Warrior Games: Future For Monta Ellis Could Be Up In The Air

Trading your best player never, at least on the surface, appears to be a solution. Trading your leading scorer, an offensive jackrabbit that can get you buckets all over the court, is going to make you better? Seems backwards. But sometimes, change is good, for both parties. Ever since they brought in Stephen Curry, there were questions around the Warriors’ organization: can you win with both Curry and Monta Ellis in the same backcourt?

Looking forward, Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News predicted that not only will there be a market for Ellis, but that it might be in the Warriors’ best interest to trade their leading scorer.

I’ve never doubted that Curry is the more valuable player, it’s just that with Ellis playing at such a high level (but not as valuable in a trade), I suggested a few months ago that maybe the Warriors should maximize Curry’s value in a trade presuming Ellis would not net them much.

But that was before Jerry West‘s arrival, before they started looking for a defensive-minded coach, and generally before Joe Lacob‘s larger vision seemed to clarify for us.

Curry fits it better because he’s more versatile and because he’s younger–which amplifies why Keith Smart had to go; his tilt towards Ellis, and away from Curry, was not the path to the future.

And I don’t think Ellis quite fits that larger Lacob/West picture. Plus, the arrival of West (and Bob Myers) makes it more likely that the Warriors will be able to find a decent deal for Ellis.

Now that West is here, you can be sure of one thing: Golden State won’t be scared to make moves, and won’t be afraid to mix things up. Can they win with a spiced-up mini backcourt of Ellis and Curry? Probably not.

West hinted at changes recently, saying scoring doesn’t always produce wins. It doesn’t always win. Actually, it hardly ever wins. After earning big-minutes in his second season in G.S., Ellis has averaged 21.2 points, but the team has burrowed into the lottery for four straight years.

Ellis did start for one playoff team: the surprising 2007 Warriors who beat Dallas in the first round. But it “worked” (they still weren’t a contending team and Ellis was more of a role player) because he was surrounded by Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Matt Barnes, Jason Richardson and Mickael Pietrus. All of them had size, versatility and athleticism.

On a championship-contending team, Ellis would not be averaging 25 a night. He’d probably be an electrified version of Jason Terry: someone who doesn’t always start, but normally finishes and has the balls and the game to drop buckets and take big shots.

Moves like this have happened before. Kawakami recalled how West once traded another ball-dominating point guard in Nick Van Exel and a solid two-guard in Eddie Jones to let Kobe Bryant grow. Too much talent is sometimes a bad thing. You need to shape it. You need parts that fit.

Kawakami continued:

The point of a potential Ellis trade: Handing the keys of the Warriors offense to Stephen Curry, and, if possible, adding larger players who can play defense around him.

“I love to watch them play,” West said of the Ellis-Curry combo. “They’re so much fun to watch play. But at the end of the day, you want to win.

“Monta Ellis, a fierce competitor. He competes his fanny off every night. Love to watch him play.

“But to me, size helps. Size helps.”

Curry is the more versatile player, and he is younger. I think Ellis is a special offensive player who has done some wondrous things here in six seasons, but if you’re building a backcourt, you would start it with Curry over Ellis.

Some names – like O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and Luol Deng – have been mentioned. And although I doubt any of those guys end up in G.S., it hints at Ellis’ trade value. He’ll bring at least a player or two that will help and probably fit in better defensively.

Think of it like this: Ellis is superfluous. The Warriors have so much scoring that they can afford to give some of it away to plug their other holes. They could use another shooter, they could definitely use another wing defender and they need anyone that can post up and hit a jump hook.

The Warriors have talent, but it comes with faults. Curry is versatile, but isn’t a physical force. David Lee works hard, but has trouble scoring on his own. Dorell Wright is long and talented, but can’t make plays off the dribble. And Ellis is exciting and explosive, but can dominate the ball. Now, that West is on board, there are too many chips to play with. Being mediocre isn’t enough for him. He’ll likely do something. And as Kawakami pointed out, that would probably start with Ellis.

What do the Warriors need more of: Ellis or defense/size?

Follow Sean on Twitter at @SEANesweeney.

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