"Got a question about the Warriors or about a pebble-grain rash? Ask Dr. Hoopz.

Q: Doc, Chris Mullin, the Warriors' executive vice president, talked Wednesday about the team's "vision," which I assume means its master plan. What is that vision?

A: What the Warriors are doing is shuffling the deck so furiously that it will be November before anyone notices Baron Davis is no longer around. It's an old casino trick. Some dealers actually toss the deck into the ceiling fan.

Barring a monumental run of good luck, there's no way the Warriors have covered the loss of Davis.

Q: So you're saying the Warriors made a mistake by not offering Davis what the Clippers gave him?

A: Lord, no. There is a 1 percent chance that at the end of Davis' five-year deal with the Clippers both sides will say, "Gee, that worked out well!"

It was time for Baron to go. He had one more good season in Oakland, tops, and it's better to start the rebuilding sooner than later (see: Giants and Barry Bonds, 2007).

Q: Ronny Turiaf, what does he bring to the team?

A: For starters, he'll make Don Nelson look good.

Q: As a basketball coach?

A: No, as a poker player.

Turiaf, whom the Warriors plucked from the Lakers, said Wednesday that Nelson invited him to Maui. Turiaf is an intelligent dude, he speaks five languages. But if Don Nelson and Willie Nelson don't relieve Turiaf of his bonus check in one of their all-night poker games, Maui doesn't rhyme with wowie.

Q: Is Turiaf the answer to the Warriors' rebounding problems?

A: No.

Q: Care to elaborate?

A: Turiaf is a beefy 6-foot-10 guy, a tough inside player, but not a great natural rebounder. He started 21 games for the Lakers last season yet had double figures in rebounds only twice.

You know how (Don) Nelson always talks about Al Harrington being a lousy rebounder? He is. Harrington averaged one rebound per five minutes of playing time. Turiaf averaged one rebound per 4.8 minutes. You want your big power guys to get at least one rebound every four minutes. Andris Biedrins, not considered a stupendous rebounder, snagged a board every 2.8 minutes."