It's one thing to covet All-Star power forwards Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh. It's quite another to land them in a deal, as Golden State is discovering.
Though multiple league sources said that the Warriors indeed have inquired about both players, it doesn't appear that their search for a big-time big man will be over anytime soon. Two sources said that, as of Monday, no serious talks or trade proposals had been exchanged between Golden State and the Suns or Raptors, and one source added that it appears likely the Warriors will not make a move before the Feb. 19 trade deadline.
What's the official company line?
"We're doing our business," said assistant general manager Larry Riley, who declined to go into any trade specifics. "Are we taking phone calls? Yes. Are we placing phone calls? Sure. We'll talk to people mainly to gauge what's going on out there, because it's that time of the year."
Should the Warriors stand pat, it would mean that their only significant move this season was trading forward Al Harrington to the Knicks for guard Jamal Crawford in November.
The two teams meet again tonight in Oakland, and Harrington's return serves as a reminder of Golden State's long-running issues at the power-forward position.
Though the Warriors would love to add the Suns' Stoudemire or the Raptors' Bosh, there are major complications with acquiring either - or any top-flight player.
Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo very publicly has proclaimed he isn't trading Bosh, who is due to become a free agent in summer 2010, along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
And though the Suns are openly fielding calls for Stoudemire, Golden State's would-be package lacks the hefty expiring contract that Phoenix and others are seeking for this summer and the next.
The Warriors are willing to include Monta Ellis or Andris Biedrins - but not both - in the right deal, according to team and league sources, but moving them is also tricky because of their base-year status.
A deal involving Ellis, who is making $11 million this season, is especially tough and likely would have to include a high-priced player such as Corey Maggette or Stephen Jackson, who are made less attractive by their long-term contracts.
It's the task facing the Warriors as they seek to balance a roster overloaded with wing players and short on proven big men. As coach Don Nelson ominously said after Biedrins was injured on Friday in Phoenix:
"Let that be a lesson for us. Let's get more big guys," Nelson said.
Briefly: Nelson doesn't expect guard Marco Belinelli back until after the All-Star break. Belinelli, who has been out since Jan. 11 with a sprained ankle, ran through some shooting and agility drills with trainer Mark Grabow on Monday. ... Maggette missed practice Monday to get treatment on his sore back in Los Angeles. Maggette had been scheduled to visit his physical therapist there last week, but was unable to make the trip because of illness.
Warriors tonight Knicks 21-29 vs. Warriors 17-35 Oracle Arena7:30 p.m.TV/Radio: CSNBA/680What a week for the Knicks, who followed one of the toughest home stands in NBA history - losing to the Lakers, Cavaliers and Celtics at Madison Square Garden - with a heartbreaker in Portland on Sunday. ... The Knicks were beaten at the buzzer 109-108 on a Brandon Roy finger-roll. ... Ex-Warriors forward Al Harrington is back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench for 17 games earlier this season. Harrington, who was traded to New York for guard Jamal Crawford, is averaging 21.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in 34.9 minutes for the Knicks. ... New York is two games out of the eighth playoff spot in the East under first-year coach Mike D'Antoni.
