For a stinking 2nd round pick??? Are you freaking kidding me?  Are you kidding?   Practice?  This is theft, this is madness, this is stupid.  I would've given up a first round pick for that.  Jeez... practice? We're talking about practice?  Not a game, practice?  I hate myself and the Warriors Front Office.  blah blah blah practice practice practice practice not a game practice practice.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3491156

Okafor is a restricted free agent under the Bobcats who are a really, really cheapass frugal team, so I don't think it would be a stretch to say we could steal him from them as long as we're willing to give up Biedrins?  I'm not sure how much either would actually command, but you don't hear much about Okafor because he's on Charlotte so I suspect he's somewhat undervalued, and therefore he wouldn't be significantly more than Biedrins. 

Okafor is considered a Center and prime defensive center at that who has the ability to bang in the paint and grab boards.  He's exactly what we need.  Of course, if we get Brand... WE SHOULD STILL TRY STEAL OKAFOR!  and then try push the price on Josh Smith so the Hawks overpay and then can't pay up for Childress who we try take for the midlevel.  This doesn't solve our point guard woes by any means, but there's no way we can do that anyways on teh free agent market, so we should stockpile amazing talent to trade later.

Now that we've got some cap room from Baron's opt out, I think we should try to sign Elton Brand instead of Biedrins.  The guy is a 20-10 machine and plays pretty good defense from what I can tell.  If we can resign Baron for less money but for a longer term deal like 3-4 years, then we might still have enough money to also resign Monta Ellis assuming no other suitors with massive $$$ come knocking. I'm not sure if we could sign all 3 players without going over the salary cap, but if we signed all 3 to long term deals, then I'm sure they'd take less money (isn't that why they all walked away from a guaranteed 17-18 mil this year?)  Then we can use the midlevel exception to grab someone like James Posey?  Voila, we have a playoff team:

Baron

Monta

Jackson

Harrington

Brand

Otherwise, if all else fails, throw $$ at Josh Smith.

I don't know why, but it seems that Jerryd Bayless has fallen out of projected Top 10s, at least looking at Chad Ford's big board?  Warriors should trade up to grab this guy, he seems like by far the BPA, which, in my opinion, should be how teams draft.  The love for Russell Westbrook is something I really don't get.  This guy could be a better version of Monta, or, at the very least, a bigger version.  Plus, he can play the point and backup Baron.  Then, later on, sign and trade Monta + others for a solid, veteran, defensively adept big man that we sorely need. 

ideally, trade with the Pacers or Nets

April Fools.  

Gotcha?

I realize that diaries should have more thought, but still, I couldn't resist.  On the other hand, everyone should vote for Baron's beard on the Yahoo Sports Bedlam Tournament.  Any other vote is unforgivable, unless it's for Sam Cassell's huevos, in which case, it's understandable.

So, I'm normally a fan of Baron's beard.  Maybe it's because I can't grow one, but regardless, that thing was probably the reason why the Warriors beat Dallas in the playoffs last year and why they're playing the best ball I've ever witnessed as a Warriors fan.  

Still... the beard is getting a bit hairy?  I liked it better trimmed.  It looks like it hasn't been tended to in a long time.  Every time I see Baron on tv, he looks more like a hobo than a Warrior.  Baron needs to trim that thing.