Nelson Leaving?

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Kawakami: Nelson and the Warriors, on and on it goes
By Tim Kawakami
Mercury News Sports Columnist
Article Launched: 08/22/2007 01:35:27 AM PDT


Don Nelson barks out calls during the first quarter of game six of the NBA Playoffs... ( ANDA CHU )

Don Nelson wants to be happy, the Warriors want to make him happy, and yet here they still stand, mutually unhappy and staring into the dark void.

Is this long, strange renegotiation standoff between coach and franchise about money? Yes, it's always about money. About $5.1 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons, as far as I can decipher.

But it's also about the root motivations and personal histories of both Nelson, the master strategist and fearsome poker player, and owner Chris Cohan, who has made his fair share of mistakes and has paid dear money for them.

The latest on the talks: Nelson is telling friends that he's upset with the Warriors' most recent proposal and that the next week or so could be the tipping point.

Is he serious enough to stay away from training camp in October? Many people familiar with Nelson note that he would be walking away from millions if he quit, and Nelson has no history of monetary sacrifice.

Still, he is a man of pride, and now that the negotiations have come this far, it might be foolish for the Warriors to call Nelson's bluff.

It's almost September. Who exactly would the Warriors get to coach this team, rebuilt to Nelson's exotic but successful specifications, if it's not Nelson?

"All is quiet on the Western front," Nelson's lawyer, John O'Connor, said Tuesday when asked about the state of talks. O'Connor had no further comment; Warriors President Robert

Rowell also declined to comment on the negotiations.

Are the Warriors dug in? They've made what they believe is a generous upgrade on an existing deal, which would raise Nelson's average salary into the top 10 for NBA coaches.

Cohan has no eagerness to go much further on the guarantees, according to several sources, after paying off a series of failed coaches and watching Nelson begin to maneuver for a new deal the day after last season ended.

Multiple sources confirmed Tuesday that Warriors management has offered to raise Nelson's base salary from $3.1 million to $5.1 million for the coming season. That's agreeable to the Nelson camp.

Nelson was paid $3.1 million in base money last season and earned an additional $2 million in bonuses for making the playoffs and winning a round; he had the same schedule for 2007-2008.

But the Warriors' offer is also believed to change the guaranteed $3.1 million for 2008-2009 (the final year under his original deal) into a non-guaranteed team option for $5.1 million. That's potentially a deal-breaker for Nelson, who has little desire to work without the assurance of a contract for 2008-09, and might announce a retirement or request a leave of absence if he doesn't receive a deal to his liking.

In plain terms, the Warriors are offering Nelson more cash in the short term, but less guaranteed money than he was due to receive.

Remember, Nelson is under contract, and he signed it only a year ago. The Warriors have no moral or legal burden to give him any more money.

But the NBA world, and this particular market, is not about legalities. Specifically, this situation is about Nelson and Cohan, two flawed men who probably deserve each other if they can stand each other in the process.

Cohan needs Nelson, whom he fired once before, because Nelson's coaching was essential for a franchise that had lingered in squalor for 12 playoff-free seasons before Chris Mullin persuaded Cohan to bring back Nelson.

Nelson needs Cohan because he loves the Bay Area, loves coaching this team, and because the Warriors' raucous playoff run last spring burnished his Hall of Fame credentials; Nelson needs Cohan because nobody else was stepping up to hire him a year ago.

Of course, the two men knew all this - all the weaknesses and strengths of the situation - before they re-consummated their relationship last August. They had been through this, and Nelson went through it with New York and Dallas after that.

Nelson can point to the rush of new season-ticket purchases for this season and to the payroll savings he helped orchestrate. Indeed, the Warriors have never been healthier in a fiscal sense, thanks to Nelson.

Cohan can point to his good intentions - he has offered to increase Nelson's salary this season, he has remained quiet while Nelson played out this game of possible retirement and quiet protest.

Cohan and Nelson. Nelson and Cohan. For one season at least, it all meshed into one of the most fascinating playoff runs in recent NBA history.

Will it continue to a second season? We'll find out in the next few weeks. I'm guessing that Nelson will get a little more money out of Cohan, grit his teeth and, out of some loyalty to Mullin, come back to coach the Warriors. But before Nelson makes that decision, he'll stare into the void. And you just never know what he might do.

