Monta Ellis Trade Rumors: Monta's Agent, Jeff Fried, Has Told Management Ellis Wants to be Traded

According to the New York Post’s Peter Vecsey the Golden State Warriors have been told by Monta Ellis’ agent that he wants to be traded.

It was definitely starting to seem that the W’s were just going to hold on to Monta after trade rumors including players like Lamar Odom and Andre Iguodala never really came to fruition. But apparently the winds of change shifted once again late Thursday afternoon as the team is once again giving serious thought to moving him, but only if the offer just knocked their socks off.

Vecsey put in a call to Jeff Fried Thurday evening but the call was never returned. Yet according to Vecesey word has it that Fried has told the W’s front office that Monta definitely wants to be moved.

This could possibly be the beginning of the end of the marriage between Monta and the W’s, especially with two more guards drafted Thursday in Klay Thompson and Charles Jenkins.

Stay with SB Nation Bay Area for all the Monta rumors. For more on the W’s head over to Golden State of Mind.

Monta Ellis Trade Rumors: Ellis For Lamar Odom And Shannon Brown "Went Nowhere"

If the 2011 offseason could be summed up in two words it would be “Monta Ellis.” Ken Berger (via Tim Kawakami’s Twitter) of CBSSports.com reports that the Warriors and Lakers discussed a Ellis for Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown trade that “went nowhere.” According to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury, Monta Ellis, at the tender age of 25 but in the league for a good 7 years now, is ready to be traded to a contender:

Important note: Ellis loves playing at Oracle Arena. But he also is at the point in his career where he wants to be playing for titles.

Wow. The Warriors have to be foolish to want Odom and Shannon Brown. Historically, Odom’s value seems to appear and disappear depending on the talent surrounding him. Perhaps it has more to do with age, location, and coaching, but Odom’s Los Angeles Clipper days were lackluster. Among the Los Angeles Lakers and relatively stacked Miami Heat squad, Odom seems rather motivated on most occasions.

What actually worries me about a trade like this is the difference in ages between Odom (32) and Ellis (25), unless Shannon Brown is the real center piece of this trade. Shannon Brown is an electrifying Warrior killer for sure. But so is the Spurs journeyman Matt Bonner.

And if Odom is the centerpiece of that trade (obviously), there are a ton of red flags. This is all purely my own opinion and you can take this with a grain of salt, but Odom’s marriage to Khloe Kardashian would probably kill Odom’s inspiration to play basketball if it wasn’t in Los Angeles.

Why? Well, rumor has it that their prenuptial agreement, in the event of a divorce, has Odom paying for courtside tickets for not just her but her whole family, which I presume is for life? With that said, having been a title contender for a while now and being within Hollywood circles with Khloe, imagine how miserable he would be as a Warrior away from the limelight and think how that would kill his inspiration to play basketball. I expect candy binges like crazy on the sidelines and ballooning weight. Odom tried and has finally become part of Los Angeles’ glitterati and the activist sensibilities or tech dominant culture of Bay Area life — Steve Jobs is the closest thing to Jack Nicholson — probably doesn’t mesh well with Odom’s career trajectory.

Also, is it strange that Ellis is already on the path of wanting to “play for a contender?” I thought that was meant for aging vets in their twilight. I guess the Warriors consistent internal turmoil would do that to a player.

At any rate, with these kinds of rumors swirling and previous baggage with Ellis’ Moped-gate incident, it is probably time for the Warriors to part ways with one of their best, yet polarizing — on and off the court — players in Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis NBA Trade Rumors: GM Larry Riley Says "Lies", More Demand For Stephen Curry

Monta Ellis speculation has run rampant in the streets the past few days. The momentum again appeared to stall once Golden State Warriors general manager Larry Riley was questioned on the issue. Basically, all the trade rumors you've heard the past few days? Bunk, pure bunk. Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area reports.

"This is one of those things where there have been at least two stories that were absolute fabrications. Some of those things that are coming out are an insult to the people on the other side."

