Warriors coach Don Nelson and GM Larry Riley flew to Memphis recently for a damage-control meeting with Monta Ellis. The message? Golden State isn’t looking to trade Ellis, whom they signed to a six-year, $66 million extension last summer. Instead, they wanted to tell Ellis in person that they intend to make him a captain and build around him.
It was a tumultuous year for Ellis and the Warriors, who threatened to void Ellis’ contract over an offseason moped accident that resulted in a 30-game suspension costing Ellis about $3 million. In April, Golden State officials sent a letter to Ellis’ agent, Jeff Fried, relinquishing their rights to void the contract. That ended one controversy but left another one still brewing.
Ellis’ strongest supporter in the Golden State front office was former GM Chris Mullin, who has been told he is not wanted back after his contract expires June 30. Mullin has avoided official contact with any potential suitors until the contract expires. But Ellis’ concern about his standing with the franchise in Mullin’s absence needed to be addressed. So Nelson and Riley flew to Memphis, where Ellis has been with his first son – Monta Jr. – who was born June 5.
“The GM and the coach traveled to Memphis to further provide that assurance to Monta that this is his team and they’re looking to build this team around him for years to come,” Fried said in a phone interview Friday. “Monta’s response to them was that the most important component is winning. He wants to win and he wants to win with the Warriors.”
Golden State has the seventh pick in next Thursday’s draft and is deeply involved in trade talks involving the pick. But those talks, evidently, will not involve Ellis.
Warriors not shopping Monta
Posted on: June 18, 2009 12:25 pm
Score: 146
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borntowinn
Reputation: 92Level: All-Star Since: Jun 18, 2009 |
Posted on: June 19, 2009 1:05 am
Score: 73
Warriors not shopping Monta |
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Roll Tide Saban Level: Superstar Since: Oct 24, 2007 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 11:10 pm
Score: 118
Warriors not shopping MontaThe Warriors and Nelson don't want Crawford. They actually want him gone. And the Warriors do need a PF and one with experience who fits the GS system. There is no better solution out there than AK47. Nellie has always been a fan, and Utah could use the salary relief of dumping him. I think a trade of Crawford, Wright and Belinelli would get the deal done. You might have to switch #7 for #20 too, but GS would be gaining the perfect defensive PF for the system while also dumping the cancer that is Crawford.
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Cards Rule NL Level: All-Star Since: Jun 15, 2009 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 8:00 pm
Score: -3
Warriors not shopping MontaPersonally, I would rather have Chris Bosh.
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Cards Rule NL Level: All-Star Since: Jun 15, 2009 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 7:58 pm
Score: 58
Warriors not shopping MontaPietrus? Are you kidding me? Peitrus and the word defense don't belong in the same sentance unless of course you are referring to his best move, the reach in foul. Stephen Jackson is bar far the best defensive player the Warriors have. Nelson puts him on the other teams best player night in and night out. Trading for Bosh would work for me though.
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Cards Rule NL Level: All-Star Since: Jun 15, 2009 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 7:49 pm
Score: 101
Warriors not shopping Montaborntowinn, I will say it one last time, put down your glass pipe, Baron Davis is NOT coming back to the Warriors, period. With that being said, let's move forward.
Drafting Jordan Hill at the PF position, I don't think you are going to have to wait 2 - 3 years to have him develop. Besides, at 6'10", (at least what he is listed at) it keeps the Warriors from drafting another 6'6" player like DeMar DeRozan or Dejaun Blair. (repeat after me, Ike Diogu; and we all know what a bust he was!) Of course everything is a crap shoot, but from what I have read, the young man has a solid work ethic. That is what separates the prep stars from the NBA stars. Now that the PF position is enhanced, trade for a PG. Sure, a Baron Davis or better yet Deron Williams type PG would be nice, but let's get a reality check. They aren't going anywhere. You can win in this league with a decent PG (see Fisher and the Lakers) as long as the rest of the team is stellar. Monta, is a good player in the right scenario. Personally, I like Azubuike better. Ditto for Randolph over Wright. |
Raider666
Reputation: 85Level: All-Star Since: Mar 23, 2009 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 6:15 pm
Score: 136
Warriors not shopping MontaMonta is an exciting player, but not a great player - at least not yet. He's exciting enough on offense to put a lot of fans in the seats, but his short-comings are glaring. As a shooting guard, he's undersized and a very poor on-the-ball defender. As a point guard, he's a poor ballhandler and an even worse defender. He needs to work hard on ball handling - his dribble is way too high so when tries to penetrate the ball is either stolen or swatted away. With his speed, quickness, and jumping ability, he should be a much better defender and needs to concentrate hard on that aspect of the game. Anthony Randolph is an absolute keeper, even though he is young and raw. At worst, he will be a terrific 6th man able to energize a team on both offense and defense at either forward position. I think he could also provide minor minutes at shooting guard and center when the primary players at those positions are injured or in foul trouble. The Warriors have a lot of interesting pieces, but nobody is the complete package at his position. They all have an strong upside but also at least one significant weakness. Over the last several years of being a Warriors fan, I have decided that Nelson is overall not a very good coach. He can get marginal teams and players to overachieve, but can't seem to get good players and teams to even adequately achieve. My guess is that it's his constant tinkering with line-ups and inconsistent allocation of minutes to the players.
