Regardless of whether Warriors coach Don Nelson returns to the sidelines next season, his fall schedule is likely to include a stop in court, where his arbitration suit against Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is taking on new dimensions.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Cuban filed a counterclaim against Nelson last month, contending that the former Mavs coach violated his non-compete clause by using insider information against Dallas during the playoffs.

The source also said that Cuban is seeking an injunction against Nelson working for Golden State, though the litigation has no bearing on Nelson's pending decision on coaching again or retiring.

Reached by phone this week, Nelson's lawyer, John O'Connor, would say only that the Cuban's claim was baseless, particularly the notion about inside information.

"I suppose if Don knows that (Dirk) Nowitzki likes to go to his right and not his left, that that is confidential information as far as Cuban is concerned," O'Connor said. "We disagree and think it's absurd."

Along with Brandan Wright, the Warriors also acquired a $10 million trade exception from the Bobcats, they now become a major player in this summer's trade market. The Warriors now have the ability to absorb contracts up to $10 million while offering a team instant financial relief.

This could of course lead to another deal.

Chris Mullin acknowledged speaking to the Timberwolves this week, presumably about Kevin Garnett.

The Warriors bit the bullet and did what they had to do, which might be setting up something they've been dreaming to do.

Yes, I'm talking about Kevin Garnett as a Warrior trade target. Still talking about Garnett. Always talking about Garnett. Wish I could stop. Can't.

And yes, Thursday night I asked Mullin - the Warriors' chief personnel man - if Richardson-for-Wright could be a way station for a huge final push to get Garnett, or someone like him (but there's nobody like him).

The Golden State Warriors traded veteran guard Jason Richardson to the Charlotte Bobcats on Thursday night for the rights to North Carolina forward Brandan Wright, the eighth overall pick.

Charlotte also got the rights to Alabama forward Jermareo Davidson, Golden State's choice with the 36th selection.

"I'll miss Jason, of course," Mullin said. "He's one of my favorite players in the league ... but we feel good about Brandan coming in. That doesn't make it any easier."

ESPN's Jim Gray is reporting that the Warriors have entered the market for Kevin Garnett.

Golden State would love to select Chinese forward Yi Jianlian, according to league sources, but the Warriors need an unlikely and major jump from their current 18th slot.

Yi, a consensus lottery pick, could go as high as No. 3 and isn't expected to get past the Bulls at No. 9.

"They're trying," one source said of the Warriors' springboard attempts. "But I don't know if they're going to get there."

A reported deal involving guard Monta Ellis for Atlanta's 11th pick was rejected by the Warriors on Tuesday. Golden State also is believed to have dismissed the notion of moving Jason Richardson for an even higher pick.

Mullin said last week that he was prepared to make a move should the right scenario arise. He also reiterated that the team wouldn't sacrifice its fast style of play to fill an area of need.

"We'll look at all different avenues and scenarios," he said.

Should the Warriors stay at No. 18, indications are that they could gamble on Sean Williams, a troubled but highly regarded forward from Boston College.

Don Nelson said Tuesday that he has been too busy in recent weeks preparing for Thursday's NBA draft to give whether or not he wants to continue coaching enough consideration, and doesn't think a final determination will be made until after the conclusion of the league's Las Vegas-based summer league on July 15.

"I shouldn't have given a date," Nelson said of his news conference after the Warriors were knocked out of the playoffs in mid-May. "But it'll be sooner rather than later."

Asked if it was a question of renegotiating the financial terms of the final two seasons remaining on the three-year deal that lured him out of retirement in August, Nelson demurred.

"It's not a question of anything, it's just a matter of deciding," Nelson said. "Joy (Nelson's wife) and I will talk more about it."

The Warriors seriously considered giving up second-year guard Monta Ellis in order to move up in Thursday's NBA draft, but they never pulled the trigger, the Times has learned.

According to a league source, the Warriors had a deal on the table that would send Ellis to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the No. 11 overall pick. The move up in the draft presumably would have been a first step toward getting one of the most promising players in the draft, Chinese forward Yi Jianlian.

Warriors guard Sarunas Jasikevicius picked up his $4 million option for next season, as expected, but it remains unlikely that Golden State will be the team issuing his paychecks.

Jasikevicius, who had until Sunday to guarantee the last year of the three-year, $12 million contract he signed with the Pacers in 2005, quickly disappeared from the Warriors' rotation after arriving from Indiana in January.

Though the Lithuanian was pegged as the backup to Baron Davis, Jasikevicius struggled in coach Don Nelson's open-court system and was relegated to cheerleader status during Golden State's playoff games.

Once free agency starts, the Raptors have their mid-level exception set aside for Golden State's Mickael Pietrus, who could start for them next season at small forward, according to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News.