Three hypothetical questions: 1) What could we get for Ellis and Jackson? 2) What could we get for Ellis, Jackson, and Wright? 3) What could we get for Ellis, Jackson, Wright, and Maggette? After today's disastrous media day, I'm ready to clean house.
Man, it's like we do this every 3 - 4 years...clean house. I think any team that's interested in Ellis or Jackson will try to lowball the Warriors, since they can and should. I'm willing to see what Wright can do before shipping him out. I'm willing to see Maggette strictly as a 6th man. He's not a player that stirs the pot.
I like Wright too, but there is no way he beats out Randolph for the PF spot. Randolph is going to be a beast, and will only get better. That should mean fewer and fewer minutes available at the 4 for Wright, who can only play that position. Furthermore, Turiaf can backup the 4 as well as the 5 and now there's Moore as well. Wright will be squeezed out and will never be able to blossom here IMO. I also still think he has good trade value in a package, which could bring back a better talent. As for Maggette, well I like him better as a 6th man than a starter, but he's an awfully expensive 6th man, and could be more valuable to another team with a different play style and player mix. I also don't want to see him playing much more than 25 minutes per game, which, as a highly-paid veteran in his "prime", is probably not enough to keep him happy.
It's kinda tough now. I was for keeping Marco, but even if we did deal him, I would've gone for Ramon Sessions, i.e. guys with promise and a few years experience in the NBA. Don Nelson does a lousy job of developing players, so you got to get vets for him. Of course, those guys could end up like Marcus Williams. Maybe get some more expiring contracts to trade for Jax and Monta or go for David Lee. I rather have Lee and AB than Amare. Maybe a Monta and Wright deal could get it done later in the season.
With Monta and Wright you really have to let them play and hope they do well to get their value where we would want it to be. Monta is making 11 mil per coming off a major injury and hes an undersized SG. Hes gotta prove he can get back to where he was for a full season, that hes getting better, and that he can play PG and/or be a legit go-to scorer. Wrights value isn't that high but if he plays well and shows more potential he could be coveted as a decent mid-level prospect. Jack and Mags are what they are; veteran players who can produce but have ridiculous contracts. We'd be lucky if we could get a desperate team wanting a championship to give us an expiring contract (looking at you Big Z). It's very hard to move these guys right now though because we just came off an offseason with a lot of player movment- most teams who wanted to add a notable scorer did so. Additionally this is the year preceding 2010 and teams are saving cap. I'd bet that they're all still here by next summer. Once a few of these 2010 teams lose out on the big names they could turn to a Monta Ellis via trade to save face with their fans.
LOL. But it's worse now because the season is already over before it started. If we had Larry Ellison as owner and Keith Smart as head coach: Stephen Curry would play this season and win ROY SJax would be an expiring and trying to latch on with the Knicks Monta would not have rode a moped AB would have played in the rooks game. Same with AR and BWright Marco would have developed into a PG Morrow would have become another Del Curry Buike and Turiaf would be contending for Sixth Man of the Year CJ Watson would have been traded to the Magic for a # 1, cash and an expiring We would have continued to go to the playoffs Chris Mullin would have a job and be looking forward to retirement We would have a solid bench and trying to get a small forward And I would be going to some games this season, buying W's gear and trying to score season tixs It's 50% Nelson's fault, 50% Rowell's fault, 100% Cohan's fault and THE BLAME (big blame) to go higher under Riley/Nelson!
We need to get rid of Cohan and all the staff he's hired. These guys are basketball losers. And the nba is tough enough to root for already with all the primadonnas compared to other pro sports. I'm starting to think that nba players should go to all 4 years of college like most nfl and mlb players... Just because you're tall and athletic shouldn't mean you get special treatment. Part of college is earning your way through... i think most need to do that before they become millionaires... I mean am I wrong or does it seem like nba players are more spoiled compared to other athletes where you have to wait 4 years before entering the pros? I hear less whiners from football, baseball, and hockey. Just like cohanhater said about Wright, I believe most nba players just aren't ready... they need more time if they aren't mentally mature like some of these guys. Plus, guys may not be physically developed, like Lebron James or somebody, to play right away anyway. Guards can get away with it some, but not forwards or centers who need more muscle/weight to get positioning.
