So, technically, Mullin is still on the staff. When Mullin's contract expires June 30, according to the Warriors , Riley officially becomes the team's head Basketball executive.

Mullin could not be reached for comment. Rowell declined to speak with the media before today's scheduled news conference at Oracle Arena introducing Riley as the new general manager. But in a news release the Warriors sent out Monday evening, Rowell emphasized Riley's teamwork and experience.

"One of his primary strengths," Rowell said of Riley in the release, "is his ability to work with a group of people to achieve a common goal, which his wide-ranging 20-plus years of experience at the NBA level will enable him to do on a day-to-day basis. It is that type of experience and insight that will prove invaluable as we move forward."

Philosophical differences between Rowell and Mullin were a hot topic all season. The primary issues between the two were the contract-extension negotiations with point guard Baron Davis, the punishment of guard Monta Ellis for violating his contract by riding a scooter and then lying about it, and the firing of Mullin's right-hand man, Pete D'Alessandro, then assistant general manager.

Rowell wanted team options and incentives on any contract extension, which prompted Davis to opt out and sign with the Los Angeles Clippers last summer. Mullin thought compassion was in order when punishing Ellis, but Rowell hit Ellis with a 30-game suspension, third-longest in NBA history.

Then, in early November, D'Alessandro was fired and replaced by then-assistant coach Riley. From that point, Mullin who entered the season without a contract extension was figured to be on his way out.

So ends Mullin's five-year run as the Warriors' chief Basketball executive. He assumed the post April 22, 2004, after two years in the team's front office as a special assistant. Before that, he'd become one of the most popular players in franchise history, spending 13 of his 16 NBA seasons with Golden State.