The Golden State Warriors have made some splashy moves already this offseason. Just don't expect another one on draft night. Warriors general manager Larry Riley believes the team will keep the 11th pick in Thursday night's draft. He also quieted the growing trade talk surrounding leading scorer Monta Ellis -- at least for this week. Riley says multiple teams have inquired about Ellis but it's "very likely" that the guard "will not be traded on draft night or even through the summer." That means Golden State will have to find other ways to improve until free agency begins. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6684191
I don't trust Riley's track record of statements at this point, primarily because of what he said to Anthony Randolph last season, stating something like, "We're not going to trade you unless it's for a heck of a player." Granted, that "heck of a player" turned out to be someone, if not a real heck of a player, so it's not that he's necessarily lying when he says stuff. I know my example is about a year past, and things have changed very much in Oakland. Regardless, I think we'll all be looking to see what actually happens, and if you ask me, I think something actually will, especially on the Monta Ellis front.
