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 Monta Ellis is as good as gone.
The writing is literally on the wall, just look at Bleacher Report's most commented pieces on the Golden State Warriors page. They’re all on Monta Ellis and him being traded. This was the first time in years that Golden State Warriors fans were happy after draft night, and if not happy, then at least it didn’t leave them saying “I’m done with this team.” The Warriors came away with sharp-shooting Klay Thompson from Washington State, who looks like he will be starting alongside Stephen Curry in the backcourt for years to come. I love Thompson’s game. He's a phenomenal shooter, and he knows how to play the game. Sure he isn’t a highflying athlete, but it’s not like he has his feet in cement either. His defense needs some work (where have Warrior fans heard that before), but he has the tools to be a very good shooting guard in this league. So, if the Warriors were serious about a Stephen Curry/Monta Ellis backcourt why would they have drafted Klay Thompson? Kawhi Leonard was sitting there when the Warriors were up. Wouldn’t he have made a lot more sense if keeping Ellis was the plan? With Chris Singleton sitting there too, the Warriors passed on two guys who would’ve brought the defensive mentality that new head coach Mark Jackson has been preaching since he was hired. Yet the Warriors draft a guy that plays the same position as their “franchise player.” What else could that signal except for the end of Monta Ellis” tenure as a Warrior? Jerry West was the one who “fell in love” with Thompson and that’s fine. But why else would he even be looking at shooting guards if he was happy with Ellis as his starting 2-guard? Teams don’t draft players in the lottery that play the same position as their best player unless they plan to move said player or they want to guarantee a trip back to the lottery next year. Teams that win 38 games shouldn’t be drafting guys who are going to be backups with a top pick. When Jerry West joined the Warriors staff he made his feelings clear about Monta Ellis playing with Stephen Curry stating, “I love to watch them play, they're so much fun to watch play. But at the end of the day, you want to win.” After hearing those comments that were said even before that draft, wouldn’t you have to believe that Ellis was on his way out? Why else would they bring West to the staff? To make up rumors? They brought him in to make the Warriors a winner, and with his track record, if he thinks they can’t win with Ellis then what other choice does Joe LaCob and company have but to listen to him? West has only been on the staff for a little over a month yet he has more credibility than anyone I can remember in the Warriors front office the past 10 years. (Maybe 20? 30 years?) Larry Riley, though, has since downplayed the Ellis rumors, as well he should. As soon as it is known that a player of Monta’s caliber is available and that they are trying to move him, they’re likely to get nothing but low-ball offers. However, as soon as he said that Monta Ellis wasn’t available, the rumor of an Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Ekpe Udoh trade for Dwight Howard was flying around. The Warriors, we are assuming offered that deal and would have no doubt taken Howard in return for those three players, aren’t making Ellis available? Stephen Curry is a big piece of the Warriors future and making him a point guard is hard enough. Why further complicate things by having Monta Ellis as his backcourt mate? Yes, they are exciting and fun to watch, but have the Warriors seen much evidence that they can win together? While Monta can score with or against pretty much anyone, he is a defensive liability. With Curry (another liability) as the guy they want to keep, it doesn’t make too much sense to have a defenseless player guard their opponents best backcourt player each night. His poor defense is not all Monta's fault. He came straight from high school, so he was never really taught how to defend. Did Don Nelson and then Keith Smart ever work with him on his one-on-one defending or get on Monta for missing defensive assignments? All he has had to worry about is putting the ball in the hoop, and he has done a fine job at that. He’s just not helping out stopping anyone else from scoring. I’m sure Mark Jackson would be able to make him a good defender, well at least a better one. But by the time Monta breaks all of his bad habits, he could be hitting free agency. So why wait for that? Plus, for a first-time coach, let alone a first-time NBA coach, isn’t Jackson going to have enough on his plate already? Ellis isn’t the first player the Warriors would want to trade, but they need a change. Ellis is the most, and really only, attractive piece outside of Curry, who they appear to have no intention of moving. My money is on the Andre Iguodala-Ellis trade happening as soon as both teams realize that the trade market is weak and that’s the best either team is going to do. If Mark Jackson really wants to improve on their defense, there aren’t too many defenders in the NBA better than Iguodala that are available. We do have to think about the impending NBA lockout though. If the lockout takes any part of the regular season away, then maybe the Warriors go into the shorten season with the roster they have now with a few minor additions. There is that angle, but Thompson’s arrival looks like the end of Ellis’ tenure as a Warrior, sooner than later. Thompson is going to be a solid player who should be able to replace Ellis. While he isn’t expected to be the same scorer as Ellis (who really could?), maybe his intangibles will make up for the loss in scoring. False or not, there is a reason Ellis’ name has come in every possible rumor, and at this point, would you blame Ellis for requesting a trade if he quietly hasn’t already? Watching the Warriors without Monta Ellis won’t be the same and he will be missed, but if it translates to Warriors' wins, is anyone going to still be mad that he is gone?
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