Nelson's contract issues jeopardize Warriors' revival

Will the Don Nelson-Baron Davis lovefest be over after only one season? AP

MAILBAG Marty Burns will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Don Nelson is up to his old tricks again. The Warriors' coach reportedly wants a raise from his current $3.1 million salary to $5.1 million (guaranteed) for each of the remaining two seasons on the three-year contract he signed just last year. He is threatening to retire before training camp if he doesn't get it.

The Warriors have basically agreed to Nellie's demands, except they want the final year (2008-09) to be a team option, according to published reports. The two sides are still talking, but Golden State fans are getting a little nervous.

Would Nellie really walk out on the Warriors now, after last season's glorious run?

Probably not. Nelson is loyal to Warriors vice president Chris Mullin, who lured him out of retirement last season. He also no doubt wants to burnish those Hall of Fame credentials -- not tarnish them by adding another ugly departure to his résumé.

Then again, Nelson might just decide to stick it to owner Chris Cohan, who sued the coach after Nelson's first go-round with the Warriors. Nellie probably doesn't have to worry about public support. Golden State fans love the straw-haired Mad Scientist for resurrecting their franchise and ending that 12-year playoff drought.

More important, the Warriors are totally built for his particular style of play. Who else could coach that roster now? Just imagine Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson running the locker room in Nelson's absence.

The whole situation is so classic Nellie. The guy just knows how to work the angles and maximize his advantages. Somewhere Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson are no doubt shaking their heads.

Amid this uncertain backdrop in the Bay Area, we'll open the 'Bag with another Warriors-related question:

What are the chances the Heat can work a deal for Mickael Pietrus? I think he'd be a great fit alongside Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem. He's the type of athletic swingman they need, and he'd also provide some outside shooting to replace Jason Kapono. But can Pat Riley get a deal done?
-- Oscar Reyes, Miami

Not likely. Pietrus is a restricted free agent, meaning the Warriors can match any offer. Golden State might be willing to do a sign-and-trade, but it doesn't appear to be too interested in anything Miami has to offer. James Posey has been mentioned, but it's doubtful Mullin would want to take him. Right now it looks as if Pietrus is going to get shut out like so many other restricted free agents this summer. If so, his best option might be to take Golden State's one-year qualifying offer of $3.4 million and then become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

You guys recently ran an item on your site listing one writer's all-time NBA teams (past, present and future). I admit I'm biased, but I would have had Hakeem Olajuwon as first-team center. I also think Kevin Durant will be the starting small forward on the future squad. I'm curious as to whom you would pick for these teams?
-- Rico D., Houston

I can't really argue with any of my colleague Ian Thomsen's picks. My only differences would be Wilt Chamberlain over Bill Russell as first-team all-time center (though I admit it's a toss-up), and Deron Williams over Tony Parker as my point guard of the future (in five years). For the record, here would be my picks:

All-time team
G Magic Johnson
G Michael Jordan
F Larry Bird
F Tim Duncan
C Wilt Chamberlain

All-current team
G Steve Nash
G Kobe Bryant
F LeBron James
F Kevin Garnett
C Tim Duncan

All-future team
G Deron Williams
G Dwyane Wade
F LeBron James
F Amaré Stoudemire
C Yao Ming

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