Nelson and Mullin: Who knows what the future holds?
Warriors’ media day is Friday and there is no shortage of on-court issues worth talking about:
Baron Davis’ departure, Monta Ellis’ injury and Stephen Jackson’s state of mind to name a few.
But that stuff seems small-time when you start to think about the Warriors’ big picture. Davis and Ellis and Jackson are all “this year” issues.
Of much more significance is what happens AFTER this year?
Quite frankly, I don’t think anyone out there knows _ and that includes owner Chris Cohan and president Robert Rowell _ who will be the Warriors’ general manager or coach at the start of next season.
If you don’t know the particulars, here’s a quick catch-up: VP of basketball ops Chris Mullin is entering the final year of his contract; coach Don Nelson is entering the final year of his contract.
That’s really all you need to know.
Even if you’re a little down on the Warriors these days, there are still some intriguing young pieces in Anthony Randolph, Ellis and Andris Biedrins.
Who coaches them and who tries to build around them is anyone’s guess after this season. Those are two very important positions.
What's your call on what's happened next year at this time to Chris Mullin and Don Nelson:
A. Both Nelson and Mullin will be back.
B. Mully will be back but not Nelly.
C. Nellie will be back but not Mully.
D. Neither Mully nor Nelson will be back.
E. Other
Comments
A !!!
This year works out better than expected, validating Mully, and Nellie has so much fun yelling at a bunch of coachable kids rather than negotiating with Baron that he comes back for another year.
I'm a 'half-full' kinda guy, can you tell?
I'm sorta bewildered by talk of no Mullin next year. To be sure, he's made mistakes. But, since he's taken the reigns he's brought more excitement to this team than has been here since the Run TMC days. The mistakes he's made he corrected (Read getting Jax and Al while dumping two overpaid stiffs). I don't really see letting Baron get away as a mistake. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have in the front office than Mully. As for Don, he coaches the most exciting style of ball in the league. If wants to come back, we let him back. It's as simples as that. Besides that, who else would coach here and make these guys marginally successful if not in the hunt successful? We've had our fair share of awful teams, coaches and GM's. Now that we have a team, a coach and a GM who have presented us with a glimmer of hope for recent and future success we're ready to give up on that? If Cohan values his fanbase at all I hope he thinks twice before axing either of these hall of famers.
A response to Clint (below). Mullin looks great next to St. Jean but he's really been pretty bad:
1) Overpaid for Richardson and then years later let the trade exception he got (from Charlotte) for JRich expire
2) The Murphy and Dunleavy contracts were absolutely awful - even if he was able to get rid of them later
2) Drafted Ike Diogu and Patrick O'Bryant in the top10 of the 2005 and 2006 drafts. Busts.
As I mentioned above I think we (Bay Area fans) are delusional after so many years of ineptness (see Gary St. Jean) that Mullin appears to be a decent GM. Why can't we hire a Kevin Pritchard or Geoff Petrie? Oh yeah... because we have a terrible owner. Thanks Chris Cohan!
Matt,
You've really become a purveyor of clouds rather than silver lining over the last couple months. You need to go get a woman.
Rizzo
a fan... Pritchard and Petrie haven't won squat. If you want to talk great GMs then bring up RC Buford or Joe Dumars.
A. Both Mullin and Nelson will be back _ Mullin as VP of basketball ops, Nellie as coach.
-Preferable, as Nelson solidifies while Mullin continues his development.
E. Nelson returns as VP of basketball ops and coaches.
-Is Nelson no longer willing or able to do both?
OK Sure Donnie Nelson is busy with the Mavericks
but the must be someone else who could help Nelson out in the front office.
'there are still some intriguing young pieces in Anthony Randolph, Ellis and Andris Biedrins.'
Agreed
Still wanting:
That contagious team player that suits up and shows up who refuses to loose.
Agreed (previously stated) that Mullin has made mistakes. But he does have a knack for fixing these issues. The attempt and failure to get KG was the reason that trade exception expired. I'd rather take a hit like that because we swung for the fences on KG. There are only so many championship caliber players out there to pay big bux to. In the meantime we have who we have now and they know we have a salary cap just like everyone else. Meaning the money is there to be spent whether it's on the Wade's and Stoudamire's of the world or our humble Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins. Do we tell those guys, sorry we have the money that no one else will take...but...you can't have any of it? Unfortunately after years of ineptitude the bay isn't a tier 1 stop on Lebron's list of places to bolt to in '10. Drafts are always difficult. Every team has their fair share of mis cues and dissappointments. No way that Kevin Pritchard or Goeff Petrie ever comes here. I say we stick with Mully. He gives two craps about the dubs. That goes a long way in my book.
Mullie deserves a big fat raise, in my view. No way the Warriors will let Mullin go. Inasfar as Nellie is concerned, he's a Hall of Fame coach, but he's almost 70. If he wants one more year, or even two, he deserves it, based on his overall career, and the great job he's done for the Warriors over the years.But I think he needs to groom a successor. I like Keith Smart, I think he's ready, and I hope GS and nellie give him the keys when Nellie is done.
Nellie wants Mullie's job. It's pretty clear that he has been influencing Mullie's moves ever since he got here. And he has all but said that he wants a front-office job with the Warriors at some point.
Rowell, meanwhile, has shown that he knows the value of a nickel. He is going to play these guys off against each other. At the end of the day, I think Nellie winds up with Mullie's job, because Nellie is a machiavellian schemer.
Rowland and Nellie had to step in to straighten out the financial mess Mullin got us into--look for Nelson to be made GM--- Mullin offered some lesser role---Head of scouting etc.--Nellie will pick the new coach.
Mullin is coming back. Nellie won't be the head coach but he will have a job in the front office, maybe as Mullins right hand man. Next coach will be Avery Johnson or Keith Smart.
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