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