Still (the same) Great Time Out

Days of rigorous training and competition. Sweat and blood pouring for a spot on the squad. Ladies and gentlemen, after comprehensive evaluation, the results are in.

Your 2006-2007 Warrior Girls!

In other news, Guard Will Bynum, who played in 15 games last season, was waived today. The 2006-2007 schedule was also released today, loaded at the front end with home games (13 of 17 at The Arena). Early highlights include a season opener at home against the Lakers, and a seven game homestand towards the end of November that includes visits from the Pistons and Suns.

However early matchup excitement becomes more or less tapered when set against an uneventful and uninspiring offseason.

Although dubbed a difficult decision by Executive VP of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin, the Warriors traded Derek Fisher to the Utah Jazz for guards Devin Brown, Keith McLeod and Andre Owens. When it came to clearing cap space, the decision all of a sudden didn't seem so tough. Fisher was due to make $5.9 million this season, what would have been his third of a six year, $37 million contract.

On the other side, Brown, the player most likely to make an impact, is due to make $2.6 million this season. As Geoff Lepper points out, Brown was actually guarding Kobe Bryant for Fisher's "greatest professional moment", the Spur-killing, buzzer-beating fadeaway in 2004.

The story from summer league is not that exciting either. Warriors first round pick (9th overall) Patrick O'Bryant bluntly admitted, "I've just got to figure out how to rebound in the NBA...Guys are a lot stronger and a lot quicker off the floor than in college." That kind of star-struck, bug-eyed reaction from summer league games is not exactly the kind of spark the Warriors are looking for from their high draft picks. Said Warriors assistant Keith Smart of his 7 foot newcomer, "I think he'll enjoy learning."