(To have an idea of the trades that have been suggested, they involve Dwight Howard, the #2 pick, and Andre Iguodala. Some of these appear to be a little ridiculous, so draw your own conclusions as to which ones Riley is referring to.)

Moreover, Riley says that teams seem to be more interested in another Warrior. Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated reports:

Riley also said the trade calls for Stephen Curry far outweigh those for Ellis: "Nobody is saying,'What will it take to get Monta Ellis?'" 

This is a master work in obfuscation by Riley. The Warriors could be deflecting interest in Ellis to try and drive down interest in him publicly. They could just be trying to assuage Ellis. And while it seems unlikely that they're trying to shop Curry, but it's not out of the realm of possibility, right? Both together seems like a defensively deficient backcourt, so one has to go, and if it's not Ellis ...

All in all, don't think this saga is quite over yet. The Warriors could not make a move most of the summer, and the Ellis rumors won't die down until Golden State makes some type of move to transition to the defensive-minded basketball they want to play.

Warriors fans, would you trade Monta Ellis? If you had to trade Ellis or Stephen Curry, who would you trade and why? Let us know in the comments!

For more on the Warriors, discuss them at Golden State of Mind.

Monta Ellis Trade Rumor: Sources Confirm Monta for Andre Iguodala Deal On The Table

According to NBAdraft.net the Golden State Warriors’ and Philadelphia 76ers’ rumored deal to swap Monta Ellis for Andre Iguodala has been confirmed by sources close to the situation.

There is no deal imminent, but the proposed trade is “on the 76ers table if they want it.” The deal would make sense for the Warriors who are looking for improvement on defense and ball movement, two things Iguodala does very well, not to mention they guy can definitely score in this league. Ellis could jump into a 76ers team with up and comer Jru Holiday and have a similar situation that he has already with Steph Curry, but the Sixers need a legitimate scoring threat, and Ellis certainly is that and some.

Despite the fact that the W’s braintrust has stated they are not shopping Ellis and would love to keep him, the fact that these rumors keep popping up is quite the contradiction. And the longer this all goes on, I’d say the chances Monta is a Warrior next year becomes less and less of a possibility.

For more on the W’s head on over to Golden State of Mind to get your fix.

Monta Ellis Trade Rumor: Timberwolves #2 Pick For Ellis and Warriors #11?

In this rumor-filled offseason, the Warriors hope to continue to rebuild their team in what looks to be the basketball equivalent of ABC’s Extreme Makeover. Recent trade rumors link star player Monta Ellis to just about every team in the league and a possible suitor for his talents could be the Minnesota Timberwolves, allegedly interested in trading their #2 pick for some young veteran presence.

Sporting News’ Sean Deveney weighs on some of the teams rumored to be engaged in trade talks with the Timberwolves and makes some suggestions on what could possibly work. For the Warriors, Deveney believes a package of the Timberwolves #2 and Martell Webster for Warriors #11 and Monta Ellis:

WARRIORS: Golden State has been connected to just about every team in the league in trade talks this offseason, but oddly enough, not with the Timberwolves. Still, if the Warriors want a taker for star guard Monta Ellis and the Wolves want a premier perimeter scorer, a deal makes sense. Ellis wouldn’t fit Kurt Rambis’ triangle offense at all, but that would just give the team added incentive to replace Rambis as coach. If the Timberwolves would part with Martell Webster — whose 3-point shooting would be a good fit in Golden State, and who can play the kind of perimeter defense the team is looking for — plus salary fodder and the No. 2 pick for Ellis and the No. 11 pick, and there could be the germ of a deal there.

This trade seems rather logical for the Warriors since getting the number #2, who most likely, though not definitely, would mean landing Arizona’s PF Derrick Williams with the sweet outside stroke. The Warriors could definitely use more consistent shooting threats. Monta Ellis may be a great scorer, but he has enough deficiencies in his game and size that diminish his value in the market for teams looking for more scoring. Also, getting Derrick Williams would just be more symbolic than anything fot the Warriors franchise as Lacob aims to start his regime with his own players and staff (as we’ve already seen). With any long term relationship, break ups, even if they were destined for failure, are still tough. Securing the #2 pick isn’t chump change though.

