-Andrew Bogut just got a lot more valuable. The Warriors had their hands full with Andrew Bynum over the past few seasons, but after acquiring Howard, the Lakers just got even nastier in the middle. Can you imagine Andris Biedrins, rookie Festus Ezeli or (God forbid) David Lee trying to match up with D12 four times a year? I know I’d prefer not to. At least with Bogut, the Warriors have a fighting chance to match up with the Lakers at one position. Of course, now the Warriors won’t be able to say they have the best defensive center in the Western Conference.

-The playoff picture remains unchanged. Even before getting Howard, the Lakers were a playoff lock. With Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, LA was already a threat to Oklahoma City for the top spot in the west. Now, the Lakers are more of a threat to the top teams in the conference, but because they were already a playoff team, Howard’s arrival doesn’t necessarily knock the Warriors—or other 4-8 seed hopefuls out of the postseason.

-The Warriors’ need for the state-of-the-art arena in San Francisco just intensified. There are essentially two ways to build a winner in today’s NBA. Oklahoma City is an example of the hard way. They stockpiled high draft picks and nailed them for three straight years. Building from within is the only way to succeed in a small market, and it’s much harder than the big-market alternative. The second way to win, obviously, is to attract bigtime free-agents (or, acquire malcontents like Howard who choose a destination and force themselves out of their current team). The Warriors need their new SF arena to become players in the free-agent market on a large scale. They don’t have the picks or the patience to do it in the style of Oklahoma City. So they’ll need to amp up the glamor and appeal of a fantastic arena in a hip city to attract the big fish down the road.

Another rumor that is worth mentioning is there is chatter that the Boston Celtics are looking to trade Rajon Rondo for Stephen Curry. While there are no deals in place but only rumors, it is on that is interesting. Rondo would excel with a team like the Warriors in the sense that he has players who are willingly to move up and down the court. That is his greatest strength. But his gambling ways on defense may turn off Warrior personnel and he does not shoot consistently outside. He also does not shoot free throws and it would be difficult for the Warriors to give up a sharp shooter like Curry for someone who can only finish around the rim. Plus there is word that he clashes with Doc Rivers and while Mark Jackson would not tolerate his behavior, it would only be a matter of time before the two would get into an argument. I veto this trade.

The fact is, the Warriors are in need a big man and it will take a good amount of talent to get a decent big man back. Ellis and Curry are the only two assets that the Warriors have to trade up. It may take a third team to get involved but sooner or later one of those two will no longer call the Bay Area home. And at this point, because Curry has had so many injuries, it would seem that Ellis maybe the one of the two that is departing as he will fetch a high quality player the Warriors are looking for.

 Whose Gonna Go, Whose Gonna Stay?

December 12, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; A NBA team photographer (left) photographs Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (center) and shooting guard Monta Ellis (right) during media day at the Golden State Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

*Sources: Chris Broussard on ESPN.com