NBA opening night rosters

The NBA’s opening day rosters are official, and now posted on InsideHoops.com.

This evening was the deadline for NBA teams to trim their rosters down to 15 players or less.

The 2008-09 regular season starts Tuesday, October 28. InsideHoops is your online basketball home. We’re pumping out more content this season than ever.

Enjoy the season!

Warriors waive Rob Kurz

The Golden State Warriors have waived forward Rob Kurz, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.

Kurz, who was originally signed as a free agent September 9, appeared in four of Golden State’s six preseason games, averaging 4.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 14 minutes per game.

The Warriors roster now stands at 15 players.

Don Nelson to sign contract extension

The Contra Costa Times (Marcus Thompson II) reports: Warriors coach Don Nelson confirmed after Saturday’s practice that he has agreed to a contract extension. A team source said the agreement was for two years and $12 million, some of which is deferred money. The new agreement, which Nelson said he has yet to sign, locks him up for three seasons, making him all but a lock to become the winningest coach in NBA history while with the Warriors. Nelson is 52 wins shy of current career wins leader Lenny Wilkens (2,612). “It wasn’t my idea,” said the 68-year-old Nelson, while toking on a cigar. “It was fine with me to weigh it year-to-year. But they came to me and wanted me to commit to three years and, uh, I’m pretty excited about it. It’s quite an honor really to be wanted. At my age, you’re lucky if anybody wants you. Hopefully, your wife.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: This is good news for the media. Because Nelson gives some of the best, most honest, no-holds-barred interviews of any coach in the history of basketball. It’s also good news for Warriors fans, because Don’s teams tend to always overachieve. It’s also good news for fans who like watching fun, fast-paced basketball. Other than all that, this is awful.

Warriors may get rid of Chris Mullin

The San Francisco Examiner (Matt Steinmetz) reports: We already know Chris Mullin isn’t coming back next year. But the fact is, he’s more likely to get fired this season than finish out the final year of his contract as executive vice president of basketball operations. That’s clearly the most logical thing to take away from the news that Don Nelson is negotiating a contract extension … probably a two-year job with an option for a third… Nelson and Mullin are both on the final years of their contracts. Nelson is negotiating an extension; Mullin isn’t.

Baron Davis back in 1 week

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Baron Davis underwent an examination today by Dr. Roy Meals, a hand specialist with the UCLA Medical Group.  The examination revealed that Davis had sustained a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left ring finger.  The injury does not require surgery and is expected to heal on its own.  Davis will wear a splint and is expected to resume all basketball activities in one week.

Davis was originally diagnosed with a sprained left ring finger after falling on his hand during practice at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on Friday, October 17th.  X-rays taken after the injury occurred were negative and a subsequent MRI revealed results that were inconclusive, leading to today’s follow up examination.

Warriors waive Dan Dickau

The Golden State Warriors have waived guard Dan Dickau, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.

Dickau, who was originally signed as a free agent October 1, appeared in two of Golden State’s first four preseason games, averaging 5.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.00 steals in 12.0 minutes per game.

The Warriors roster now stands at 16 players.

Oct 17: Warriors 109, Bucks 108

For Golden State, Stephen Jackson shot 9-of-14 for 24 points and 4 assists, though he had 6 turnovers. Corey Maggette had 14 points, 4 rebounds, no assists and 5 turnovers. CJ Watson, off the bench, shot 4-of-13 for 14 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. Brandan Wright, off the bench, had 14 points. Andris Biedrins had 13 with 11 rebounds. And DeMarcus Nelson scored 10 off the bench. As a team, the Warriors had 28 turnovers. For Milwaukee, Charlie Villanueva shot 11-of-18 for 26 points and 8 rebounds. Michael Redd shot 8-of-14 for 23 points. Joe Alexander shot 7-of-13 for 14 off the bench. Richard Jefferson shot 3-of-10 for 13 points and 7 assists. Andrew Bogut shot badly but grabbed 9 rebounds.

Oct 15: Bucks 98, Warriors 94

The AP reports: Andrew Bogut scored 18 points and Luke Ridnour added 16 Wednesday night, leading the Milwaukee Bucks past the Golden State Warriors 98-94 in an NBA exhibition game. Milwaukee trailed most of the night but Bogut took control in the second half with 13 points. Kelenna Azubuike led the Warriors with 24 points while Corey Maggette added 16… Bucks rookie Joe Alexander, who finished with 11 points, was the crowd favorite in this southern Chinese city. He’s the first NBA player to be born in Taiwan and can speak Mandarin.

Oct 11: Warriors 122, Thunder 102

The AP reports: Marco Belinelli had 22 points and six assists and Al Harrington added 16 points and nine rebounds to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-102 in exhibition play Saturday night. DeMarcus Nelson, one of a handful of guards the Warriors (2-1) are looking at as a possible replacement for the injured and suspended Monta Ellis, added 18 points, seven assists and four rebounds. He had two thunderous dunks, both in the second half. Kevin Durant had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Thunder (0-3), who shot just 38.6 percent from the floor to remain winless in the preseason. Damien Wilkins added 23 points, and Chris Wilcox had 15 points and eight rebounds.

Warriors suspend Monta Ellis 30 games

The Golden State Warriors have suspended guard Monta Ellis for 30 games for violating Paragraph 12 of the Uniform Player Contract, it was announced today by President Robert Rowell. The suspension will take effect immediately and will extend through the team’s December 17th contest against the Indiana Pacers.

“The cooperation that we received from Jeff Fried (Monta’s representative) enabled us to be very diligent in collecting all of the facts surrounding the incident,” Rowell said. “This 30-game suspension is a result of that. From this point forward, it is the complete focus of everyone involved to provide Monta with all the support he needs to have a successful rehabilitation, and to get him back on the court as an integral part of this team.”

The Warriors will host the Oklahoma City Thunder at ORACLE Arena tonight at 7:30 p.m. Robert Rowell will be available to the media at 6:15 p.m. prior to the game in the Interview Room.

SportsTicker reports: The Golden State Warriors suspended guard Monta Ellis for 30 games without pay Saturday for violating terms of his new contract. Ellis, who signed a six-year, $66 million extension this offseason, suffered a torn ligament in his left ankle as a result of a moped accident this past August. The 22-year-old Ellis initially told the Warriors that he had suffered the injury during a pickup basketball game in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. But the Warriors ultimately learned that Ellis was injured from the moped, a direct violation of his new contract.

InsideHoops.com editor says: It’s understandable that the Warriors have no interest in paying Monta Ellis to sit out injured while he hurt himself doing something his contract prohibited. They must have decided that he’ll miss at least 30 games, and settled on the 30 number as covering themselves without being excessive. This makes sense.