Golden State Warriors & Baron Davis Both Benefit From Holding Off On Extension, Andris Biedrins Could Get New Deal

ESPN’s Marc Stein reports on Golden State shelving negotiations for an extension with Baron Davis until next summer:

Sources told ESPN.com that Davis’ agent, Todd Ramasar, was informed in a meeting with the Warriors this week that the club prefers to wait until after the coming season to sign Davis to an extension, even though that opens up Golden State to the possibility of losing its point guard and leader in the 2008 free-agency market.

Stein also reports that the club is now looking to sign Andris Biedrins to an extension:

With Davis’ future on hold, Golden State’s October focus now shifts to fourth-year center Andris Biedrins, who is eligible to receive a contract extension through Oct. 31 and, according to sources, expected to get his extension.

My Quick Take: The Golden State Warriors are now a cost-conscious club. Marginal players will no longer get big money contracts. Everyone gets squeezed, including Coach Nelson and now superstar Baron Davis.

I think the team and Davis benefit from taking a wait-and-see approach. The Warriors will find out if Davis can stay healthy for an entire season and live up to the expectations of another ’max’ contract. And Davis gets to see if the Warriors are committed to building on last season’s success and fielding a winner.

Golden State is assuming some risk, though. Davis, of course, can opt-out after next season and become an unrestricted free agent, so the club could lose him without getting anything in return.

I like Biedrins’ game. He’s a nice, young center. But the Warriors will proceed cautiously-even if there’s an October 31st deadline. As mentioned earlier, the club is much more aware of the salary cap. And, hopefully, they’ve learned from overpaying Adonal Foyle.

What will the Warriors do with Davis and Biedrins? Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts.

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