OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Brandon Wright got an immediate lesson on the business of the NBA, when he was traded to the Golden State Warriors just hours after being drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats.
Wright knows it’s a lesson that could be repeated soon as his name is being mentioned as possible trade bait as the Warriors go after All-Star Kevin Garnett from Minnesota.
“When you get to the league, you have to take the hits sometimes,” Wright said Monday after being introduced at a news conference in Oakland. “It’s a business as much as a game. If I got traded, maybe it would be a big thing if I’d been here five years and had my family here and all that. We’ll see what happens.”
Warriors top executive Chris Mullin has acknowledged having talks with Minnesota about Garnett but said he saw no need to talk to Wright about his status, saying “speculation is speculation.”
Wright, for his part, is just willing to see how things play out. After being picked eighth by Charlotte last Thursday night, Wright said he was told not to “get settled down” because a trade could happen. He’s following that same advice now that he’s with the Warriors.
“I’m really not concerned with it,” he said. “Right now I’m happy to be here. I’m excited about this situation I’m in. If I’m traded, I guess it wouldn’t be a bad thing. But I’m excited to be here.”
By acquiring Wright from the Bobcats for Jason Richardson and second-round pick Jermareo Davidson, the Warriors got a player who was attractive to the Timberwolves as well as one who fits their needs.
Wright, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s rookie of the year and tournament MVP as a freshman at North Carolina, averaged 14.7 points and 6.2 rebound per game, while making nearly 65 percent of his shots. His athletic ability should fit well with the Warriors, who love his shot-blocking and rebounding acumen.
“I like guys who are lean and mean but this guy is ridiculous,” coach Don Nelson said. “He was one of my favorite guys in the draft. … The potential is unlimited. I don’t know how ready he’ll be. He has work to do. He’s really good at a lot of things already. As he matures and fills out a little bit he could make a really big impact.”
The Warriors are searching for rebounding help after getting beat badly on the glass during their second-round playoff loss to Utah. Despite that loss, the Warriors won over many fans during their playoff upset of top-seeded Dallas with their wide-open style. Wright was one of them.
“I was impressed with the way they got up and down the court and used each guy,” Wright said. “Coming from Carolina I like to run. Coming here I’m excited to run some more.”
In other news, Nelson has still not committed to returning next season even if he’s acting like someone who will be by working out draft prospects and coaching the team’s summer league team.
Nelson said he has lost about 20 pounds since the end of the season and feels great, but plans to talk to team president Robert Rowell before making his decision. It’s possible Nelson is looking to re-negotiate the three-year deal worth a reported $18 million he signed last summer.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” he said. “That will all get worked out. If it doesn’t, I’ll be very happy retired. If it does, I’ll be very happy to coach.”
Rowell said he’s had no discussions about reworking Nelson’s deal and that he expects that Nelson will be back after leading the team to its first playoff appearance since 1994.
Mullin said Nelson’s status has not been an issue with free agents he has talked to, saying that most decisions usually come down to money anyway. Mullin also said he has no reason to believe Nelson won’t be back next season.
“I got Nellie to come back. I’m going to keep Nellie here,” Mullin said. “Whatever those issues might be, they’ll be resolved.”
Nelson, who turned 67 in May, went 42-40 in his first season back with Golden State, where he also coached from 1988-95. His 1,232 career coaching victories are the second-most in NBA history.
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