Baron Wants to Stay in the Bay; Nellie on the Way Out?
Though his agent has done an admirable job of creating tension between his client and the team, Baron Davis made it clear on his blog that he doesn’t want to wear another uniform.
I want to be in the Bay! I think it’s a great area and the people are great but most importantly I have really good teammates and coaches. And that’s what it’s about… winning.
Whether this means he won’t opt out of his current deal is anyone’s guess. But considering that he’s owed close to $18 mil for next season, and that in and of itself is above and beyond his true market value, it’s not unreasonable to assume that he won’t be opting out this summer.
Now, rumor has it that Don Nelson may have worn out his welcome in Golden State, and much of this seems to stem from the controversial game against Phoenix that eliminated the W’s from Playoff contention, during which Nelson benched Baron Davis for the entire second half.
(Of course, said rumor comes courtesy of Peter Vescey, so tread carefully.)
47 Responses to “Baron Wants to Stay in the Bay; Nellie on the Way Out?”
May.16 at 12:09 pm
Ed O'Brien says:
It would be cool to see Don Nelson coach the Suns.
May.16 at 12:27 pm
tenorca says:
Nellie benched Baron that game because, in his Nellie’s words, BD was the “worst player on the floor.” In actuality, he was. Think he was 2-13, low assists, just looked slow. I don’t necessarily think it was the smartest coaching move, but it wasn’t some personal, spiteful thing. Nellie has a short leash, benches players when they’re sucking, and if their replacements are balling, they never see time. Look at Matt Barnes and Monta Ellis in the playoffs last year. Monta was struggling so he got the hook for the entire series. It’s a cruel meritocracy run by an effing lunatic, but the Dubs aren’t winning 48 games with Mike Montgomery, I’ll promise that. Nellie, Baron, and Monta will all be back.
Or at least I keep telling myself that.
May.16 at 12:33 pm
TADOne says:
Is Vecsey ever right?
May.16 at 12:48 pm
peteb80 says:
I don’t think they should give him an extension now. He probably won’t opt out. Let him play his ass off for a new contract next year, if it works out fine and he really loves the Bay that much then he will still resign, if not you can trade him during the season. If I was a Warriors fan I would like to see if his back holds up for another full season before he’s extended for 4-5 years.
If he does opt out or leaves after next year, then it’s not terribly bad either: they’ll have Monta and the other young guys and some more flexiblity financially. I don’t think the Warriors will make the playoffs next year, whether Baron is there or not, so it doesn’t really matter that much.
May.16 at 1:13 pm
ciolkstar says:
They definitely need to lock up Monta b/c that boy is baaaad. I’ve loved BDiddy for a lot of years but there’s always been something in his way (injuries mostly) He (and most of team)truly struggled at the end of the season and the lack of defense really deteriorated into a complete absence of effort, which is a knock on the coach. I like Nellie too though. I don’t think Baron opts out, but the $ he wants might be better spent elsewhere…
May.16 at 1:18 pm
tenorca says:
The end of last season really worried me and, with Portland in the playoff race next year, it’s a relative certainty the Dubs will be fighting for the 7th or 8th seed again. At least the Mavs look like they’re falling off. Bye bye Mavs.
May.16 at 1:23 pm
WhaHuh says:
Why would you bench your star player for the WHOLE 4th quater in the LAST game? He was sending a message, but I dont understand it
May.16 at 1:29 pm
tenorca says:
Well, Nellie’s a lunatic, that’s why. I often disagree with the guy: I wish Wright woulda got more PT last year, the Troy Hudson & Webber signings were, to whatever extent they were Nellie’s responsibility, Gawd awful, and he jerked Biedrins’ minutes around way, way too much. Of course, he also ended the playoff drought, has a penchant for turning discarded role players into good rotation guys (Barnes last season, Azuibuike this year), and he doesn’t care what reputation you have when he coaches you: you play well, you play. It was a treat to see him bench Dunleavy & Murphy with total disregard for their feelings after they (well, really just Dunleavy) tortured the fan base for years.
May.16 at 1:51 pm
B. Long says:
I know Baron says he wants to stay but I still have dreams of him making a homecoming in purple and gold. As much as I love D-Fish, he ain’t no spring chicken.
May.16 at 1:55 pm
B. Long says:
Somehow Nellie to the Suns makes perfect sense.
