The MLE is split between Kurt Thomas and Gerald Green. Theo Ratliff can spell Dikembe Mutombo over 8 minute stretches. He would be an appropriate understudy. Elson would be the Rocket's version of Keon Clark. I mention these players as realistic acquisition targets considering we only have the MLE to spend on filling out our rotation. Gerald Green is, imo, still worth the risk if we were spending 2 mill or less per year on him. Quinton Ross is a solid perimeter defender a la Adrian Griffin for cheap. I wouldnt spend more than 2-3 mill for a role player who is going to be the 8th-9th man in our rotation.
My proposal PG- Monta Ellis (pretty effective at the 1) SG- B. ROY SF: Doesn't matter PF: Scola C- Yao This team would be awesome Normally i would love to keep tmac but Roy i think will be almost as good as him in the future and Monta is deff. the future
Great...if you agree on all points and understand that it's a sign and trade situation AND he wants a lot of money, then why do you list him as the backup PG in your potential lineup and have no mention of him anywhere as a SG? Do you want to trade Landry and pay 6+ million a year for a backup PG who's current coach gave up on him playing the point?
It's more than Ellis potentially >= Richardson. J-Rich's role on the team is duplicated by more than just Ellis: Jackson, Azubuike, Barnes, and eventually Belinelli all provide what J-Rich provided (not saying they're all his equal). The Warriors are stacked at the 2/3 (and in Nelson's system the 2/3/4) making J-Rich an above average but redundant player. And, look at J-Rich's effect on the Bobcats. Basically the same team returned substituting R-Rich for Morrison. And they didn't improve in the standings doing it. That's not worth 10+ million in my book.
If this team didnt have TMac then I would envision him as coming in at the SG position, but position really doesnt matter if you consider that TMac would be the primary ball-handler when he and Monta are on the floor at the same time in this tentative line up. Think Bobby Jackson, he wasnt the primary ball handler when he came on the floor for Mike Bibby, it was Doug Christie and team ball movement that allowed Bobby Jackson to play at the PG position while functioning more as a scoring guard.
JRich made a lot of money and had hit his ceiling. Monta Ellis was cheap and just as good (actually he's already better; it isn't about potential). I believe Ellis has a high ceiling and he creates a bigger matchup problem for the other team with his speed and incredible finishing ability. I don't know if you saw many Warriors games, but there was a stretch where Ellis was like a machine. He played at a level few players ever reach. Yes he isn't a PG and I agree he doesn't play good defense, but his strengths more than offset those. He's gone from a rookie scrub, to a 2nd year phenom to a 3rd year stud who is unstoppable AND efficient. That's the kind of growth you want to see. Sure, Nellie's system is tailor-made for Ellis. But he has the talent to excel playing for other coaches. Nellie's halfcourt sets aren't very good IMO and Ellis would do very well in a motion offense or a PnR offense. But the stagnant "inside/out" offense favored by JVG and some other coaches wouldn't work for him.
Golden State would be stupid to let Ellis go; he is one of the brightest, most promising young players in the game. I don't see him going anywhere. However, if they are stupid, he would be a MAJOR addition to the Rockets. He can score.
the gsw play with us 4 times a year. plus a few others, i may have watched him ~ 10-12 games a year. (a little more last year 'cause of the playoffs.) i like him. but is he already clearly better than j-rich? i don't know. just asking. if so, how are the gsw gonna pay him, b-diddy, and others altogether? there are a few players on gsw whom i think can help us quite a bit. any chance we can snatch a player or 2 from them?
People are talking about Monta Ellis like he's Shandon Anderson at Utah. Ellis might be like a shorter Latrell Sprewell, with no defense (like ZERO defense). Sprewell got big numbers in GS running up and down the court but showed he was good scorer on other teams. We wont know that about Monta for a while cuz he's not going from GS anytime soon.
Warriors aren't going to part with Monta Ellis plus I don't want any GSW players in our team anyways......
What about T-Mac and #25 for Harrington and Ellis? Makes us a more well-rounded team. Battier will defend the better swingman. Harrington will backup the 3/4 while Scola will become more of a 4/5 (so that Deke's not the only backup to Yao). I would do it. Yao/Deke/Scola Scola/Landry/Harrington Battier/Harrington Ellis/Head/Francis Alston/Bobby Jax/Brooks We STILL have the MLE and Bobby Jaxx's contract to play with after this trade. Only two things to do: backup swingman and shore up the PG. To be quite frank with you, I'm not too bothered about the PG spot either.
IMO, last season Ellis (at the least) caught up with JRich and he can still improve since he's only 22 years-old. The Warriors are committed to bringing back Ellis and Biedrins no matter what, even if that means swallowing BD's huge contract for one more year. Sometimes I think they want him to opt out. Ellis, Biedrins, Stephen Jackson, Brandan Wright (and I suppose the scrub) Belinelli are the untouchable players from GS. Anyone else might be available. Besides maybe BD, who else would you want? I don't think very much of their remaining players.
Say what u want about Harrington, but he is a matchup problem because of his size,atheletic ability, and production. He's has always been a pretty good defender for a guy 6'9 254lbs playing the3. He went from not being able to shoot the 3, to being a pretty good shooter from that distance. He gives the coach lineup flexiblity. Many ppl don't want to say it, but the rox have a lot of teams they're going to have to matchup with. West killed Scola and Landry with his ability to put the ball on the floor. Lamar Odom is a problem for anyone with his ball handling and size. U get Harrington, now u have a guy that can matchup with those guys. When Odom is at the 3, Harrington is big,quick,and strong enough to handle him in the post or perimeter. When West goes high post and faces up, Harrington can also play him. On offense, there are times when he play against the smaller guys like Manu,Brewer,Howard where he can get them on his back in the post. Against Utah, Boozer has to check him out at the 3pt line . He is productive, he's played in a slow up system with Carisle. He's played up-tempo with nelson. He's put up good numbers in indy being a cog, he's put up good numbers on a sorry hawks team. He's 28 and has 2 yrs left. If they're scared off Artest and some of the things he do, Harrington is a healthy alternative.
Pipe dream. Monta Ellis is no worse than their 2nd best player. Small or not, he can light it up like few can - and with efficiency.
No offense OP, but, as probably everyone has already stated, you may have possibly proposed the second worst trade ever (while being serious). The first one still is the one where we get Joe Johnson and Josh Smith for Luther Head or something along those lines.