Europe an attractive alternative for the Warriors' Andris Biedrins

July 25, 2:27 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Biedrins: Latvian Lefty 

It makes perfect sense that several teams in Europe are interested in signing Warriors center Andris Biedrins.

It also makes sense that it could happen.

There are likely a few issues, some unforeseen, that have come to the surface in the wheeling and dealing between the sides _ not the least of which probably revolves around Baron Davis. Or it should.

In many ways Biedrins is still one of the team’s untapped talents, and you don’t want to give up on that. He's skilled enough that he should be asked to do more. On the other hand, it is difficult to argue that Biedrins will be adversely affected by Davis’ departure.

Biedrins got a lot of his points on the pick-and-roll with Davis and lots of others on put-backs of Davis' misses after drives. Monta Ellis can’t be expected to run that play as well as Davis and consequently some of those are going to go away for Biedrins.

Facts are facts and from the Warriors’ perspective, when Davis left, Biedrins’ value probably went down.

Enter European teams. And there is no agent more tapped into professional basketball in Europe than Bill Duffy, who happens to be Biedrins’ agent. Duffy is among the classiest of agents and was doing the agent thing in Europe before anyone had heard of Serbia OR Montenegro.

He, like Warriors president of basketball operations Chris Mullin, has a fair and reasoned approach to negotiations, and both can often see the handwriting on the wall.

It kind of figures that Biedrins looks to be the last player the Warriors are dealing with this offseason. He never seems to be a high priority. Biedrins is often overlooked in the offense. He's the dirty-work guy with great hands and a better attitude.

And let it be noted officially as far as I’m concerned: the toughest player on the team.

It must also be noted that in his native Riga, Latvia, Biedrins isn’t nearly as anonymous and underappreciated as he is here in the U.S. It might be a stretch to say Biedrins is a national hero, but he is certainly a huge presence in pop culture, with his face and image on posters all over the city.

The Warriors, and rightfully so, are trying to pay Biedrins like an important role player. In Europe and Russia, franchises are trying to build around  him. It's got to be a little scary for the Warriors.

The Warriors still have the financial wherewithal to stop this from happening, of course. But you can see how it’s gotten to this point.