NBA Trade Rumors: Curry's Ankle Injury Means Monta Ellis Isn't Going Anywhere

Back when Stephen Curry was healthy, the possibility of the Warriors trading Monta Ellis before the NBA trade deadline was almost a certainty. But now, with Curry seemingly battling a recurring ankle injury at the ripe old age of 23, circumstances have changed.

Without Curry and Ellis, the Warriors have nothing, which means they can't trade Ellis until they have a more complete understanding of the extent of Curry's injury. And unfortunately, with the trade deadline looming just a few days away, they might not get enough time to make that assessment. So, for now, Ellis isn't going anywhere. 

For a while, it looked as though Golden State didn't need both Ellis and Curry. In his first two seasons with the Warriors, Curry broke out, averaging 18.0 points and 5.9 assists per game from 2009-2011. Ellis, currently the NBA's ninth-leading scorer, became expendable for the Warriors and a prime target for teams looking for a 26-year-old guard who's averaged 19.6 points and 4.4 assists per game throughout his career.

But then, in late February, Curry sprained a tendon in his right foot—the same foot he'd injured at the beginning of the season that kept him out for two weeks. He returned on Saturday against the Mavericks, only to leave the game after 16 minutes because he rolled the same ankle.

The extent of Curry's injury is unknown at the time (it's classified as "mild"), but seeing as this is the third issue he's had with the ankle in this strike-shortened season, things aren't looking good. And now that the Warriors don't have Curry—at least for the time being—how can they let go of Ellis?

It's too bad, because the interest in Ellis was high. SFGate.com's Rusty Simmons listed 19 teams that would be interested in a swap. But there's no way the Warriors can complete a deal—unless a miracle happens and Curry's ankle heals itself permanently overnight.