It seems to be Riley and Nellie's show with Chris Mullin looking on from afar

December 19, 3:21 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Seems to be a lot of chatter about the Warriors, what with trade talk out there involving Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright.

First off, I don’t think for a second the Warriors would trade Randolph or Wright in a deal for Raymond Felton and only Felton.

For one, the Warriors could make a run at Felton this summer in free agency because they have their mid-level available to them.

Now, if you want to bring Gerald Wallace into the mix, then it’s a different story. In that case, then, naturally, Corey Maggette is in the discussion.

And once you get there, Randolph and Wright likely enter the discussion. Note I just said “enter.”

The most significant issue with the Warriors, however, is who is making the decisions on these decisions, if you will.

Warriors coach Don Nelson said when he got a two-year coaching extension that he wanted no part of the GM-type thing. But it’s obvious he’s in on stuff.

Here are the four key players and their roles (or lack of them) in the Warriors' decision-making process right now:

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER LARRY RILEY:  Riley is the one making calls to other teams on the Warriors’ behalf, possible trades and such; it is not executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin.

Riley is best friends with Nelson and the two talk personnel matters.

For the time being, Riley is a conduit between Nelson and team president Robert Rowell, facilitating information among the three.

Riley is also said to be trying to bring back Mullin into the fold.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS CHRIS MULLIN: Mullin is either not involved or involved very little in the day-to-day operations of the Warriors.

That appears to be mostly by choice.

Up until the time Pete D’Alessandro, his assistant, was fired in early November, Mullin was a fixture at Warriors practice.

He and D’Alessandro sat together in the same spot at the corner of the floor darn near every single practice.

Since D’Alessandro was fired, Mullin has been to only two or three practices, at most, at the team’s downtown Oakland practice facility.

According to reports, Mullin has spent at least part of the month of December scouting college games.

COACH DON NELSON: Nelson likes to say that he’s not involved in personnel decisions, but there’s evidence to the contrary, the most recent being him going to Bakersfield to watch Richard Hendrix and Hendrix being waived a week later.

Obviously, Nelson passes along his takes on players to Riley, and you better believe Riley more than listens.

Put it this way: If Mullin’s not involved, and it’s Riley running the show, Nelson’s involved.

TEAM PRESIDENT ROBERT ROWELL: Rowell, as always, has the final say over all personnel matters.

He has for the past several years. There is no decision that will be made without his approval.

It is unknown, however, how many ideas, how  much information and the number of proposals that are brought to Rowell.

At this point, Riley _ not Mullin _ is the one bringing that information.
 

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