For the Timberwolves, this could make some sense as it gives the PG of the future Ricky Rubio someone to run with. If Rubio really is the point guard, dishing out 10+ assists a game as predicted by scouts, analysts, and GMs, Ellis looks to be in a good position to score, score, and score. This team won’t be playing much defense, but Ellis will be gigantic upgrade over all 1st round busts of recent memory (Wayne Ellington and Johnny Flynn to name a few).

If you’re the Warriors, would you accept a Monta Ellis for T-Wolves #2?

Monta Ellis Trade Rumor: Dwight Howard For Ellis, Biedrins, And Udoh

If the new Warriors regime hasn’t been exciting enough already, Jonathan Givony of Draftexpress.com reports that the Warriors have offered Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins and Ekpe Udoh for Dwight Howard. Givony adds that it is “unlikely that’ll get it done,” which I interpret as the Warriors package is pretty worthless. If the Magic are in rebuilding mode, being strapped with two long-term deals in Ellis and Biedrins, a combo that has not won many games together, is hardly the way to go. And Udoh clearly has not and probably will never project as the next in line of great Orlando Magic centers.

But, Magic GM Otis Smith has a weird love for Warrior players, collecting and turning such players as Adonal Foyle, Matt Barnes, and Mickael Pietrus into important reserves. Jason Richardson and Gilbert Arenas are the two newest former Warriors to don the pin stripes, but they haven’t exactly been as heralded as the others. With that said, Ellis, Biedrins, and Udoh probably won’t get the deal done. But Smith seems like the guy to be open to a trade with the team he used to work for (a former Warriors front office executive). He clearly has a soft spot for the Warriors....or at least the players. If the Warriors are willing to package some first rounders with Ellis (sans Biedrins) and Udoh, I could see Smith biting if he thinks its time to rebuild. 

What package do you think would likely “get it done?” Do the Warriors realistically have any pieces that Orlando, realistically, would want?

Monta Ellis Will Not Be Traded, Says Golden State Warriors GM Larry Riley

Well, it's been a fun week of circulating trade rumors for Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, but it looks like it's all coming to an end. Head coach Mark Jackson has seemed to place his support solidly behind Ellis, stating that he's the third best shooting guard in the NBA. It's a strong statement, but a statement that indicates that he's going to be a Warriors starter when the next season begins.

And then Golden State general manager Larry Riley offered even stronger remarks indicating Ellis would be back in the Bay Area next season. Zach Lowe at Sports Illustrated revealed those thoughts in his conversation with Riley.

"We are not shopping Monta Ellis. It is business as usual here. I think you have to look at what just happened in the Finals — it seemed like Dallas played pretty small guards throughout that series with Miami and did a pretty good job of it. Our problem is not the small backcourt. Our problem is defense."

Well, Golden State hitched their wagons to Stephen Curry, so it looks like Curry and Ellis will be the Warriors backcourt for the near future. And although neither of them are defensive stoppers, it seems Golden State believes the problems lie elsewhere. Will the Warriors get bigger to be better?

Do you think Monta Ellis will be traded? Who will he be starting for the next time Golden State plays basketball? Let us know in the comments.

Monta Ellis NBA Trade Rumors: Memphis Grizzlies Could Be Potential Dealer

Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors is making the rounds in the NBA rumor mill. Due to the relatively lackluster free agent class of 2011, Ellis has suddenly become a very marketable asset for the Warriors to deal, and a potential championship piece for

One such contender is the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis had a pretty incredible run as the eighth seed, falling one game short of the Western Conference Finals, but ultimately ran out of offensive weapons to utilize. Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo could not provide enough scoring punch, and the absence of Rudy Gay finally did in the Grizz. Also, keep in mind Monta does have a home in Memphis, so he'd probably be very inclined to a trade there.

