The old leather chair Nelson used to sit in while puffing away last season was removed as part of a beautification campaign in his condominium building.

His desire, on the other hand, has not been scrubbed away.

The NBA's oldest coach looked like its most content Wednesday. A tanned, trim — well, trimmer anyway — Nelson met with the media for the first time since signing his reworked deal worth a minimum of $5.1 million this season, up from $3.1 in previously guaranteed money.

"It took about two days to feel rejuvenated," Nelson said.

It took him even less time to put aside any adversarial feelings generated by the negotiations, which dragged on months longer than he expected, and ended with the Warriors winning a key concession from Nelson: conversion of the final year to a team option, rather than guaranteed money.

"My philosophy is never sign an agreement you don't agree with," said Nelson, whose team will play the Los Angeles Lakers in two exhibition games next month in Hawai'i.

"I signed it and I'm here and I'm happy and I'm ready to kick some butt. I hate negotiations. They're never fun. But they're necessary."

They were in this case. Nelson said he wouldn't have come back under the original terms of the deal, given how much an NBA season takes out of a 67-year-old body.

"That's why I had a hard time coming back at the same number, because it does take a number of years probably out of your life, it's not an easy job, and it doesn't get easier as you get older," Nelson said. "You're on the road all the time, in hotels, with all the pressure and all the rest of it. I feel that I'm being well-compensated now, and I'm a happy guy."

Part of that joy comes from seeing the Warriors' new roster taking shape. Nelson gave some hints as to what he foresees for Golden State over the next eight months, making it clear that rookie Marco Belinelli — not Monta Ellis, winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player Award last season — is the front-runner to take over the starting spot left vacant by the trade of Jason Richardson.

"The guy's got 'stardom' written all over him," Nelson said of Belinelli. "He's just really good. ... What separates the great players from the not-so-great players are guys who can make plays, along with their ability to score—and he can do that."

Nelson also talked up second-round draft pick Stephane Lasme but strongly downplayed the expectations for Brandan Wright, the 19-year-old whose first-round draft rights the Warriors received from Charlotte in exchange for Richardson.

Regardless of who's on the floor, one thing is ironclad, in Nelson's mind: Going back to the pre- "boiler room" days is not an option.