There are subtle, nuanced ways to let people know they’re no longer welcome. And then there’s Don Nelson’s approach to things. Nellie doesn’t do subtle or nuanced.
If Nellie has his way, Jamal Crawford won’t be in a Warriors uniform for very much longer.
From the Contra Costa Times:
According to multiple team sources, Warriors coach Don Nelson told guard Jamal Crawford that if he doesn’t opt out of his contract, Golden State would trade him this offseason. This conversation, according to one of the sources, happened a day after the Warriors’ loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 23.
Crawford said he still has not decided whether he would opt out, maintaining his focus is on “helping us win some games and finish the season strong.” He has two years and just shy of $20 million remaining on his contract after this season. But he has the option to terminate his contract after this season.
This warning, according to the report, happened on the same day that Nelson informed Crawford that he’d be getting occasionally benched in an effort to develop some of the team’s younger players.
For what it’s worth, Warrior upper management says this is just Nellie being Nellie, and his stance does not represent how they feel about Crawford.