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kac824 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 19, 2007 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 5:56 pm
Score: 70
Warriors not shopping MontaThink the Warriors would change their minds if they could get Amare Stoudemire for Monta? I do...
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borntowinn
Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 18, 2009 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 4:00 pm
Score: 72
Warriors not shopping Montathe warriors are the best team in basketball at drafting 6'6 and under guards they have alot of them but they are vary impatient with big players. anthony randolph if he bulks up will be a nightmare for power forwards in this league as well as playing small forward.
the warriors have alot of different lineups they can play with teams. for example they can go big with randolph, wright beitrins, jackson, and monte. they can go small they throw all kinds of lineups with this team but nelson likes to play small ball way to much. and barons contract is for 5 years now 4 and its a whole lot cheaper than maggettes contract who is not a team player and a ball hog. Can you image baron running the floor with this team? do we want to draft another young pf and wait another 2-3 years for him to develop? stephen jackson is best suited at small forward he turns the ball over way to much to be a guard. if you notice the lakers have alot of the same players at curtain positions but phil jackson does a great job of rotating his players so they are fresh in the 4 th quarter. unlike nelson who rides his best players until they are ready to drop in the 4th quarter. you need 2 players at every position the warriors dont have a true superstar just yet but thet do have a lot of big guys who can run the floor. but its up to nelson to rotate them properly so they arent gased in the 4 th quarter. you get baron back the warriors answer alot of problems with this team. |
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Cards Rule NL Level: All-Star Since: Jun 15, 2009 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 3:36 pm
Score: 83
Warriors not shopping MontaDon't get me wrong, I am not in a hurry to trade someone off the Warriors, but let's face the facts. (many of which you are incorrect) We are too deep at some positions and severly lacking in others. I completely disagree with you on the PF position. We really don't have anyone! |
bballstar5
Reputation: 83Level: All-Star Since: Feb 16, 2009 |
Posted on: June 18, 2009 3:14 pm
Score: 130
Warriors not shopping MontaThere is no way Nelson is going to want Baron Davis back, and baron doesnt want to go back either. Moonta Ellis is one of the top athletes in the NBA and the warriors are smart to build around him. They have a good 1-2 punch with Crawford and Ellis, Then Stephen Jackson and Anthony Randolph are two good SF's. Beidrens is a rebounding machine. They just need someone who cna play good defense, like they had with Pietrus, someone to slow down the best players on a team. Maggete was a bust and should try to trade up in the draft using him and their own 1st rounder. Nelson is a good coach, his style may not win a championship but it could ge tthem into the playoffs. Bottom line all they need is a piece similar to the Dirk or Nash of his succesful Mavericks
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But dont expect that idiot Rowland to pull this off....... his ego will get into the way of whats best for the warriors and the bay area,
baron and monte who better to teach monte the point gaurd position than baron?
we are also forgetting that Ronny can play the PF position i think he was the bright spot in last years team ....i just love the way he plays the game. and he is such a great teammate and leader.
just remember the lakers were an average team with kobe before they pulled off the steal of the century in paul gasol and also the addition of ARIZA ......what in the hell was orlando thinking trading that kid?
the way to the playoffs will be through LA so why dont the warriors go after ODOM or ARIZA...... i think they are both free agents?
weaken your competition by taking a piece from them i dont believe they can keep them both with the salary cap?
this might sound crazy but the warriors arent that far off add a piece like a gasol like the lakers did and see what happens. the warriors were very competive last year with a bunch of D league players and rookies..... they hardly ever got blown out of a game. thats why i say be patient with this group..... they have alot of nice pieces they just have to grow together and learn to play together!
if nellie doesnt run his starters in the ground......perfect example.....monte ellis playing over 45 minutes in the last game when he got hurt doesnt make any sense does it? how many times did he play stephen jackson 48 minutes? alot and by the way i love stephen jackson but he has got to stop arguing with the referree's so much....for a young team wrong role model..... get a grip of yourself for the better of the team and you might start getting some calls going your way!!!!!!