Posted on Wed, Aug. 20, 2003

Huge trade simply a vision
`BEAUTIFUL,' MULLIN SAYS OF CHANGING LANDSCAPE
By Tim Kawakami
Mercury News Staff Columnist

One word, stretched over three cheery Brooklyn syllables, explained everything.

``Beauuuu-tii-ful.''

Tuesday afternoon, Chris Mullin didn't need a salary-cap slide rule to document the sea change in Warriorland after Monday's inspired Antawn Jamison/Nick Van Exel mega-trade with Dallas.

Mullin didn't need to take over the official titles of Warriors general manager, savior, strategist or Chief Guru in Charge of Nixing Garry St. Jean's Latest Brainstorm. Quizzed about the subtle triumphs littered throughout the Jamison trade, Mullin only had to say the word: Beautiful.

Rest assured, Mullin, the Warriors great who began his ``special assistant'' role a year ago, already has or soon will assume many of the team's decision-making responsibilities.

For now, sensitive about jumping heedlessly into both the public eye and the NBA personnel bonfire, Mullin remains mostly in the background.

So, until Mullin takes the reins -- probably next summer -- what we get are tidbits about his growing influence and vision.

What we got last week, when the deal was arranged, was the most thoughtful trade the Warriors have made since Don Nelson left the premises. And the knowledge that it had Mullin's fingerprints all over it, even if he loves to joke about salary-cap arcania.

``Every day I'm around,'' Mullin said, ``every meeting, I learn something and I think, `Man, if I'm doing something and I didn't know that, that wouldn't have been too good.'

``There's a lot of things as a player that do transcend and help you, but not everything. I've got to make sure I've got them down. In one year . . . I don't know. I'm in a really good position to do that.''

Not quite willing to concede that he was the force behind this nine-player trade, Mullin, however, didn't hide his enthusiasm for the deal.

Once Gilbert Arenas took off for Washington, Mullin said, what were the options? To keep the status quo with bloated salaries that, in Jamison's case, increased by $1.4 million every season, and still lose 50 games?

``If you're able to keep him,'' Mullin said of Arenas, ``maybe you're more inclined to keep as much together as you can. His departure meant a lot.

``So, yeah, you have to be proactive. You've got to be realistic with what you have and where you're going.''

All Mullin had to do was talk -- about moving Jamison's and Danny Fortson's contracts, opening a starting spot for Mike Dunleavy, giving the franchise a perch from which to evaluate Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy as they head into contract years, adding Speedy Claxton as a free agent . . .

All Mullin had to do was talk, and everything was clearer than it has been for this franchise in years.

``I wasn't in on all the particulars, you know?'' Mullin said. ``But I like the way this thing can mold together on the court. I like the blend.''

You can't fix six years of foolishness in a couple of weeks; another major cap-shedding deal or two is necessary (goodbye, Erick Dampier). But this trade was an enormous start and indication of just how boldly the Warriors will act under Mullin.

``We've added two guards who were playing in June,'' Mullin said, referring to Van Exel and Claxton, who faced each other in the Western Conference finals.

``We've got Mike and Jason in places where they can emerge and we can evaluate them. We've fixed some long-term things. . . . Beautiful, you know?''

I'm not a big fan of Richardson and Murphy, but putting them on the floor with a passer like Dunleavy, instead of Jamison, should allow them to vault to stardom or show that they never will.

If they're stars, you've freed up some cash for them. If they're not, you move them before giving them long-term millions. St. Jean never did understand that concept.

Plus, Van Exel can do almost everything Arenas did last year. The Warriors can hold onto him for the final two guaranteed years of his contract or they can trade him . . . maybe to Washington for that new young point guard the Wizards just signed.

And this trade gives Dunleavy -- the one Warrior every other team covets most -- the centerpiece status he deserves.

``He's going to make other guys better, whether his numbers always reflect that,'' said Mullin, a Dunleavy supporter. ``I want to stay away from praising one and smashing another, but this is something we've got to be very professional about and make it work.''

Speaking of making it work, Chris, when will you complete your ascension to G.M.? Isn't it true that Warriors management has said that it's your job when you want it or when St. Jean's contract runs out, whichever comes first?

``I wouldn't go that far,'' Mullin said with a laugh. ``You're probably getting a little ahead of everything.''

But not by much. Judging by the new initiative in Warriorland, not much ahead of things at all.


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Contact Tim Kawakami at tkawakami@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5442. Fax (408) 920-5244.

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