Bay Area Sports Blogging

With the loss to Phoenix, the Golden State Warriors are officially eliminated from the playoff race. The Warriors gave it a good run this year, winning 48 games so far, with one game remaining on the schedule. The coming offseason will be filled with uncertainty and important decisions.

First and foremost is the contract situation with the players on the team. The only Warriors guaranteed to be back next year are Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Brandan Wright, and Marco Belinelli. Baron Davis has a player option for 2008/2009 that he could opt out, but early indication from Diddy says he will return. Baron could earn $17 million for the 2008/2009 season, so I think chances are good that he will return for one more year.

The team would also need to discuss contracts with the other two starters: Andris Biedrins and Monta Ellis. Biedrins will be a restricted free-agent next year. Monta Ellis' original 2nd round draft pick rookie contract is over at the end of 2007/2008 season. If the Warriors franchise feel these two young players are the building blocks for the future, the front office will need to sign them both to long term contracts. Seeing as how Monta is currently making less than one mil, the Missisippi Bullet looks to get paid this summer. The Warriors should lock both players up for a long time.

The entire lackluster bench will need new contracts, except the rookies. After all the talks of a trade demand, Mickael Pietrus will finally become an unrestricted free agent. He will be able to sign with any team that wants him, if the Warriors do not resign him. If the team can resign Pietrus for the mid level exception range (about $5 mil) or less, I say resign him. Tri-captain Matt Barnes, aka the Enforcer, will also be needing a new contract. After a terrific season last year, there were very few teams interested in Barnes. With Matt's current poor year, there doesn't look to be many other teams calling for him. Dump Barnes. Send him up to play for the Kings.

The two D-Leaguers will also need new contracts. Kelenna Azubuike and CJ Watson's contracts will expire at the end of the season. Azubuike has played great off the bench and could be a 6th man of the year candidate next year if he gets playing time. I hope the Warriors resign Special K. CJ Watson was brought in to give Baron Davis rest time. That did not go as planned, and Baron ran out of gas at the end of the season. I have not been overly impressed by Watson's play, but he is a decent baller who should still be in the NBA next season, with another team.

The contracts of Kosta Perovic, Patrick O'Bryant, and Austin Croshere will also end. Kosta could be a decent backup to center when Biedrins gets in foul trouble, so resign him on the cheap. POB and Croshere would likely be on their way out. We need to give Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli more playing time.

Another situation to keep an eye on is coach Don Nelson. The Warriors have picked up the option to have Nelson return to coach the 2008/2009 season, but Don Nelson has not made a decision to return to coach next year or to retire in Maui. If Don Nelson does not return next year, the entire Warriors' identity may fade away.