Welcome to the big time, Joe Lacob.

As part-owner of the Celtics, Lacob participated in some of the organization's decision-making. Now, having clearly identifying himself as the leading man in the Warriors' new ownership group, Lacob has set himself up to be the driving force in the franchise's new direction.

That direction can't formally be mapped out until the NBA approves his group's $450 million purchase from Chris Cohan. That's expected sometime in September.

But the wheels obviously already are spinning in Lacob's head, including one of the first -- and biggest -- decisions his group will have to make in 2010: whether to retain Don Nelson as head coach.

Lacob, talking basketball with the media for the first time since the announcement of his group's successful bid to gain ownership of the team, made it clear Nelson is not part of the franchise's long-term plans. But he said no decision has been made on the 2010-11 season.

"The real question," he explained, "is when we begin the future and whether Nelson is the right guy to have as our coach in the meantime."

It's a complicated issue, one that involves the timing of the sale approval, Nelson's guaranteed contract for next season (worth $6 million) and the current state of the Warriors' roster.

Lacob's group is expected to get the NBA's thumbs-up only weeks -- perhaps days -- before the start of training camp. With some of the top coaching prospects having already been snatched up by other teams this offseason, the new ownership group would be looking at a shortage of time and appealing candidates if it rushes into putting a new man at the head of the bench for this season.

And then there's the matter of the roster. The new ownership has to decide if it is comfortable moving forward with what it is inheriting, or whether perhaps selling off starting center Andris Biedrins -- a move that would put the team far enough under the cap next summer to pursue Yao Ming -- would be preferred.

There is a third option other than retaining Nelson or immediately hiring the coach of the future: promote top assistant Keith Smart and give him, in essence, a year to prove himself while Lacob & Co. scout out other candidates.

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