Azubuike _ like a lot of Warriors _ needs to improve, not flatten out

July 24, 7:51 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Kelenna Azubuike 

OK, so the Warriors matched the L.A. Clippers’ three-year offer worth more than $3 million for Kelenna Azubuike.

Congratulations to both sides.

Now it’s up to Kelenna Azubuike to become the Mickael Pietrus that Mickael Pietrus never became.

Without Baron Davis, it’s going to be up to every player to get a little bit better next season and take advantage of an extra opportunity or two that he may get now that those 40 minutes of Davis’ need replacing.

Azubuike has shown flashes during his one-and-a-half year career. That’s been great on the one hand, an unexpected surprise and he’s been a positive in one playoff season and another pretty good year after that.

On the other, it’s nice to be an NBDL callup and get yourself a three-year deal but now go out and give the Warriors something off the bench most of the time. If you’re not scoring, rebound. If you’re turning the ball over a little bit, keep your man at the offensive end in check.

It can’t be this every other game anymore. There’s been too much of that among yourself, Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes. Coach Don Nelson has played a small role in those inconsistent seasons but it’s still on them.

Azubuike has to interject himself into the offense more and begin to take a few more chances. Can he be a better player? I don’t know. He’s a pretty good shooter so I don’t see him getting much better at that.

His defense has gotten better but he’s never going to be lock-down. He’s a good rebounder and should remain one, but he’s still a swingman so he can’t be dominant there.

I see him far more of a spot-up shooter than creator, so where does that leave him?

Well, hopefully for the Warriors a $3 million player who can contribute in a few categories every night: scoring, rebounding and maybe a steal here and there, a couple of assists, a block, whatever. Azubuike has yet to do that on a consistent basis.

Azubuike is only 24, and young like Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Anthony Randolph, etc.

Everyone keeps saying how young the Warriors are, and that’s all great and everything. I don’t care how young the Warriors are, if their young players don’t improve much it doesn’t really matter that they’re 20-ish.

Davis was an easy guy for the Warriors to lean on, and he liked being leaned on when it was on his terms.

If the Warriors have to fill Davis’ void by committee, then Azubuike needs to do his share like all the rest.