With the Warriors looking to hone in on defense, they'd probably not be so happy to take on Gay's deal (a notably below-average defender) and focus on Mayo and Tony Allen, Allen perhaps being one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA. The salaries, however, don't match up unless Gay is included somehow, so it's unlikely Golden State would make a trade if they were giving up one mediocre defender for another. It depends on how much defense and youth (like Greivis Vasquez, Darrell Arthur, Hamed Haddadi) they're willing to sacrifice to get the offensive firepower to lift the Grizzlies up on that end of the floor and help out Zach Randolph.

And let's not forget Jerry West once worked in Memphis. If there's anyone who'd listen to West and give him the trade he'd want, you'd figure it'd be Chris Wallace.

If you had to trade Monta Ellis, what trade would you make with the Grizzlies? Use the ESPN Trade Machine and let us know in the comments!

For more discussion of the Grizzlies, head to Straight Outta Vancouver. For more discussion of the Warriors, move on to Golden State of Mind.

Monta Ellis Trade Rumors: Joe Lacob Mum About Rumors

With Monta Ellis trade rumors linking him to almost every playoff contending team in the NBA, Warriors owner Joe Lacob tells San Jose Mercury’s Tim Kawakami that what the press is reporting is far from the truth:

LACOB: I don’t think he will be. I mean, you want me to give odds now? There’s a tremendous amount of speculation in the press, and I can’t believe where all this is coming from… because the stories are completely fabricated, by you or whoever. I don’t know who’s fabricating them.

They’re fabrications, complete and utter. All these teams that supposedly have talked to us. It’s not true. It’s just not true.

…

We all really like Monta Ellis a lot. We think he’s a great player. The question will be, like with every other player on the team–is there someone we think makes more sense, that could be better, make us a better team?

Smart move by Lacob to step in and do some damage control on, probably, the hottest trade rumor out there right now. The Warriors have done a “great” job in the past alienating its players by denying trades when they want out or trading them for below market value or at the peak of their popularity among Warrior faithful. It is definitely refreshing to see Lacob step in and take control of the situation and to show a better administrative culture in place.

But with a limited talent pool available this off-season, will the Warriors get the value they and fans feel they deserve in exchange for, arguably, their best player? As many NBA analysts have been critiquing already, SB Nation Bay Area’s Avinash Kunnath included, Monta Ellis is a bad fit for many of the teams allegedly talking to the Warriors. More specifically, these critics feel that teams are unlikely to part with the pieces the Warriors want for a “smallish” two-guard that doesn’t blend well with teams’ existing culture and/or players. Further, the Warriors most likely won’t want what these teams ARE willing to part with. Hoopsworld Joel Brigham discusses how Taj Gibson and Omer Asik are the likeliest pieces the Chicago Bulls are willing to move.

With that said, if Taj Gibson and Omer Asik are the best the Warriors can fetch for Ellis’ talent, do you pull that trigger? If getting fifty cents to the dollar is this off season’s going rate for Monta Ellis, do you do that deal to start “fresh?” If you were the GM/Owner, who would you be willing to “settle” for in exchange for Ellis?

Monta Ellis NBA Trade Rumors: Atlanta Hawks Not Likely Partner With Golden State Warriors

Interest in Golden State Warriors shooting guard Monta Ellis has came from multiple organizations. We've reported on the possible offers from the Bulls, the Blazers, the Sixers, the Lakers. Now we take a look at the interest the Atlanta Hawks might have in the Bay Area's top guard, according to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Hawks are an interesting group, and they did give the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls plenty of tests before bowing out. But again, sharing a backcourt with Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford seems like a disastrous idea in the making, considering all three want the ball in their hands to create their shots. Sharing the rock does not seem like a valid idea.

