So of course the Warriors media day, the beginning of a new year where there is so much hope and possibility for the team, is filled with controversial comments from players complaining about the team and their teammates.  Of course, its the Warriors.  I come onto GSOM often and read some of the comments from fans who have had enough, and I kind of just keep on saying, "Itll get better, Curry is going to be good, AR is a monster, a big trade is coming ..etc...etc...."  Pretty much the same line of reasoning Ive had the past 15 years or so. 

After reading Jackson's comments, I am completely with him; who would want to stay with an organization that blows up a potential 50 win team?  Warriors brass is not in it to win, neither is Nellie, and the organization shows no concern for its insanely loyal fanbase.  After reading Monta's comments, I was compelled to write this fanpost.  Monta let the team down last year, and now the first day into this year he is bashing the organization and the rookie.  Curry was the best player on the board, and Monta needs to be a team player, it is not about him, it is about the Warriors, when you are getting paid millions to play basketball, you don't go out on day one and tell the world how you can't play with someone.  Maybe, you go out and get a few games under your belt before you do that.  These comments by Jax and Ellis have certainly cast an awkward atmosphere over the team and I feel bad for the youngsters that they have to deal with this so young.  The two could be so upset with management that they don't care, thats fine, but keep it to yourself at least until the season starts.  We all have problems at work or school or whatever and we can't just come out on Monday and start telling everyone how we hate the guy next to us.  A company cannot function that way and neither can a team. 

I've stuck with the Warriors for a long time, and after many years of being neglected by management, it may be time to move on to the Kings or something.  Blame me for not being loyal, but I'm starting to realize that I cannot be loyal to something that is only concerned with itself, and that is what Warriors management and players are concerned with, themselves.  I also don't care if someone has written this already or if I wrote it in the wrong part of the blog. 

The Curry Iverson debate got me thinking about earlier drafts and how they stack up against more recent ones.

I'm not saying these are as good '84, '96, or '03, but their still interesting to look at anyway.  You could make the argument that some of these drafts will be looked at as better than '96 and '03,  I think '84 is the best overall because of the legacy it has created, the jury is still out somewhat on '96 and '03.  I think it is easy to only compare the lottery era drafts, but the draft since the beginning of the NBA has been characterized as new young talent coming into the NBA, so I think it is fair to compare all draft classes.  When the ABA existed they had a lot of talent along with the NBA so some of these drafts might have even been stronger.  Just because these players played before many of our times does not mean they were not great, and I think that  these draft classes are some of the best of all time.

1960

G Jerry West (HOF)
G Oscar Robertson (HOF)
G Lenny Wilkens (HOF)
F Lee Shaffer
C Darrall Imhoff

1962

G John Havlicek (HOF)
F Chet Walker
F Terry Dischinger
F Dave DeBusschere (HOF)
C Jerry Lucas (HOF)
6th man Nellie

1965

G Gail Goodrich (HOF)
G Bob Love
F Rick Barry (HOF)
F Billy Cunningham (HOF)
C Bill Bradley (HOF)
6th man Jerry Sloan

1967

G Earl Monroe (HOF)
G Walt Frazier (HOF)
G Jimmy Walker
F Phil Jackson
C Bob Rule

1970

G Pete Maravich (HOF)
G Nate Archibald (HOF)
F Rudy Tomjanovich
F Dave Cowens (HOF)
C Bob Lanier (HOF)
6th Man Calvin Murphy (HOF)

1974

G Jamaal Wilkes
F Bobby Jones
F Maurice Lucas
F Truck Robinson
C Bill Walton (HOF)
6th man John Drew

1979

G Magic Johnson (HOF)
G Jim Paxson
F Sidney Moncrief
F Bill Laimbeer
C Bill Cartwright

1981

G Isiah Thomas (HOF)
G Danny Ainge
F Mark Aguirre
F Tom Chambers
C Buck Williams

1982

G Fat Lever
G Ricky Pierce
F Dominque Wilkins (HOF)
F James Worthy (HOF)
F Terry Cummings

I haven't heard to much about why Baron really left.  I understand he is from LA and into making the movies, so I see that angle.  But, RealGm has Baron saying he felt lied to and he totally expected to come back to the Bay.  He also mentions that he felt Warrior management felt they had to go in a different direction.  I'm having trouble figuring out what that direction is exactly?  Is it Monta at the 1?  Because I'm not sure I would give up a superstar like Baron Davis to experiment with Monta at the 1.  Or did management just want to clear the books to make a run at free agency these next few years and build around Ellis, Biedrins, Randolph, and Wright?  I'm not sure, it just doesn't make much sense to me to not want to resign your marquee player.  The Warriors don't get to the Playoffs much, much less the Semis, and with the decline of the Mavs and Suns imminent, the Warriors had a few more years if they could have held on to Baron. 

I know I may be exhausting this point, but this article got me thinking again.  Just wanted to get some opinions on the issue as to what actually happened between Baron and management, and if management truly did not want to resign Baron, then is there a real problem with Warrior management and are they truly committed to winning? 

Here is the RealGM article

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/54994/20081021/baron_on_gsw_upper_management_its_not_good_to_be_lied_to/