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[Flacolaco]

Drama queen

[MavsFanFinley]

I can't see him leaving. The Warriors would be stupid to let him walk. Not when Nelson got them to the playoffs after so many years.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Drama queen

I have to jump on board with the lil joke as well with the BillUps situation......Even though I was on the butt end.


The Warriors were never in the Don Nelson race!!!

[chumdawg]

Pay heem. Pay that man his money.

[Jack.Kerr]

Never thought I'd be saying this, but Nelson is making Larry Brown look loyal.

Only word for Nelson now is WHORE.

I hope the Warriors fire him.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Pay heem. Pay that man his money.

It's not his money until the team agrees to pay it to him.

I don't think Nelson has figured that out yet either.

[alby]

Nelson is a great coach, maybe top 20 of all time but being in the NBA business for so long, he should know how it works. The owner is the one that writes his paycheck not the other way around.

[DevinFuture]

Originally Posted by alby

Nelson is a great coach, maybe top 20 of all time but being in the NBA business for so long, he should know how it works. The owner is the one that writes his paycheck not the other way around.

I think what he really wants is a contract from an NBA team to pay him to lounge in Hawaii.

[alby]

He should just vouch for an NBA team in Honululu

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

It's not his money until the team agrees to pay it to him.

I don't think Nelson has figured that out yet either.

Oh, it's his money alright. It's definitely his money.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by DevinFuture

I think what he really wants is a contract from an NBA team to pay him to lounge in Hawaii.

This is exactly what T.O. did with the Eagles after the first year. It was wrong then, and wrong now. Nellie signed a contract and now wants to re-neg. Does this sound familiar? Yes, it does.

[Darth Ape]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

It's not his money until the team agrees to pay it to him.

I don't think Nelson has figured that out yet either.

Most of the time this is true, unless the team is run by Mark Cuban. Then it doesn't matter if the owner has agreed to pay. It's only your money when the check clears the bank.

[Mavdog]

cohan has his back to the wall. even if he agrees to pay nelson the money, nelson has shown that he can't be relied on to actually fulfill his part of the deal.

odds are that next year nelson spend as many days sitting in a bar in maui as he actually works in oakland.

or worse yet, showing up in oakland and not even trying. sound familiar?

[Flacolaco]

I don't understand why people can't just honor their contracts that they signed in the first place.

If you don't like the deal, don't sign it.

[Dirkadirkastan]

"My pot belly's proud of itself!"

[xenonvisions]

nelson aint leaving..hes gonna whine until the season starts and scare gs by tellin them hes leavin...

you really think hes going to leave after he ripped dallas a new one

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Pay heem. Pay that man his money.

Hmm...now wonder nelsons suing cuban, he thinks that his money is money he wasn't promised.

So it appears that the owner is already getting the bad end of the PR stick with nelson. It sorta seems to happen wherever nellie goes, someone owes him more money.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by xenonvisions

nelson aint leaving..hes gonna whine until the season starts and scare gs by tellin them hes leavin...

you really think hes going to leave after he ripped dallas a new one

As the author said, he won't leave money on the table, unless he thinks he can sue it out of them later. I expect he'll just tank it. As mavie says, it does sound familiar.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Hmm...now wonder nelsons suing cuban, he thinks that his money is money he wasn't promised.

So it appears that the owner is already getting the bad end of the PR stick with nelson. It sorta seems to happen wherever nellie goes, someone owes him more money.

It's simple negotiation tactics. Nellie wants a raise, and he feels he has the leverage to get one. (Exactly as I'm sure Avery Johnson felt when he got his.) It's standard operating procedure in the NBA, as well as other pro sports and other businesses. Let's not paint Nellie as any different than Avery or all the other guys who have been in his shoes.

[bernardos70]

Earned it or not, Cuban paid Avery his money with way less ado than this. That is to say, he did pay the coach he believed was the best coach for the team without a lot of fuss. And he clearly didn't pay nelson when he didn't think he was the right coach for the job. It is awfully clear Nelson is the man for the job in Oakland, he's the only logical option. Yet, the owner doesn't wanna pony up. Guess the owners can't all be like Mark when it comes to ponying up for the right guy.

[chumdawg]

Not exactly, Bernie. Cuban paid Nellie the going rate, as the right man for the job, for many years. He's paying Johnson near that now.