It's also hard to see who the Hawks could deal to get Ellis. Josh Smith seems like a logical choice, but there are issues in taking him on. Despite all the blocks and steals, it's hard to see the Warriors drastically improving defensively with just Smith's services. Jeff Teague seems like another possibility to give Stephen Curry some assistance, but Ellis as a point guard seems like a disaster in the making. We'll see if Atlanta has anyone satisfactory to trade.

If the Warriors traded Monta Ellis, who should the Hawks trade to get him? Let us know in the comments!

To see what Hawks fans think of a potential Ellis trade, check out Peachtree Hoops.

Monta Ellis NBA Trade Rumors: Portland Trail Blazers Might Have Players Golden State Warriors Desire

Regardless of what Mark Jackson is saying publicly, the Golden State Warriors are expressing noticeable interest in dealing Monta Ellis. The Warriors have found plenty of early suitors for his services, including the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers, maybe even the Chicago Bulls. However, none of them probably have the assets Golden State would desire for a player of Ellis's offensive talents.

The Portland Trail Blazers do. Ken Berger of CBS Sports stated that the Warriors had received interest from the Blazers about a potential trade. And Portland does have a cadre of talented wing players that can possibly fill in the gaps. Gerald Wallace, Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum, and Wesley Matthews are all names that could possibly be floated as targets for the Warriors. Portland was very strong defensively in the playoffs, but just couldn't find enough scoring to put them over the top. Ellis gives them that punch and plenty of defensive talent to help him out.

It'd be hard to see the Blazers parting with Roy, much less the Warriors wanting him and his fragile knees. Wallace is a possibility, but at 29 he's close to his prime and won't have much of a shelf life in Golden State (the contract does match up pretty well, but it's a risky move given Wallace's health issues).  So if I had to venture a guess, the Warriors would probably target Matthews (a solid defender) and Batum (an up-and-coming star and also solid defensive player). While Golden State would probably have to take on a salary dump or two (Ellis's contract way exceeds the combined values of Batum's and Matthews's), and also potentially give up draft picks it'd be worth snaring one of those two valuable defensive talents. 

If you were the general manager of either team, what potential trade would you make to get Monta Ellis? Let us know in the comments!

For Blazers reaction to a potential trade, check out Blazers Edge. For Warriors reaction, stay tuned to Golden State of Mind. Keep on checking out our Monta Ellis trade storystream for further updates and rumors.

Monta Ellis NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago Bulls Not Likely To Deal Joakim Noah

The Monta Ellis rumor mill is churning out big ones these days. The current one? The Golden State Warriors are interested in the Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose. So are 25 NBA teams, Adidas, Powerade, and many many single ladies. I'm going to guess there won't be any returning phone calls for the MVP to be dealt to the Bay Area in exchange for  

But center Joakim Noah? They would at least try to pick up the phone. It would be a step toward the defensive mentality the Warriors are trying to establish with general manager Jerry West and head coach Mark Jackson. Sam Smith of NBA.com believes that Noah is the likeliest possibility, but it'd be hard to see the Bulls being interested in a guard like Ellis who doesn't bring the defensive intensity that Tom Thibodeau teams generally put on the court.

On the flip side though, it was clear that defense wasn't really the problem against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was Rose or bust for Chicago when they were looking for scoring options, and LeBron James put him on ice. Ellis (who is one of the few guys who can drive past Dwyane Wade in this league) could provide that second crucial scoring burst Chicago needs to get to the Finals next season. 

Bulls fans, Warriors fans would you make a Monta Ellis-for-Joakim Noah trade? If not, what would be a better trade for both teams?

For more on the Warriors, check out Golden State of Mind. For more on the Bulls, it's Blog A Bull time.

Monta Ellis Trade Rumors: Would Minnesota Timberwolves Trade #2 Pick

According various media sources, the Warriors have been in trade talks with a range a teams. Allegedly, the Warriors have been interested in Memphis Grizzlies Rudy Gay, Philadelphia 76ers Andre Iguodala, and Denver Nuggets Nene in exchange for Monta Ellis.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury considers which rumors could make the most sense for either team and concludes that the Sixers are the likeliest partner (though by no means official) given how much they would save in salary over the couse of the next three years:

I just don’t think Philadelphia pulls the trigger on this, unless it can find no better deal for Iguodala (27), who is owed $13.5M, $14.71 and $15.9M (as a player-option).

