Talent was never a question for the 28-year-old Davis. Everything else was.

Questions also arose about his character. A lot of Davis’s former coaches and employers thought he lacked it. Davis was tagged with a label of being selfish and being a coach killer. Stout and strong at 6 feet 3 inches, he was also at times out of shape. He clashed with Coach Byron Scott in New Orleans, and when the Hornets traded him to the Warriors in February 2005, the Hornets’ owner, George Shinn, called him “poison.”

The Hornets were so eager to unload Davis, and his expensive contract, that they traded him for two journeymen — Dale Davis and Speedy Claxton.

A lot has changed for Davis in two years, not the least being his view of history. He expressed gratitude toward Scott and said the trade was a chance to “get my love back for the game.”

“That’s what’s happening now,” he said.

Chris Mullin, the Warriors’ general manager, views Davis as the key to a franchise rebirth that is irrefutably under way. “I don’t prejudge people,” Mullin said. “I’ve seen things turn around. We both were realistic that we had a lot of work to do.

Jason Richardson, who had been the Warriors’ go-to guard, welcomed Davis’s arrival. “I knew he wasn’t a coach killer,” Richardson said. “He was a guy that wanted to win.”

But it took one more coaching change for Davis to complete his turnaround. The Warriors fired Mike Montgomery last summer and hired Nelson, who prides himself on letting his star players shine.

“He was ready for a change of pace,” Nelson said of Davis.

“I had to marry Baron. I was going to make that work no matter what. But he made it so easy.”

Davis compares Nelson with Paul Silas, another father-figure type and his first coach with the Hornets.

“He’s teaching me how to be a leader,” Davis said. “He’s held me accountable.”

Davis, with his menacing scowl and scruffy beard, is the perfect face for a team built around castoffs and renegades. The Warriors are brash, edgy and emotional, the sort of players who are beloved when they are winning and dismissed as impulsive, undisciplined louts when they are losing.

“Everyone has a journey,” Barnes said. “They talked bad about all of us.”

- NYTimes

Posted by misterearl:


Isn't It About Time For Another "Stephon Marbury Is Poison" Thread?

Yes, it is. As a matter of fact, it's past time for another "Stephon Marbury is Poison" Thread. Thank you so much for the reminder.

I get all those except the part where you miss Eric Chenowith.

[Edited by - basketballjones on 05-01-2007 13:28]

The Hornets were so eager to unload Davis, and his expensive contract, that they traded him for two journeymen — Dale Davis and Speedy Claxton.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????

I am confused how a guy that actually carried a team into the playoffs on his back and almost took out the nets by himself when they went to the finals is right there for the taking for two journeymen.

When the Knicks have to give up four draft picks, two euros and take back close to 50 million in salary on top of marbury 70 million?

Oh Isiah Thomas was behind the deal

Posted by MS:

The Hornets were so eager to unload Davis, and his expensive contract, that they traded him for two journeymen — Dale Davis and Speedy Claxton.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????

I am confused how a guy that actually carried a team into the playoffs on his back and almost took out the nets by himself when they went to the finals is right there for the taking for two journeymen.

When the Knicks have to give up four draft picks, two euros and take back close to 50 million in salary on top of marbury 70 million?

Oh Isiah Thomas was behind the deal

At the time, Davis had more baggage than Marbury because he was always hurt. No one is giving up assets for a player that cannot stay healthy and the Hornets just wanted to get rid of him and his contract. Not saying that we did not give up too much for Marbury, but the situations were slightly different because at least you had confidence Marbury would actually be playing.

The Game - the hindsight of MS is as perfect as perfect can be.

Just don't ax him about any similar reclamation project/ player transactions moving forward.

his time in new orleans ended badly.
golden state took the risk.
he was poison last year also with montgomery.
but not this season.

franchises that are in deep trouble (like the warriors were) take chances on players with checkered pasts. and one could say these are the only real type of big talents available, those that had falling outs in their previous spots.

some work out, some don't.

Posted by djsunyc:

his time in new orleans ended badly.
golden state took the risk.
he was poison last year also with montgomery.
but not this season.

franchises that are in deep trouble (like the warriors were) take chances on players with checkered pasts. and one could say these are the only real type of big talents available, those that had falling outs in their previous spots.

some work out, some don't.

See Knicks, New York, Re: Sprewell, Latrell.

Soon we'll see if Artest will have a new city to call home.

Posted by djsunyc:

his time in new orleans ended badly.
golden state took the risk.
he was poison last year also with montgomery.
but not this season.

franchises that are in deep trouble (like the warriors were) take chances on players with checkered pasts. and one could say these are the only real type of big talents available, those that had falling outs in their previous spots.

some work out, some don't.

Why for some teams all tryes are don't?