Golden State Warriors Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz Ahead of NBA Trade Deadline

The upcoming NBA trade deadline on Mar. 15th just wouldn't be as much fun if Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors weren't involved. 

It just wouldn't feel right if rumors weren't flying around concerning the shooting guard who fell just short of an All-Star berth once more this season. He's always a part of them!

Ellis isn't the only name who's being mentioned in the Warriors' circles though. Backcourt mate Stephen Curry has found his name tossed around a little bit as well. 

For the latest Golden State Warriors trade rumors, you've come to the right place. 

3/15: The Warriors have bought a second round Draft pick from the Hawks. It is reported to be the lower of the Hawks two 2nd round picks.

UPDATE: Warriors Trade Stephen Jackson for Richard Jefferson and 1st Round Pick

UPDATE 3/15: Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group is reporting the Warriors have traded Stephen Jackson to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson and their 2012 First Round Pick.

Now here is a trade that Warriors fans can get behind. The Warriors traded two similar players and picked up a 1st round pick. This gives the Warriors a potential second 1st round pick that could be packaged to move up in the draft. 

Ellis, Udoh and Brown for Bogut and Jackson

UPDATE 3/13:

Numerous sources have confirmed that the Warriors have trade Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown to the Bucks for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson.

I really don't know what to say about this trade. The B/R office is very pro-Warriors and there are a lot of upset fans right now.

Stephen Curry to Boston?

Rajon Rondo recently replaced Stephen Curry in the Skills Challenge during the NBA All-Star Weekend, but could the Boston Celtics point guard replace his positional counterpart in a Golden State Warriors uniform? 

According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, this trade, which has been discussed by both sides in question ever since December, remains a possibility even if the chances look slim. In an ESPN Insider article on Leap Day, Broussard wrote the following: 

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In December, the Celtics had discussions with Golden State about a Stephen Curry-for-Rondo deal, and one source says it was Golden State that decided against pulling the trigger. But Curry's recent ankle injuries, which have caused him several problems in his short career, have given the Celtics pause. The potential trade is still being discussed by Boston's braintrust, but they aren't sure they want to go forward with it. It also isn't clear whether the Warriors would be willing to do it. Other players would have to be thrown in to make it work financially.

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Celtics general manager Danny Ainge says that he hasn't made a call about Rondo since Chris Paul was available and thinks that the All-Star floor general will remain in the clam chowder capital of the world for a long time. After Rondo's historic triple-double against Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks, it seems even more likely that Rondo won't be moved. 

Even if this was going to happen, it really wouldn't benefit the Dubs too much. Rondo would undeniably be a defensive upgrade over the former Davidson Wildcat, but would he actually fit in with the Warriors' offense, especially if Monta Ellis and his ball-controlling ways remained with the team? 

Stephen Curry Staying with Golden State?

The Golden State Warriors haven't actually come out and said it, but it seems abundantly clear that they value Stephen Curry a bit more than Monta Ellis as a long-term asset. His name hasn't been thrown about in any serious and sourced rumors that don't involve Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics. 

With that aforementioned deal seeming like it's going to fall through, the most likely outcome for Curry and the team he's spent all of his time in the NBA with is that he'll remain there for even longer. 

Assuming that Curry's ankles aren't permanently balky, this seems to be a good thing. 

Monta Ellis to Indiana?

It seems as though every time we creep closer to a trade deadline, or every time we're embroiled in the unofficial trading period known as the NBA offseason, Monta Ellis' name is prominently featured in rumor after rumor. 

Surprise, surprise. This year is no different. 

Ellis is rumored to be going to three different teams this time and the Indiana Pacers seem to be the least likely of the bunch. 

Late in February, Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area New Group tweeted the following statement about sending Ellis to the midwest and getting Danny Granger in return: 

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Warriors still hold interest in Danny Granger, though Indiana won't trade him. But if you think about it, what's the better tandem: Paul George/Granger or Paul George/Monta? Perhaps the better question is what's the better trio: Collison/George/Granger or Collison/Ellis/George? ... I'd have to go with the former.

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Since then, there has been virtually no indication from either side that this trade was progressing even the slightest. The Pacers in particular have been absolutely silent and haven't done anything to change Thompson's claim. 

