and have to make one more move this off-season.  What would it be? 

Fitz: I want Chris Wilcox and Chris Duhon , but I'm not Chris Mullin and players of that nature are not easily attainable. 

WW.NET: Does the organization still envision Ellis as a point guard or are they going to let him fill the shooting guard role? 

Fitz: Playoffs again.  But it will be a challenge.  The Warriors are very young and Baron MUST stay healthy.

WW.NET:  With your Serra connections, can you hook up Wright and O'Bryant with Barry Bonds' trainers?

Fitz: Greg Anderson didn't attend Serra.  But Barry, Tom Brady, Gregg Jefferies, Lynn Swann, John Robinson and Jim Fregosi did.  I'll still take Mark Grabow as the best strength and conditioning coach in all of sports.

WW.NET: Kosta Perovic has been compared to a young Vlade Divac. What are your thoughts on him and can he play in Nellie's system?

Fitz: I have never heard Perovic compared to Divac.  I think Ilgauskas is a better comparison.  Long, pick and pop shooter.  I think he can help as a backup.

WW.NET: You've been doing Warriors games for over 10 years. How do you feel you have improved and what do you feel you can do better? 

Fitz: I used to get frustrated with the officials and let it come out on the air.  Don't do that as much.  You get better by being prepared for any type of game (blow out, nail biter, etc.) and knowing the league inside and out.  I've seen 14 years of NBA games so the strategies and tendencies become more obvious.  I've learned a lot from Jim Barnett, Al Attles and this is the second time around with Don Nelson.  We have been lucky enough to receive several Emmys for Best Live Broadcast and I just got one this year for Best Play-By-Play so we must be doing something right.  This team's style makes for good TV.

WW.NET: Many fans think that being a broadcaster is easy in that you show up, call the game and leave.  Decribe a typical day in the life of Fitz during the season.  

WW.NET:  Have you heard how Al Harrington is looking this off-season and if he has dropped the pounds Nellie wanted him to lose? 

Fitz: Don't think the Warrior fans are going to have to worry about that.  Since the teams with the worst record has barely ever won the lottery, seems like the basketball Gods punish you for tanking.  Just look at last year's lottery.

WW.NET: What have been your favorite moments during your tenure as Warriors broadcaster? 

Fitz: Portland last year, making the play-offs.  I knew in March if we got healthy we could make the play-offs.  We were something like 9 games under .500.  I talked about it on the radio every day for two months.  I loved being right as we went 16-5.  Also, Game 1 vs. Dallas.  Our TV open predicted that Dallas would try and go small by removing Dampier from the starting line-up.  I knew we had them then.  Winning Game 1 gave us the series.  Game 4 was also incredible as it was the best and closest game, just fun to call.  Still liked Antawn's back to back 51 point games.  A lot of Arenas' games during the 38 win season (up from 21 the year before).  Baron's half court shot.  The dunk over Kirilenko. 

WW.NET: Do you and Jim Barnett get reprimanded or discouraged from speaking negatively about a player or a sequence of plays or do you have free rein to call it like you see it?

Fitz: I have never been told what to say or what not to say by the Warriors or KNBR.  I laugh at the suggestion.  We talk so much about so many different things, there would be no way to remember what we are supposed to say.  But I do strive to point out the good play, by both teams.  San Antonio usually owns us, they are a better team.  It's okay to say that.  It's right there on the screen. 

WW.NET: Baron, Monta and Biedrins all are looking for contract extensions. Will Chris Cohan dish out the dough for all three or will one be let go or traded? Also, would you trade Baron for Kobe? 

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Special Thanks to Raymond Ritter and Bob Fitzgerald.

Comments, questions or other thoughts? Discuss in the forum: http://forums.warriorsworld.net/main/ 

Coming off his best season as a professional whch included a outstanding performance in the playoffs, Matt Barnes was looking to cash in on his success.  Unfortunately for Matt, many teams were worried that his success was due to playing for Don Nelson and his up-tempo system.  After watching countless free agents sign  contracts with teams that were also considering Barnes and firing his agent, Barnes re-signed with the Warriors.

 Barnes signed a one year deal worth $3 million dollars with the Warriors on Monday.  If Barnes can continue from where he left off last season he could play himself into a multi-year deal.  From the Warriors perspective this is a good deal as they didn't have to give Barnes a multi-year deal.  Barnes will primarily back-up Stephen Jackson at the small forward position and play some power forward when the Warriors go small.

After failing in thier attempt in acquiring Kevin Garnett, the Warriors have turned their attention on Austin Croshere.  Janny Hu is reporting that the Warriors are close to signing the 10 yr. veteran.  The deal would most likely be for the veteran's minimum and wouldnt exceed 2 years in length.

 Croshere is a "Nellie" type big man who can shoot the 3, run the floor and guard big men.  Croshere is the quicker version of Troy Murphy who the Warriors jettisoned to Indiana this past season.  Croshere would provide depth in the very thin frontcourt and could be a valuable asset.

 Is this a good move for the Warriors? Are you excited about this potential signing? Share your thoughts with everyone else in the forum.

Don Nelson has left everyone to wonder all summer whether or not he would be returning to coach the Warriors this upcoming season.  Nelson citing his health and mental fatigue as reasons for a possible departure has fueled speculation that he wouldn't be returning.  However, according to Geoff Lepper, columninst for the Contra Costa Times, the Warriors and Nelson's representatives met Tuesday and a deal is very close to happening in which Nelson would return to coach the Warriors.

Nelson returning would help the Warriors continue on from where they left off last season, in which they upset the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks and eventually lost to the Utah Jazz in the second round.  Warriors can now focus their attention on acquiring a rebounding pf which was and still is their most dire need.