But Kawakami brings up an interesting scenario, which involves the Minnesota Timberwolves parting with their number two pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

I’d guess the Warriors would love to have a shot at Arizona’s Derrick Williams with the 2nd pick, but the problem is, what else would they have to take from Minnesota to make the money work? Luke Ridnour? Wayne Ellington? Jonny Flynn?

I’m not sure Monta would be too thrilled to end up in Minneapolis, either.

Could the Warriors pull that off? A move like that would be another bold (symbolic) step this summer for the Warriors newly formed front office looking to distinguish the new post-Chris Cohan regime. The move would be very Jerry West-esque, possibly reminding Warrior fans of his 1996 moving of Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant (not that Derrick Williams is the next Kobe Bryant, but more in terms of risk-taking draft night moves).

Monta Ellis Trade Rumors: Reps For Monta Working With Warriors To Get Deal Done?

The NBA trade rumor mill is heating up surrounding Monta Ellis as more and more media outlets are reporting on potential deals. CBS Sports NBA columnist Ken Berger is reporting that representatives for Ellis are working with the Golden State Warriors to try and work out the optimal deal for both sides. As Tim Kawakami tweeted, if this report is true it would indicate Ellis realizes this deal is going to happen in some form, so he might as well get on board and work out something good for himself.

League sources told CBS Sports that the Trail Blazers, Hawks, 76ers, and Bulls were among the teams expressing the most interest in acquiring Ellis. Of course, as is often the case with trade rumors in any sport, there will be dozens of off the wall rumors thrown around before something actually happens (if something actually happens). Before all is said and done, Monta will have been on the verge of being traded to half the league. And that’s just in the next week!

Monta Ellis, Not The Scorer As Advertised

In the past year, Monta Ellis’ made his way onto the national radar for his late game heroics and electrifying performances on national television. His offensive outburts versus the Los Angeles Lakers have been so spectacular that Kobe Bryant voluntarily offers his vote of approval anytime they match-up.

But as the center of many trade rumors as of late, critics have taken note, using advanced statistics, that Monta Ellis is an overrated scorer. SB Nation writers weigh in on the alleged talks between the Warriors and the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers and there seems to be a growing critique that Monta Ellis won’t upgrade a team…at all.

Evan Dunlap of Orlando Pinstripe Post provides a range of reasons why Ellis is not really the scorer as advertised. But beyond his lack of scoring efficiency, numbers show that the Warriors were better off with him on the bench. Here’s a brief snippet:

Over the same span, only six players have averaged more than one shot attempt every two minutes. Ellis ranks last among them in efficiency, with a True Shooting mark of 52.7. Last season, the average NBAer had a True Shooting mark of 54.3.

In short, Ellis takes a lot of shots at below-average efficiency.

Over at SB Nation’s Liberty Ballers, Jordan Sams concludes through offensive statistics per 36 minutes and other advanced stats that Monta Ellis is actually no different than the Philadelphia 76ers own Lou Williams. For those advanced stat challenged folks like myself, here are the basics:

Ellis – 21.5 points, 5 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals

Williams – 21.2 points, 5.2 assists 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 steal

The only significant advantage Monta had over Lou is his field goal percentage of 45, opposed to 41 for Lou. However; when free throws and threes are factored in, the players’ true shooting percentages are identical. Lou got to the line 2.5 more times per 36, and shot a slightly better percentage (82% to 79%). He also made 0.3 more threes per 36, but shot a slightly lower percentage than Monta (36% to 35%).

There is more nuance to these analyses about Monta Ellis’ offensive value and overall value to a team when he’s off and on the court, which I encourage you to read in full.

With that said, will the Warriors struggle to find a new home for Monta Ellis? And as one of the Warriors best players, what kind of value should the Warriors expect to get in return?

