There's reason to believe Monta Ellis might try to force his way out of Golden State. The dazzling 22-year-old guard is a restricted free agent, but I've been hearing whispers that he's putting more emphasis on pushing another team to make a play for him -- the Knicks would have to sign-and-trade -- than he is on inking a long-term deal to stay with the Warriors and take on a bigger responsibility in the wake of Baron Davis' absence.
Our Fixer buddy Ho-Beck of the NY Times on Wednesday made mention of Ellis, whom we have discussed here on the blog many times.
Did a little poking around on this one and despite interest from Ellis in playing for Mike D'Antoni and in New York, at this point I'd call it a longshot, at best. You're talking at least a five or six year deal averaging about $10 million per to start. And, of course, the Warriors would have to want something off the Knicks roster that matches. You would think they would want a point guard because with Davis and Ellis gone, they're empty in the backcourt. No match here with the Knicks, unless you can convince them that Nate Robinson can be an effective player under Don Nelson (not).
The people I talk to tell me that despite the long-term committment it would take (which doesn't help the 2010 plan), the Knicks would love to add a player like this, who would fit into D'Antoni's system well.
Though I feel Ellis and Jamal Crawford wouldn't work as a backcourt because both need the ball to be effective, I was debated on this by a couple of NBA coaches I spoke with who said Ellis-Crawford would be a "formidable" backcourt that would be difficult to guard. Crawford could actually play more of a point guard role in this scenario and have Ellis work as the scoring guard, who can get to the basket and has a great mid-range game.
It's all moot, however, because I'm told Chris Mullin isn't taking calls about Ellis. But this situation isn't over yet.
Stay tuned . . .
P.S. - Don't have official word yet on the Knicks summer league team. We know Gallinari will be there. Word is Nate wants to play again but does it really make sense? Mardy Collins needs the burn. Wilson Chandler will be on the team as well. Renaldo Balkman had better be there. Phil Weber is the coach. He's the Long Island dude who came over with D'Antoni from the Phoenix Suns' staff.
Comments (19)
Alan,the deal should be Crawford + Curry for Harrington,Perovic, Wright & Belinelli. Works $$$ wise. Craw's # match Davis',except A/TO ratio but Ellis will play PG.Eddy is better than any GS reserves.GS giving up youth but Nelson at end of run may want to win now.Craw's contract small enough to save GS $$$ in the longer run.Knick's get exactly what they want.
George from Scottsdale,
I really never get involved in these complicated trade scenarios, but I love this one!!
It's well documented in the blogosphere how much I love Craw, but I'd be ok with him leaving to obtain Mr. Ellis.
I wouldn't lose a night's sleep over losing Curry.
Bronxboy, sorry but Ellis is NOT coming to NY, he stays in GS,Harrington et al come to NY,by the way other than Perovic who's 2 all are 1 year deals!!
I hear the Warriors are interested in crawford
would you swap crawford for eillis?
ellis and crawford in the same backcourt would be
hard to defend
but we might give up more points than we score
i like ellis's game though...he would flourish under d'antoni
@George
i think the warriors would rather have Z-Bo over Curry
Coach Nelson has no need for pure centers in his uptempo style of
offense.esp a slow center like curry
Zbo doesn't fit the cap criteria,and while Eddy doesn't fit GS or maybe anybody for that matter,he's better than anyone else on GS' bench.
not quite sure what everyone's problem is with nate robinson. he shows up for summer league as a third year player and wins MVP. then, he asks if he can do it AGAIN as a fourth year player. he can shoot. he's a fantastic athlete. can be a wicked on the ball defender.
the problem is, he entered the league very raw and joined one of the most dysfunctional organizations in NBA history. he 's never been coached.
he had a stretch in january after marbury was out of the picture where he was getting consistent minutes, given a consistent role, and he put up pretty good numbers: 30 MPG, 15.7 PPG, 5.1 APG, 1.4 TO, 46% FG, 40% 3PT. Then he got injured, the team went further into freefall, and the offense turned into nate and jamal trying to lead 4th quarter comebacks by playing crazyball.