Honestly though, this is probably a good thing for both sides. 

In Indiana, Ellis would be an upgrade over Paul George, but he'd also hinder his development while failing to fill the void at small forward left by the departure of Granger. 

There would be a similar upgrade for the Warriors, Granger over Dorell Wright, but once more, the development of Wright would be hindered and there would be a gaping hole at shooting guard, one that Klay Thompson is in no way ready to fill. 

Monta Ellis to Atlanta?

The San Francisco Chronicle's Rusty Simmons wrote quick blurbs about the Golden State Warriors' trading outlook with 19 other NBA teams. When it came to the Atlanta Hawks and acquiring Joe Johnson, he put fingers to the keyboard and produced the following: 

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The Warriors think they could get Joe Johnson but feel he's a more expensive and possibly inferior player to Monta Ellis. They'd like Josh Smith, but they haven't found the Hawks willing to part with the forward.

"

With J-Smoove's inspired play of late, most notably his sensational dunk over notorious shot-blocker extraordinaire Serge Ibaka, the Hawks won't be willing to part with him unless a better deal is offered than just Ellis. Stephen Curry would be a nice starting point, but that's just not going to happen. 

That leaves Joe as the likely counterpart to Ellis in this trade. 

Although it makes sense skill-wise to swap Johnson and Ellis, the contract situation makes it unlikely that the Dubs would want to make this happen unless they have no other alternatives. 

Johnson is getting older (well, duh, so is every other player) at 30 years of age, but the bigger problem is the $119 million contract that the All-Star shooting guard signed in the summer of 2010, one that will quickly become a massive albatross hanging from the neck of whatever organization is paying him to score points.

Monta Ellis to Orlando?

Before the Orlando Magic give up and deal Dwight Howard away or re-sign themselves to chance during the offseason free-agency period, they're trying to do everything they can to convince him to stay long term.

One way to do so would be to deal for Monta Ellis and pair up the high-scoring shooting guard with the center in question. According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Magic are pursuing this option. 

But the problem here is that the Magic don't really have any other appealing pieces other than Superman to offer in return for Ellis' services. Dealing Howard himself would obviously work against that whole wanting to keep him on the team thing. 

The more likely scenario is that the Magic bite the bullet, try to get the most they can from Howard's trade value and deal him for Ellis. Golden State has long been rumored to covet the services of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and according to Yahoo!'s Brett David Roberts, they'd still be willing to go for what has been coined "Rent-a-Dwight."

Acquiring the big man would likely require parting with not only Ellis, but also a combination of other anchors which include the expiring contract of the unusable, shell of a basketball player named Andris Biedrins, as well as up-and-coming big man Ekpe Udoh and recent draft pick Klay Thompson. 

One potential problem from the Dubs' side of things though would be Dwight's hesitance to sign an extension with the team if he wound up with Golden State. There's a chance that Howard would be willing to accept the extra money that Golden State could offer him in the offseason, but he'll likely depart for greener pastures at the end of the half-season rental. 

Monta Ellis Staying with Golden State?

Even though the management in Golden State has made questionable decisions in the past and hasn't been able to put together a title contender yet, they seem to be patient enough with the Monta Ellis trade rumors that they won't trade him unless the right deal is made. 

Unless a fourth team surfaces as a potential option, Ellis is going to remain right where he started during the trade deadline frenzy: scoring the ball right next to Stephen Curry in the Warriors' backcourt. 

Ellis going to Indiana would create a hole at shooting guard and block the development of Dorell Wright, and that's if the Pacers inexplicably decided that the deal was working in their favor. 

Sending the shooting guard to Atlanta would make the Warriors the proud owners of arguably the worst contract in all of basketball.

Bringing in Dwight Howard would mean trading Ellis and the future of the team for a one-year run at a title.

Do any of those really sound like appealing options?

There's still plenty of time before the Mar. 15th deadline rolls around, but as of now, it appears as though this set of rumors will end just like all the others and the Dubs will continue watching the scoring exploits of the Mississippi Bullet.

There's always the offseason and the chance of signing Brook Lopez or Robin Lopez to look forward to.