May.16 at 1:57 pm
Dale Wittig says:
Vescey is a gossipy old fish-wife. If he doesn’t have a story he’ll just make one up. I guess that’s entertainment, but it doesn’t have all that much to do with the sport or reality in general. Nellie isn’t going anywhere but Oakland next season and neither is Baron. Sure, Nellie’s looney, but in the best way possible: he’s intuitive; more than anyone else, he’s the one who turned things around in Oakland; and he’s not done.
May.16 at 2:04 pm
Captain America says:
You’re right, Marcel, this is the silly season for rumors. The will get worse after the finals.
May.16 at 2:09 pm
BxBaller says:
Don’t pay any attention to what Vescey says, he’s a notorious liar.
May.16 at 2:10 pm
The Promise says:
Sorry Laker fans, Baron is stayin. Warriors are gonna be good next year… cant wait to see em play again.
May.16 at 2:21 pm
B. Long says:
@The Promise: They’ll definately be entertaining, but good, like playoffs for sure good? Doubtful. Same sh!t, diffrent season.
May.16 at 2:26 pm
The Promise says:
@B.Long: do you really think that a 50 win team will miss the playoffs again? No! Theres no way that will happen again next year, and I think Golden State will be a 50 win team again. Thats some pretty good $h!t now aint it?
May.16 at 2:32 pm
Tariq says:
I hope GS get a post scorer. Brand, Okafur, anyone like that. If they could an athletic big man who could also run, they’d be really awesome.
May.16 at 2:35 pm
adams says:
These Warriors peaked last summer. Either they start looking to the future right now or they’ll end up like the Clippers. Of course they will resign BD for something like 60 million $. Him, Monta and Biedrins will take up 80% of their salary and they won’t see the play-offs until after Obama’s two terms are over.
May.16 at 2:38 pm
tenorca says:
I’d take brand. Charlotte can keep Okafor though. Wright’ll be fine. He just needs some run. He was great in limited time.
May.16 at 2:48 pm
Tariq says:
adams, if Obama gets two terms, I’ll be OK with the Warriors sucking. Acceptable tradeoff.
May.16 at 2:53 pm
B. Long says:
@The Promise: You tell me what team is gonna be worse in the West and not make the playoffs besides maybe Denver. Thats the warriors only hope right there, that Melo meltsdown before his annual first round exit. As crazy as it sounds the West will be BETTER next year.
May.16 at 2:55 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Mavericks and the Suns will be worse.
May.16 at 2:59 pm
B. Long says:
@Russ: True but I think they are still a lock for the playoffs and the Blazers are gonna be right there too.
May.16 at 3:03 pm
tenorca says:
The Mavs are not a playoff lock. They’re old, getting slower, and will be coming in with a brand new scheme, coach, and point guard. I don’t see that set of circumstances as a “lock.” The Suns don’t even have a coach right now, so ditto. And Houston? The Nuggs? They both seemed like they overachieved last year.
May.16 at 3:03 pm
Tariq says:
B.Long: I don’t think they’re a lock at all.
May.16 at 3:06 pm
Tariq says:
The only locks would be the teams still in the playoffs, and even that can change
May.16 at 3:12 pm
The Promise says:
4 real Russ, the Mavs might even make the playoffs altogether. Warriors could also finish ahead of the Suns too. Shaq is only going to get slower and less able to defend the pick and roll. And they will definitely finish ahead of the Nugs. They are going n the wrong direction, for they didnt have any plan whatsoever when they traden for Iverson so theyreally brought it on theirselves. Warriors need to trade for JJ Redick(for basically nothing because the Magic never play him therefore they cant get any value out of him). That would be so cool cuw we all know he can shoot, and thats all he will need to do at GS. Then they would score like 130 a game and never play defense…o well… they will still make the playoffs no matter how bad certain people cant stand it(B Long)!
May.16 at 3:20 pm
peteb80 says:
I believe the Mavs will be better next year than they were this season. They will be coming in with a brand new scheme, coach and point guard. People underestimate the damage Avery did. A lot depends on if they can keep Josh Howard sane, though.
May.16 at 4:03 pm
B. Long says:
I never said that they wouldn’t make the playoffs. I said that I didn’t think they were a lock. They will still be one of those teams fighting for that 8th spot unless they make some roster changes or Brandon Wright blows up quicker than expected.
