True, but Dallas needs to start thinking about replacing Jason Kidd. Monta Ellis should be a good fit at Dallas.
Well, Monta isn't really a PG. He had his best years playing the two alongside an elite playmaker in Baron Davis, so the thought of pairing him together with an even better floor general in Kidd has to be quite intriguing. The catch is what do you give up to get him? The Mavs already have Jason Terry playing essentially that same exact role. Is it worth it then? Considering the likely bad contracts that you would have to take on plus any other combination of sacrificed players or draft picks.
yeah terry plays exactly the same role which is an offensive scorer on the off-guard position playing off Jason Kidd...but Monta Ellis is a HUGE upgrade over Jet whos on the wrong side of 30 and is declining in athletiscm and is only going to go downhill from here onwards. When it comes to Cuban...there are NO bad contracts...if they signed DeSagana Diop to a 35 mil longterm deal I don't see how hes not willing to fork out some more cash to bring in SJack and Monta Ellis...if he actually did that Dallas would be perennial contenders for the next 10 years...and SJack is worth more than what he's paid CURRENTLY. His offensive game doesn't rely on elite athletism that much, so even though he'll be paid 10 million well into his 30's hes worth it. Cuban is willing to pay any amount of cash to make his team better..and he won't go past Ellis if he gets the opportunity thats for sure
Agreed and good post. Although, in the short term I don't necessarily agree that Monta is a significant upgrade over Terry. Like you said, they play essentially the same role (Kidd/Terry vs. BD/Monta) and consequently thrived playing off the ball more. Definitely different players, though. One player is predominately all speed, athleticism and raw skill. While the other is a sharp-shooting veteran with refined skills and intangibles/leadership. Which makes them better off right now? You could make a case either way but I guess it all depends upon the actual deal being discussed. Even though I just spent the last couple days bashing Stephen Jackson, I can definitely see mutual interest on the idea of him playing in Dallas. Cuban is well-known for his "Swing for the fences, fail, then try again" philosophy, and as you pointed out, he will spare no expense. I can definitely see him trying to swing some sort of Ellis/Jackson type deal. Josh Howard has a team option next year so he could essentially be viewed as an expiring contract -- couple that with Buckner's expiring deal then Dallas is in the neighborhood to technically swing that type of deal. Throw in JJ Barea then you probably have enough to at least grab GS's attention since, clearly, their motive in this type of deal would be to slash salary. Probably not enough to get it done but it's a starting point.
Yes we saw a perfect example of that when Cuban resigned Steve Nash! oh wait.... Not saying I disagree with you.
If he's totally recovered from the injury, Monta Ellis is a huge upgrade over Jet right now. Jason Terry is still fairly good but is in decline. Monta Ellis is one of the most unstoppable scorers in the NBA. He can carry teams on his back for stretches because he's unguardable at times, like a machine. With Carlisle as coach, the Mavs don't need leadership so much and Ellis would fit like a glove next to Kidd and Dirk. It's a truly scary thought. Kidd would elevate Monta's game more than Baron Davis did. Monta could clear his head focus on what he does best and leave the motivation and leadership stuff to the Dirk, Kidd and the coach. Of course it depends on the actual parameters of a deal. But if it happens, I expect the Mavs to come out way ahead in talent since the Warriors want to dump salary. I feel like going on another rant against Nellie. How stupid is it for their owner to let an over-the-hill coach with only 1 or 2 years left completely ruin his team? Isn't it obvious how this is going to end? Nellie is going to leave the Warriors in itty bitty pieces when he gets on that plane for Hawaii next summer (or a year later).
I still don't like the usage of the term "huge upgrade" in this context, but we are in total agreement about everything else. Even at Kidd's age he's still twice the floor general that B-Diddy was in his occasional "I think i'll care tonight" mode. Kidd is a great defender so the idea of playing both Kidd/Ellis in the backcourt wouldn't make anybody a defensive liability due to their ability to cross-match. Offensively, that duo speaks for themselves. In theory, I like the idea. Ellis is one of the league's bright young shining stars. The flip side is he's also kind of a selfish, undisciplined bonehead. No sane coach would be able to tolerate a five-man-unit that pairs Ellis/Howard together so Howard would have to be involved. I'm also curious what these potential Monta-to-Dallas scenarios mean for arguably the best sixth man in the league, Jason Terry. In the short term, Ellis may be better but I don't think it's to the degree that some of you are stressing.
