The much ballyhooed reign of fiscal sanity in Golden State finished with a fitting flourish: Not only did Chris Mullin balk at locking up stud Latvian center Andris Biedrins, but the Warriors didn't pick up the third-year option ($2.3 million) on 2006's #9 pick, Patrick O'Bryant. Andris' payday delay is understandable given the leaguewide caution on early extensions; cost-cutting in the vain of essentially giving up on a lottery pick in one year is rare, unless you're dealing with Tskitishviliesque bust. O'Bryant, though behind the curve, can't be considered that bad.Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News has a theory, though: It's all about Baron Davis. Boom Dizzle has an early termination option -- and he's indicated he'll execute it, though simple math says he probably shouldn't. By procrastinating on Biedrins, Golden State will have enough breathing room under the luxury tax to give Baron whatever they think he deserves (should he opt out). There's leeway with Biedrins, who'll be a restricted free agent... allowing Golden State to either come to terms with Andris or wait for some other team to set his value. Monta Ellis will also be an RFA, so Golden State -- once they pay Baron -- will have the chance to decide which of their youngsters is a priority.
So why send P.O.B. into unrestricted free agency next summer? Every dollar counts. That $2.3 million for an iffy prospect isn't a lot to most teams. But, if Kawakami's correct about the motives here, Mullin's construction project needs to fit precise numbers. Maybe isn't a good enough return on investment, apparently.
