OAKLAND, Calif. -- According to separate league sources, the Warriors rejected a proposed deal with Memphis that would have sent Monta Ellis to the Grizzlies for O.J. Mayo and 7-foot-3 rookie center Hasheem Thabeet. Another player, Hamed Haddadi, may or may not have been included in the deal. The Warriors allowed Thursday’s trading deadline to pass without making a move. General manager Larry Riley said there wasn’t anything out there he “was comfortable enough with.” Ellis, who is the fifth-leading scorer in the NBA at 26.2 points per game, didn’t sound too concerned either way when asked about the team deciding to hang onto him. He will return to the lineup Friday night against the Utah Jazz after missing three games because of a sprained left knee. “I don’t care about that,” Ellis said after Friday’s shootaround. “I play basketball. Whatever decision they make upstairs is on them. I never looked at it. I heard about it, but I never worried about it.” When pressed as to whether he felt good about the team standing behind him and not trading him, Ellis responded: “Who knows?" he said. "You could be moved today or tomorrow. I know the deadline is over with, and it was cool they rejected it, but like I said I wasn’t thinking about it or worrying about it.” Mayo, a shooting guard capable of playing some point, is averaging 17.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. The former USC star has not missed a game since coming into the league as a rookie last year -- 135 games. Thabeet, who was the No. 2 pick in the June draft out of UConn, is widely considered a project but does have some intriguing numbers. Although he is averaging only 2.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 10 minutes per game, he leads the league in blocks per minute at 5.3 per 48 minutes. http://www.csnbayarea.com/02/19/10/...mphis/landing.html?blockID=183483&feedID=2539 I really think the Warriors should have done this. Does Ellis really contribute to an actually winning team? Mayo and Thabeet on the other hand offer some great young talent. Imagine if Thabeet lives up to half of his defensive hype. The Warriors might have actually had a semblance of defense in their rotation. Mayo fits right in with the Warrior's style. Lots o' chuckin'. Except he does it pretty well. The guy has a great head on his shoulders, is a leader, and actually plays defense as well. Perhaps the Warriors missed an opportunity to alleviate their past mistakes, but what's new?
How do you give up a 2 top 5 draft picks (especially Mayo) for a chucker like Ellis. Morey, If you ever see Chris Wallace you better rob him blind.
Lol. Seriously, Memphis is dumb for offering the trade. "Hey, we'll give you a 2nd year player who is averaging 17ppg and a guy we drafted #2 overall for basically...a much more experienced Mayo..." Then the Warriors are DUMBER for saying no. What do you lose by trading Ellis for Mayo? I'm sure Mayo would avg the same number of points in Nelson's offense...and look what you gain. A 7footer who can run the floor in your system, block shots, and rebound...well not yet but the potential is always there. I think that is a no brainer for the Warriors. You basically get the same type of player back, just less experienced...and Mayo has a better shot and pretty sick handles...Ellis has him beat with his speed and driving though..
^^ I agree. Don't get why you trade one high scoring SG for another more expensive high scoring SG. Is there something about OJ Mayo that we don't know about? Why is he being treated like a condiment?
I can and can't understand it. Whatever you might think about Monta, the guy is playing on the level of Chris Paul right now. Would you trade Paul for Mayo and Thabeet? Not a chance. Plus, you got a chris paul level player for 11 million dollars for the next 4 years. That is a HUGE savings. For the grizzlies, you put brewer and Monta in the backcourt and Rudy, Randolph and Gasol in the front court and you have improved. GS has a terrible coaching staff is the only reason Monta isn't leading his team to a playoff run.
It's dumb to give up on Thabeet this early. Thabeet is important. You must keep Thabeet alive and not let Thabeet drop.
LOLOLOLOLOL. Maybe if Monta leads them to well, a .500 record, I might be a little convinced. Not 2nd round, which Chris Paul did. Not even simply making the playoffs. Monta can't even take the Warriors to an even remotely .500 team, and you want to compare those two? That's just laughable. < Good. >
When you got a dinosaur for a coach, WHY IS NELSON STILL COACHING AGAIN, dude hadn't done jack in years, I don't put the losses on Monta. I put it on management and don, I should have retired a decade ago, nelson.
Yeah Nelson is done. He wouldn't even have played Thabeet...You know what, I know why they did this. Nelson hates Centers, he hates the Center position. This proves it.
Why would Memphis offer up Mayo, team chemistry issues? Want to say Mayo would conflict with Stephen Curry's play, but thats not too valid. Even if its a lateral type move, I'd think 4 out 5 times a LOSING team in GS's position would make the swap taking a chance on the upside of Thabeet. Even with Biedrins already on the team.
