I woke up this morning, picked up the paper and read Warriors president Robert (The Hammer) Rowell had fired Pete D'Allessandro for insubordination, whatever that means. You may not know who Pete D. is but let me explain. He is listed in the media guide as assistant GM and he negotiates contracts and handles salary cap stuff.
But there's more. Chris Mullin brought him into the organization and he's Mullin's right-hand man, the guy Mullin confers with and works out issues with. He's Mullin's ally and sounding board. So by firing Pete D., Rowell is making a statement to Mullin, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The statement is simple: "You may be next." It is an aggressive, clearly hostile act and it isolates Mullin in the organization. Call it a big slap in the face.
To replace Pete D. Rowell is promoting assistanct coach Larry Riley to ass't GM. Well, that's interesting. Riley is a Don Nelson guy through and through and it's like Nelson getting his tentacles into the GM's office. Nelson who loves power, loves to run things, may be trying to neuter Mullin or push him out. This may be an extreme interpretation and I admit I'm not sure about that. So I write that only as a possibility.
Now I'm going to write something strange. Rowell may be trying to help Mullin by firing Pete D. Pete D. came to the Warriors after service in an agent's office. He often sees things from the point of view of players and he impresses Mullin with this point of view. The Warriors have wanted Mullin to think more like a company man -- more like a GM. The Monta Ellis situation is an example. Rowell felt Mullin wanted to go too easy on Ellis. I don't agree, but that's not the point. Rowell felt Mullin saw the situation from the player's point of view, not from a front-office point of view. By eliminating Pete D. he is nudging Mullin more toward an ownership stance. In other words, he is -- or could be -- giving Mullin a chance to save his job.
That's a big maybe. The situation at the Warriors is strange and now it's sad. Pete D. is a good guy and I wish this didn't happen.
Thanks for your blog Mr. Cohn. It's become a mandatory stop in my Warrior consumption. Thank you!
It just keeps getting stranger in Warrior land.
Is there aay way to corner Chris or Bobby for an interview?
I think you're right that Rowell wants Mullin to think more like management (which he is), than labor (which he used to be but is no longer). That would be true of any business. There are plenty of people who get promoted to a manager level and can't make that transition. Mullin wouldn't be the first to lose his job because of it. His position that Monta shouldn't face the music for his irresponsible actions is a major example.
Lowell this blog is amazing. The amount of information you keep throwing our way is something many of us are not used to seeing. This drives insignt into how things really work behind the scenes in professional sports. In many ways it's just like any other job isn't it?
Thanks!