However, when you say:

"Guess the owners can't all be like Mark when it comes to ponying up for the right guy."

I can't help but snicker. There's a certain point-guard right-man-for-the-job who is cashing his checks off a different account these days.

[Pirate]

Nellie's "entitled" to whatever he can negotiate for using the leverage of "public perception." It's called playing hardball. And since Nellie started it, Cohan's just as entitled to play the same game in return, and laugh in his face while calling his bluff. The contract is already signed, and Cohan can keep him out of the NBA entirely and send him out to permanent pasture if he doesn't honor it. Who will blink first? (Since Cohan has already had a prior experience with Nellie to learn his ways, I bet he'll make out just fine in this situation.)

[dude1394]

Agreed pirate. What is a recurring theme is that nellies contract negotiations get thrown out into the media trying to pressure management.

Good thing most players have more class than that or that's all we'd hear about.

[Male30Dan]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Pay heem. Pay that man his money.

Great movie...

[bernardos70]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Not exactly, Bernie. Cuban paid Nellie the going rate, as the right man for the job, for many years. He's paying Johnson near that now.

However, when you say:

"Guess the owners can't all be like Mark when it comes to ponying up for the right guy."

I can't help but snicker. There's a certain point-guard right-man-for-the-job who is cashing his checks off a different account these days.

Cuban clearly had a pretty bad judgement on that one. Go ahead and paint me naive but I don't think Cuban thought he was the right man for the job....... or he'd have ponied up the dough.

And Cuban paid Avery what Avery wanted because he thought he was the right man for the job. And he didn't bitch about it. In fact, he renewed his contract ahead of time.

[DevinFuture]

And he didn't bitch about it. In fact, he renewed his contract ahead of time.

Not to invalidate your whole point by any means, but I believe Cuban did bitch about it.
He made a blog entry at the time slamming employees who demand more money from their boss after they've agreed to a contract. He wrote that if you agree to the contract you are already agreeing to perform as good as you can and that subsequent performance should not be grounds for demanding a better contract.

Edit: While he didn't refer to Avery or even basketball, I thought it was clear why he wrote the entry based on the timing.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Agreed pirate. What is a recurring theme is that nellies contract negotiations get thrown out into the media trying to pressure management.

Good thing most players have more class than that or that's all we'd hear about.

I think the word "THROWN" is a severe understatement. I think Nellie's PR person throws out press releases on this stuff. LMAO....

[purplefrog]

I grew tired of Nellie's negotiation tactics and use of the press many years ago.
When he comes to town as your head coach he's like that new friend who is at first entertaining and fun to be around only to later become the person who consistently overstays their welcome and you wish would go home.

[MavsX]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

"My pot belly's proud of itself!"

holy shit! That is gross. Nice work on finding that picture....oh my god..i think i just threw up in my mouth

[chumdawg]

What are you talking about? That is a sweet freakin' belly, dude. When you get to be 65, you will wish your ass you had a belly like that, half of Hawaii, and tens of millions in the bank!

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

What are you talking about? That is a sweet freakin' belly, dude. When you get to be 65, you will wish your ass you had a belly like that, half of Hawaii, and tens of millions in the bank!

1) Oh my god, Chum even likes Nelson's gut.

2) Apparently those 'millions' aren't enough to make the guy any happier.

[DevinFuture]

looks like Nellie has an outtie

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

1) Oh my god, Chum even likes Nelson's gut.

2) Apparently those 'millions' aren't enough to make the guy any happier.

Whatever do you mean? I bet the guy is as happy as you yourself could possibly imagine.

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by DevinFuture

looks like Nellie has an outtie

That may only be lint.

[Usually Lurkin]

Originally Posted by DevinFuture

looks like Nellie has an outtie

it's where he keeps a can of bud

[Stranger]

Is Nellie doing an erotic dance in that picture?

[Stranger]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Whatever do you mean? I bet the guy is as happy as you yourself could possibly imagine.

This reminds me of that thread where people used those hyperbolic Chuck Norris lines to describe Nellie.

"Nellie is so happy that the sun rises every morning just to bask in his light."

[Stranger]

"Don Nelson is so happy that the Bluebird of Happiness visits him when it's feeling a little down."

[Usually Lurkin]

Don Nelson is so happy, posies are committing suicide and unicorns are starting to stab rainbows out of feelings of uselessness.