So even though Warriors executive president Chris Mullin, the man who lured his old coach out of retirement last year, has publicly dismissed the notion that he might have to hire a replacement for Nelson -- a sentiment other team officials have privately echoed -- there is still a very real possibility that Golden State will be without Nelson.

"Oh, there's a lot of talented people around here who could do my job, I mean, as far as I'm concerned," Nelson said back in May, when he first broached the subject of retirement. "There're a lot of talented coaches around."

"It's really about (Nelson) wanting to be appreciated and needed, and if he's not, then maybe he'll retire," said a source with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It's really psychological, encouraging him to come back."