May.16 at 4:44 pm
JR says:
Seriously Warrior fans on message boards dont appreciate having Baron Davis play for the Warriors.Warrior fans act and treat Monta Ellis like he is the second coming of Michael Jordan.Baron Davis right now is my 2nd favorite player in the league and I’ve been a fan of him since he was playing at UCLA.It would be nice to see him in the purple & gold playing for his hometown team.
May.16 at 5:13 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Give the job to Mark Jackson or Stephen Silas!!!
May.16 at 5:20 pm
B. Long says:
By the way I hate the Mavs and the idiotic trade they made this season but I have to admit that they may actually be better next year. After next year though,they’re done.
May.16 at 5:24 pm
B. Long says:
And if Yao Ming is healthy next year(I know thats a 7′5″ if) the Rockets will be improved as well. There role players are some of the best at what they do in the L. The Warriors could be a 7th or 8th seed next year but they could just as likely be chasing lottery ball at the end of the year. We’ll have to see what happens over the summer.
May.16 at 5:39 pm
AB_40 says:
baron davis got a blog at a not to be named website where rasheed wallace and greg oden got blogs as well and he writes that he wants to stay in the bay. And that it’s frictions between the agents and the team and not his mind which seems to be in the Bay
May.16 at 6:35 pm
Dale Wittig says:
JR doesn’t know what he’s talking about, most Warriors’ fans appreciate Baron and give him plenty of credit for what he’s done for his team, and it is his team. JR just wants him in LA; but sorry, he’s not going there any time soon. At this point he’s about to be satisfied playing third banana to Kobe and Pau.
May.16 at 6:38 pm
Dale Wittig says:
At this point he’s Not about to be satisfied playing third banana to Kobe and Pau.
May.16 at 6:47 pm
B. Long says:
@Dale: I don’t expect him to opt out of his contract but I also don’t think that Baron would have a big problem playing with Kobe or Pau. B-Diddy is built for hollywood and I doubt he would have a problem scoring a few less times a game and adding a few rings to his trophy case while he’s at it.
May.16 at 6:50 pm
albie1kenobi says:
he is built for Hollywood alright. that commercial with sandler was hilarious.
May.16 at 6:55 pm
B. Long says:
“Are you a Point Guard or a Point God?” Hiliarious.
May.16 at 8:37 pm
Hursty says:
Rockets will be the most improved team in the west. Portland may take a while but its theirs to lose.
May.17 at 4:16 am
street dreams says:
i like golden state baron…but i miss UCLA baron..guess the boost mobile commercials and hanging out with Gilbert Arenas during the summer in LA smoking weed up in the club really got to him…true story
May.17 at 11:27 am
Dale Wittig says:
B. Long, it’s not that I see Baron as being so selfish that he wouldn’t be able to defer to Kobe and Pau, but right now He’s the man in charge in Oakland and I think he likes that; plus he plays well with Jackson and Ellis. But sure, maybe in another year, after Nellie retires, he’ll go back home to LA. I don’t have anything against the Lakers. Also, regarding your earlier comment on Nellie to the Suns: it does make sense that he would want to coach Nash again and it would be ironic if he ended up coaching the much hacked Shaq (though he dreamed of it often enough earlier in their careers,) but I don’t think he’d work well with Steve Kerr and his plans to bring more defense to Phoenix.
May.17 at 12:35 pm
tenorca says:
Laker fans who are covetous of BD are some greedy b@stards. Y’all stole Pau already; you’re in the WCF. Ease up.
May.17 at 12:44 pm
The Promise says:
4 real tenorca… what more do they need?
May.17 at 1:58 pm
B. Long says:
We want the world, Promise….and everything in it.
May.17 at 9:32 pm
PoppaGrizzly says:
I’d let him ride this year out, pay him the 18(!!!???) and free up some cap space. I like Baron but how many years does he have left at this stage of his career? Nellie to the Suns…… that passes the smell test. Didn’t think about it before. Nice match.
May.18 at 4:42 am
Hursty says:
whatever. warriors cant play anything except fast so running offensive sets only helps the D, still theyre better than the suns (speed wise). trade shaq.
and alvin gentry to the warriors right?