The Warriors have two trade exceptions that expire tonight that they can use to make a move.

The club is currently about $4.8 million under the luxury tax threshold, so they could add some salary without being subject to the dollar for dollar tax.  

In addition to the two expiring Trade Exceptions, the Warriors also currently hold another large Trade Exception from last year's Cliff Robinson trade, their full $1.67M Bi-annual Exception, and are only one of 4 teams to still hold their entire $5M Mid-Level Exception.

Chris Mullin said he's meeting with Dunleavy's agent, Arn Tellem, next week to begin negotiations.

That Mullin is preparing to talk extension probably means Dunleavy is less likely to be traded this offseason. The period to extend the rookie contracts of players drafted in 2002 began Aug. 1 and concludes Oct. 31.

The Warriors, who open the season Nov. 2, have until Oct. 31 then to sign Dunleavy to a contract extension. If they don't, Dunleavy will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and the Warriors would have the right to match any offer he receives.

Mullin also said there's a possibility the Warriors will acquire veteran help for their young bench. Though they're over the salary cap, the Warriors still are able to sign a player using the $5 million midlevel exception. They also have a $5.2 million trade exception, which they can use to acquire talent without giving up anything.

"There's potential to do that," Mullin said.

Eric Snow, a personal favorite of Larry Brown, is drawing the interest of Isiah Thomas and the Knicks at the request of their new coach.

There have been rumors about Golden State, which would be willing to move Derek Fisher, and the Cavs trying to recruit a third team to take Snow, but the Knicks are turned off by Snow's bloated contract.

The Knicks have some big contract of their own, but since those of Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway will expire following this season, they have become two of the most attractive in the league.

The Golden State Warriors signed second round draft choice Monta Ellis to an undisclosed, multi-year contract according to VP of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin.

Ellis, 19, was selected by Golden State with the 40th overall pick (10th in the second round) of the 2005 NBA Draft out of Lanier High School in Jackson, MS. In five games as part of the Warriors? summer league squad at the Reebok Vegas Summer League in July, Ellis averaged 15.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 31.2 minutes.

There has been some discussion that point guard Derek Fisher will be the Warriors ?Amnesty Victim? representative.  Fisher is set to make $31.9 million over the next five seasons and with Baron Davis in town, he has been moved to a backup role.

However if the Warriors were to let Fisher go, they'd be sacrificing not only their best catch-and-shoot perimeter marksman but also their chief insurance policy should Baron Davis get hurt.  They would essentially have to replace Derek Fisher with another Derek Fisher.

The Golden State Warriors have signed second round draft choice Chris Taft to a multi-year contract, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Taft, 20, played two seasons at Pittsburgh and was selected by the Warriors with the 42nd overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft (12th in the second round) with a pick that the Warriors acquired from New Jersey as part of the Clifford Robinson trade during the 2004-05 season. In three games during the Reebok Vegas Summer League, Taft averaged 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 52.9% (9-17 FG) from the field.