A couple of first round picks were swapped for one another yesterday. No Dwight Howard wasn’t shipped anywhere. It was our very own Monta Ellis. For years, his name had been circling the trade mill. And every year it was the same, he would end up staying here. In the middle of the second year of his six year extension, Ellis finally made it past the point of no return. Yesterday Ellis was swapped for Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks. Other guys included in the deal were Ekpe Udoh, Kwame Brown and Stephen Jackson. That’s right. You read it right. Captain Jack is sailing his ship back to the Bay Area.
Lot of folks were wondering what the heck is this trade for the Warriors? For starters, Bogut is already injured. His prognosis of playing this year is not looking very good. But in the end, the Warriors got a big guy they have coveted and if he returns to his all-star form and not get injured too much, this may help build a solid foundation. It is another big man that is already proven that he can play at an elite level. Jackson, who forced his way out here is just a throw in. The Bucks wanted to shed Jackson’s huge contract (almost $9.3 million with two years left) and get rid of him. He wanted out of Milwaukee too! And to top it all off, Jackson has an injured groin. So unless the miracle doctors in the Bay Area can get him going, looks like he’ll be sitting out for a majority of the games.
Tim Leglar, went on ESPN, and said both teams came out pretty good with this trade. The Bucks get a scorer to help Brandon Jennings and relieve pressure, while the Warriors get the big man they wanted for so long. Bogut gets a fresh start in the Bay Area, while Ellis goes to Milwaukee and does what he does best score.
However, as much as a mastermind Tim Leglar maybe, I am not so sure about this trade. One, I think the Warriors gave up too much to get a big man. I know that Bogut is a coveted guy but he is injury prone. We are essentially trading a broken piece for a piece that we know can go go go. Second, I think that if the Bucks wanted anyone (stupid for the Warriors to agree) to take on Jackson, then the Warriors should have told them to take Beidrins. It’s as if almost matching contract for contract. Instead, they throw in Ekpe Udoh, whom when I first heard the Warriors draft him said he was a trade bait (which is very true now, right?), who has been developing well and playing well and clearly is the favorite for Mark Jackson. Third, Stephen Jackson. The guy didn’t want to be here in the past. Sure management has changed, but maybe he still doesn’t want to be here. Every stop he’s made since, he’s asked for a contract extension then forced his way out. You want a guy like that in the locker room? You can’t tell me that Dwight Howard isn’t a distraction with all his antics of trade me to here, here, here and here to I’m stay and play it out. That is ultimate distraction. Now you bring in a guy with a bad attitude? I think Mark Jackson won’t take anything from Stephen Jackson (now I’ll have to be specific when I write “Jackson”) but it is only going to be a matter of time before S. Jackson cries wolf. Fourth, with Stephen Curry out for who knows how long, who is going to be the man and score? David Lee? Nate Robinson? The Warriors already rely on a rag team bunch of guys off the bench. Now M. Jackson will have to rely on bench players to do the heavy lifting. (Course the Warriors went on and won last night’s game easily with three guys having 17 a piece!)
BUT
In the numbers game, this trade garners more returns than losses. The Warriors finally covet the big man they were longing for. Bogut, when healthy, averages 12 points a game and nine boards a game. He is finally a big man who has a defensive precense but can also score. He is also big enough to handle some of the big man (sorry Ekpe). And with David Lee moved into his natural position at the power forward, this could be the “dynamic” duo for the front court. As long as Curry get’s healthy, the Warriors have position themselves pretty well at three spots. And the fact is, Ellis is not a franchise star (even though it pains me to write it). The Warriors have only gotten into the playoffs once since he was drafted (remember that sick dunk!?!?!?) And he is a flat out scorer who can’t do much of anything else. While we’ll miss his scoring, I will not miss is laziness of not getting back on Defense and not passing when he should be passing.
Finally, I’ve read an article on ESPN that stats that if the Warriors were to tank the rest of the season, the draft pick that the Jazz would have gotten from the Warriors (previous trades and stuff) would be voided if the Warriors were able to secure a pick higher than seven. This seems like an ideal time to tank because as well as the Warriors have played, there was no way they were gonna be able to make the playoffs in the West. And if they can fall further behind (though it hard to “catch” Charlotte now) they’ll almost guarantee another pick in the top seven. And I’ve heard this year draft class is DEEP.
In turn, let’s recap.
The Warriors traded, team leading scoring veteran Monta Ellis (though he has his shortcomings on defense), shot blocker, getting better, better than Beidrins Ekpe Udoh and another big man Kwame Brown (who is shelved at the moment) for Andrew Bogut (he did make the Bucks a lot better but is now injured) and Stephen Jackson (HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE HERE!!!!!! And he is injured). Oh wait, we also traded ok salaries (Ellis was at $11 million but Brown was coming off the books next year and Ekpe was at $3.2 with about 3 years left) for Bogut’s ($12 million/three years) and Jackson’s contract. Though the money matches out, the Bucks have positioned themselves with better cap room space, while the Warriors just added two more big contracts, when we already want to get rid of one!!!! (Might I remind you of Beidrins’ ridiculous $9/three more years!!!!!)
And the Warriors want to screw the Jazz out of a first round pick (so sneaky management!)
I’ve linked a great article by John Hollinger below. But you’ll have to be a insider to read it.
FOR
GOOD-BYE MONTA. IT’S BEEN A GREAT 7 YEARS!
WELCOME TO THE BAY! GET HEALTHY AND PRODUCE!