he has plenty of tools. man, if the guys wants to play summer league, if he wants to learn, if he wants to improve, then let him play! quit talking about roger mason, jr. and give nate 24 mins at the point, and let's see what he can do. really, roger mason is going to give you more than nate? if he's willing to play summer league as a fourth year player -- after winning the MVP the year before -- don't you think he'd listen to what Coach D'Antoni's telling him? if Coach D says "Move the ball," then nate's looking like a guy who'll move the ball.
I misunderstood George, but I still like the deal due to the length of the contracts.
Like NYC 2 Infiniti mentioned, what about Craw for Ellis straight up? Is that plausible?
I would hate to do it but yes id swap Monta for Jamal only because he is younger and that would mean he has more upside...
But NO George that trade you proposed makes no sense for either team... Neither team gets better Knicks lose another guard and are left with Steph they may buyout and Nate, not good at all... The Knicks have no center, and 12pf/sf..GS has Curry who I doubt Nelson would want... I just dont see the logic... The Knicks do want to be competitive b4 2010... This trade makes it impossible...
Ellis and Crawford would be a great backcourt not only that once you get Jamals stock up, you can trade him for value...
kid, are you really Isiah Thomas in drag?? The Knicks are trading one piece of dead meat-Curry and reducing their salary cap for next year by $16mil. Eddy is on the books for 4 years,Crawford for 3!!EXACTLY what Walsh is trying to do.Only Perovic has more than 1 year,he has 2!! If Harrington et al,come off next year, more $$$ for FA's.D'Antoni didn't have a center here in PHX, until Shaq, and Mike didn't want him.GS might balk because they're giving up too much youth,but they must replace Davis, so Eddy is the price.
See Im gonna be mature about this and stick to the issue and not stoop to calling you names George, but is this how you normally act when people dont share your view... Since you got all soft and emotional on me because I dont agree with your corny little trade proposal, i am going to break it down... 1st off the Curry has 3yrs left on his contract not 4, if you did some reserch you would know that... But you didnt so you dont... 2 of the yrs are opt out years, so it would be in the Knicks best interest to up his stock so he opts out... Which he may do... Nelson didnt like Ewings game when he coached here why would he really want Curry, he doesnt like to play back to the basket centers... Also in your trade we gain 2pf/sf when we already are trying to diminish the glut there... How does that make sense? In your scenario the team that needs players (GS) is stripped of 4 when they only have 8 under contract, and the team that is looking for a guard trades their best one away, and adds 4 players... The Knicks then have 16players under contract and still havent added a point guard... Does this this still make sense to you... ITS STUPID... Point blank... Neither team would wanna do your complicated trade, try again... This trade adds contract to GS and doesnt put them in position to win in the West, if they are not going to be a playoff team wouldnt they rather stay under the cap and get a high lottery pick... But you suggest that with this trade GS could win now ha, how is that... This also doesnt reduce the Knicks cap by 16 mil next year, maybe 11mil in 2years but not the amount that you stated...
Crawford makes $8,640,000;Curry-$9,723,983 for a total of $18,363,983!! not the 16,I mentioned and Craw is 3,Eddy-2, so what?? I'm trading them for 1's!!add Marbury's $20,840,625 and the Knicks are "UNDER" the salary cap NEXT YEAR and Walsh is GM/VP of Bsktbl Ops. of the century!!! Crawford isn't your PG anyway his A/TO ratio is 2/1;5.00/2.40 to be exact!!and Curry is the price Nelson/Mullins are paying for getting their replacement for Davis,who just left and took 22 PPG;21.8 to be exact,which Craw's 20.6,to be exact will replace.PS Curry has tradtionally played better with Craw on the floor. GS will have,after signing their draftees 16 players under contract or 14 after the trade,but again, so what?? The Knicks now have 16 and will not resign Jones nor Morris,nor Marbury,but so what?? They can use Collins & N8 and despite the woeful FA market sign a PG there;their other real need is an interior defender.Bottom line the K's are UNDER the cap in '09 and GS replaces Davis!! Win-Win!!