Monta Ellis To Lakers? Andre Iguodala For Chris Kaman Instead?

Just when Warrior fans rejoiced at the possibility of adding a bigger, more versatile, and more defensively oriented 2-guard in Andre Iguodala, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that the Philadephia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers are considering a trade, too. Stein notes that an Iguodala for Chris Kaman trade could be in the works, especially since their salaries match. Kaman’s injuries, however, could prevent this from going down:

The Sixers, according to the source, are in the market for a new big man but covet an athletic big. After a lost season, Kaman must hush concerns around the league about his injury history and foot speed. Those concerns could be an issue for Sixers coach Doug Collins, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher.

Are Warrior fans crossing their fingers that Kaman’s injuries prove too huge a liability to overcome?

Dexter Fishmore of SB Nation Los Angeles weighs in on the alleged Warriors-Lakers trade talk and notes how this trade makes absolutely no sense:

To begin with, he plays the same position as Kobe Bryant. More to the point, he occupies the same role as Kobe Bryant, as a high-volume shooter who wants the ball in his hands much of the time.

Fishmore adds, via Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld, that the person the Lakers mostly likely would be wiling to give up of value for Monta Ellis is Lamar Odom.

To sweeten the deal for the Warriors, the Lakers will have to throw in Chloe Kardashian. Bad jokes aside, with Jerry West co-orchestrating, perhaps he can work his magic like he did a few years ago swapping Gasols? Can the Warriors get some real value? Can West somehow run some GM Jedi mind tricks and secure Pau Gasol? Heck, even Kobe Bryant (sight sarcasm)?

Monta Ellis NBA Trade Rumors: Warriors Look For More Size

The Warriors have been making a lot of noise this off-season and, possibly, for the right reasons. Historically known to over-evaluate their talent, the Warriors this off season are making moves and trading, arguably, their best player in Monta Ellis is one scenario that seems to be gaining steam in recent days. 

The trade talks began with Jerry West, recently hired advisor, mentioning that trading his favorite players, as difficult as it was for him emotionally, payed off in the end because of the talent it added to the team. Recognizing Ellis' talent, West added that scoring wasn't all that mattered to a team's success. Hint hint? 

In the last few days, Ellis for Andre Iguodala trade talks swirled in addition to other discussions about the Warriors engaging in trade talks with other teams. 

Some analysts believe the Warriors and Bulls could both benefit from a Monta Ellis trade given the potential size the Bulls could offer the Warriors in return. Not all, however, are convinced Ellis would fill the Bulls' void at the 2-guard spot nor any other strategies as upgrading their team against their new nemesis in the Miami Heat.

Doug Thonus of Bulls Confidential, a Chicago Bulls blog on ChicagoNow.com, believes that trade talk of Ellis for the size of Joakim Noa or Luol Deng merely recreates the size issues in Chicago that the Warriors currently have in their backcourt:

Ellis, similar to Rose, is largely an on the ball player with great quickness who attacks the rim, draw fouls, and only shoots if he can't find a seem to the basket. He's worse in terms of PG skills and a worse defender (IMO), but he's basically a small A guard (by A guard, I mean a guard who looks to score when he has the ball).

This is not so different than what Chad Ford mentioned about the size issues that a Ellis for Iguodala trade would create for Philadelphia 76ers. With that said, are Monta to Philly or the Bulls not likely to happen? Ellis as a ball-dominate player doesn't seem like a fit for the Bulls given how the team is centered around Derrick Rose's dribble penetration. Ellis could take a backseat and he managed to get his points just the same at the end of the 2009-2010 season when Don Nelson officially handed the keys over to Stephen Curry on an injury-ridden and talent depleted Warriors squad. By adding Ellis, however, the Bulls seems bent on outscoring teams and we know how far that's taken teams like Mike D'Antoni's Phoenix Suns.

Monta Ellis/Andre Iguodala Trade: Chad Ford Says No Good For Philly