Mama There Goes Monta?

You wonder why Monta is on the trade block…well so does his coach after his recent proclamation.

It’s crystal clear that Monta Ellis’ name has been mentioned in trade rumors.  Lately, an abundance of proposed deals concerning Ellis have been talked about around the Association.

Whether it’s been to Chicago (where he’s pushing to get traded) for Luol Deng, to Memphis for Rudy Gay, to Denver for Nene; or even somehow, someway, to the Los Angeles Lakers.  Everyone is familiar with the Iggy for Ellis banter, it’s been so loudly discussed around analyst circles.  Yet, there’s something that comes out even louder dealing with the Warriors’ high-flying super scorer.

It comes from the corner of Golden State’s new head coach, Mark Jackson:

“I think he’s the third best shooting guard in the league. You have Kobe, obviously, and Dwyane Wade. I will match [Ellis] up against anybody else on a given night and feel extremely comfortable about it.”

Now, coach Jackson replaces Phil as the NBA coach with the last name of Jackson in the state of California, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to replace his top bucket-getting anytime soon; especially, with the way he’s hyping him up.  Is Jackson, a guy who is creative with his wordplay, sending the front office a message?  A message behind his words?

“But at the end of the day, a coach will look brilliant if he has a guy who can go make a play,” Jackson said. “He’s a flat-out scorer. He’s a much-improved, underrated passer and facilitator. He’s a guy I embrace on this team . . . He’s an outstanding player who I look forward to coaching.”

With all this talk surrounding Ellis, I hope the Warriors front office keeps their best basket-maker.  To break up one of the most electrifying backcourts in NBA history would be a bit premature.  Give Jackson the chance to operate his new vehicle, with all his new parts.  Why take away the third-best shooting guard, and risk replacing the keys (their backcourt) that drive the Warriors team?  Can you find new ones, better ones?  No, and if you do, you change the type of car (complexity of the team) you want to drive in order to get to the Playoffs.

I know Steph Curry is ready to takeover, he is the franchise player, but are you going to get enough back in return for Lanier High’s finest?  I’ve heard the team wants Lou Williams to be included with Iggy in the Sixers deal.  Biedrins, would probably be added to make the trade work financially.  Either way, now that Ellis is “on the block”, it seems like everyone in the league knows it and is trying to take advantage of it.  Half the league is participating in the trade talk headlining Monta.  So why are the Warriors even talking about the chance of letting him go?  Everyone knows he’s on the block, but even more know that the statement made by Jackson is true – as shown by the tremendous interest in his services.

“We’re not going to accept mediocrity. You might as well hitch onto the bandwagon because things gone be a changing.”

Well, if Jackson is not going to accept mediocrity, then “The Logo” better hold on to his third best shooting guard in the NBA; unless he’s given an offer he can’t refuse.  Then, if that’s the case, the end of the quote above made by the new coach for the Warriors might prove to be prophetic, on accident.  Change for good, change worth jumping on the bandwagon for?  Probably not, if Monta Ellis is missing from the Golden State Warriors roster.