I don't know about what ya'll are talking about but if we have to break the 2010 plan to get Ellis, I say the hell with it. There is no guarantee that Lebron and them want to come to NY. You can scratch Paul off the list of FA's available in 2010. Pretty soon, Bosh will resign....soon after Wade and then the real blow will be when James resigns with the Cavs or signs with the Nets.
If we have a chance to get Ellis (In my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice)
DO IT NOW!!!!
If we have a chance to get Carmelo......(In my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice)
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, GO NOW...GET TO THE CHOPPER!!!!!
What happened to the Knick fans that wanted to go to war with what we had? You never heard us trying to put a trade together for Jordan or Magic or any of that.
Let's snatch up who we can and make it happen.
Would I trade Jamal for Ellis? I would even blink....bye Jamal!!!!
Ellis game is so much better than Jamals it's not even funny.
I don't know about what ya'll are talking about but if we have to break the 2010 plan to get Ellis, I say the hell with it. There is no guarantee that Lebron and them want to come to NY. You can scratch Paul off the list of FA's available in 2010. Pretty soon, Bosh will resign....soon after Wade and then the real blow will be when James resigns with the Cavs or signs with the Nets.
If we have a chance to get Ellis (In my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice)
DO IT NOW!!!!
If we have a chance to get Carmelo......(In my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice)
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, GO NOW...GET TO THE CHOPPER!!!!!
What happened to the Knick fans that wanted to go to war with what we had? You never heard us trying to put a trade together for Jordan or Magic or any of that.
Let's snatch up who we can and make it happen.
Would I trade Jamal for Ellis? I would even blink....bye Jamal!!!!
Ellis game is so much better than Jamals it's not even funny.
alan, you can't seriously believe that arroya is not a significant upgrade over mardy "how did i get here" collins. in my opinion, collins is perhaps the least talented guard i have seen wear an nba uniform in the past decade. arroyo's got game, collins has none. zero. nada. and never will.
George, on your trade.
I can assure you that the Warriors have no interest at all in taking a bad contract unless we're getting rid of one at the same time. We're not the Knicks. We don't have money to waste.
It's a non-starter.
not only is this trade stupid financially, the talent is so uneven its ludicrous. b wright? lotto pick that has shown potential. bellinelli? if we are talking about summer leagues than clearly hes got some value. harrington is also quality. not to mention monta. for what? eddy curry who sucks and jamal crawford who is decent. ridiculous.
@ Flybango, Man your Blog is 100% correct I also believe N8 can be a dominating PG in the NBA-on both ends of the court!!! @ George from Scottsdale, The Knicks have been in an dysfunctional state for at least 3 years and I'm afraid without knowing it you have allowed yourself to become trapped in it. Realize your folly and allow reason to enter into your head. You are waisting your time and ours! You, your call, and Your stat will become a joke If you continue to talk without thinking or without facts! This is the Knicks Fix Blog at the home of Newsday not the Post!!!
JSL,last word on the subject.You're 100% right this could be a difficult trade for your Warriors,however,Mullins needs to replace Davis' 20+ pts. and there are no 20pt. scores available.Redd & Carter might be, but would cost you considerably more than Crawford.Potentially worst,Ellis may be looking for an out and bringing in Crawford might pacify that situation. Curry is not the worst fit for GS, his offense is actually solid. His contract is 2 years and not a killer. The biggest challenge Mullins has is giving up youth for the 20 pts.Crawford brings. Nelson is suggesting this could be his last run & would like to win now,something the young guys probably can't do soon.If it were easy everyone would do it. Good Luck.
Breaking News. Chris Duhon is a Knick signing for the full Mid-Level exception
.http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=431071
Read for yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!