Each day at the Warriors' 2006 training camp, Don Nelson has met with the media and piled more and more praise onto the shoulders of swingman Mickael Pietrus.

Sunday, the coach gave out his ultimate compliment: an invitation to Golden State's starting lineup.

Nelson -- who came into camp not even certain if Pietrus was good enough to get off the bench -- anointed the 24-year-old Frenchman as his starting small forward, a move that means Jason Richardson will stay at shooting guard and thus quashes the starting hopes of Monta Ellis and Dajuan Wagner.

"That's a no-brainer, so far," Nelson said.