I think having Jason Kidd at point mitigates that risk enough to make the offensive potential overwhelmingly compelling.
If Dallas can somehow move only Dampier, Buckner, and probably Barea (assuming Nellie likes the guy as his PG, I would think so since he is insane) for Jackson and Ellis and then flip a package built around Jackson, Marion, or Howard for Illgauskas, Kaman, Camby, Boozer, Brand, or Bogut... Ill give em an outside shot. I have a feeling Cleveland would be dying to attain one of those swingmen for Illgauskas. Especially Howard who expires. for example... Boozer Nowitzki Marion Ellis Kidd Terry Jackson Thats scary.
Perhaps but what if it's an Ellis/Jackson package that GS is trying to move? Jackson + Ellis + Howard would be too much to handle. I guess at that point you pretty much have to involve Howard from a salary matching standpoint. Still, any combination of two of those guys together is a tough pill to swallow. I guess that's when having a great floor general like Kidd running the show factors in, like you said.
golden state is NOT trading monta ellis...there could be talks...but bottom line is golden state is not trading monta ellis...and i expect stephen jackson to play this season with golden state warriors too.
Possible, but hard to believe. The amount of guards would not be a problem in a "normal" situation for the Warriors, but with the improving depth of their front line, I think it is. At the 4+5 they have... Anthony Randolph Brandon Wright Mikki Moore Andris Biedrins Ronny Turiaf Minutes from these spots, that Nellie used last year, will not be their this year... That leaves this group for 3 spots...Probably 5 players in a normal rotation... Kelenna Azubuike Anthony Morrow Stephen Curry Stephen Jackson Corey Maggette CJ Watson Devean George Acie Law Speedy Claxton Monta Ellis The Warriors brass is adamant that Monta can play PG. So here is the depth chart. Starters. 1. Monta Ellis 2. Stephen Jackson 3. Kelenna Azubuike Secondary. 1. CJ Watson 2. Stephen Curry 3. Corey Maggette Third group. 1. Acie Law/Speedy Claxton 2. Anthony Morrow 3. Devean George -------------------------------------------- I think atleast one thing has to give from that first or second line-up...
I am still depressed that we cut Kelenna for whoever we cut him for. He would be a great fit on this team imo...
That's where Roddy 'Bubwah' comes in. We'll see how he pans out as the season goes. If I were a Mavs fan, I'd be all for bringing Captain Jack up to Dallas, I'd make any deal not involving the big three for him.
I think a Monta Ellis & Stephen Jackson to Houston for Tracy McGrady is a great situation for both teams! Houston gets a combo guard in Ellis who can either play starting Point Guard or share the backcourt with Aaron Brooks when Adelman wants to turn on the afterburners and smoke his competition with insane speed and talent which he seems to get some sort of sexual pleasure from watching because he plays small ball alot, and amazingly. . . . its bad ass!! An Aaron Brooks / Monta Ellis backcourt would be so fast that I don't even know if it would be logical to do it! (Of course Adelman wouldn't want to take either off the court. . . . and he wouldn't be able to sit down.) Give those guys 2 months to work together as a tandem in practice and God knows what they would come up with. Think Francis/Mobley with more smarts and finesse! Slap Trevor Ariza in there for length, slashing punch and 3-point scoring and you have high octane power ball. Scola plays scrappy clean-up crew in the paint and feeds off of wide open shots and layups due to all the constant slashing and double teams required on the 1-3 crew. The 5 guy will be Yao when he gets back and though this crew is too quick for him, setting up half court offense on Yao with 2 slashing guards allows Yao to step back from the basket and face up his man from midrange as he catches outlet passes. They can't stop that without fouling him. In fact, most can't stop him without fouling him. By adding Stephen Jackson as your 6th man for aggression, scoring, defense and efficiency and pair him with Kyle Lowry and you have two hard-nosed mofo's in the backcourt off your bench. I would toss Shane Battier along with that crew for stability and maintenance of focus. Though Scola fits well with any crew, Landry or Mensah-Bonsu can clean the glass and provide athleticism along the frontline. Starters:______________Bench:________________3rd String: Aaron Brooks__________ Kyle Lowry Monta Ellis____________ Stephen Jackson________Jermaine Taylor Trevor Ariza___________ Shane Battier__________ Chase Budinger Luis Scola_____________Carl Landry_____________Pops Mensah- Bonsu / Chuck Hayes Yao Ming______________David Anderson_________Joey Dorsey