Monta Ellis Trade Rumors Tracker: Latest Buzz Around Warriors Star

Trade buzz surrounding Golden State Warrior Monta Ellis is picking up. The Warriors are definitely ready to move him, but that doesn't mean they are eager to give him away.

Update: Tuesday, March 13 at 8:40 p.m. ET

Monta Ellis is no longer a Warrior. At least if the report by the reliable Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo is correct.

"

Bucks and Warriors have agreed in principle on trade to send Bogut and Jackson to Warriors for Ellis, Udoh and Brown, league source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 14, 2012"

Andrew Bogut is currently on the shelf with an ankle injury, and he may not play again this season. He is under contract for two more seasons after this one and is scheduled to $13 million next year and $14 million the following year. 

Stephen Jackson's contract runs for one more year. 

It is going to take a quality player to pry Ellis from Golden State. In light of this the Mercury News' Tim Kawakami tells us the Warriors have prepared Ellis for the reality that he might be traded. 

"

NBA source: Monta Ellis & the Warriors have discussed the possibility that it is time for him to be traded. But doesn't mean it'll happen.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) March 13, 2012"

While they may be picking up, Ellis trade rumors are not new. Is this the first time they have mentioned to him he might be traded? If it is, it couldn't have been news to him. 

This may be an indication though that they are closer than they've ever been to pulling the trigger on a trade.

And none of this is going to be bad news to Monta. At least not judging by this tweet from Kawakami. 

"

Multiple NBA sources: Monta Ellis is frustrated with the team's inability to fulfill promises to build a contending roster.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) March 13, 2012"

The most recent rumors surround Ellis going to the Orlando Magic. 

The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre tweeted that the Magic would like to get a piece of Monta.

"

Orlando is Reportedly Trying to Add Monta Ellis in an Effort to Keep Dwight Howard thebiglead.com/index.php/2012…

— Jason McIntyre (@TheBigLead) March 13, 2012"

The Warriors would love to trade Monta to Orlando. Only they don't want to trade him there so the Magic can keep Dwight Howard, but so they can land Dwight.

Ken Berger, of CBS Sports, shed some light on that after the Magic tried to put together a three-team trade that would have landed them Ellis. 

"

Warriors owner Joe Lacob has no interest in sending Monta Ellis to Orlando to help the Magic keep Dwight Howard, wanting instead to preserve his own slim chances of landing the All-Star center, league sources told CBSSports.com Tuesday.

The Magic's attempt to put together a three-team deal that would've sent Ellis to Orlando and Andrew Bogut from Milwaukee to Golden State didn't pass muster with the Warriors' owner. The scenario was motivated by the Magic's ongoing efforts to appease Howard by acquiring a top-flight talent in the hopes that he stays.

"

When and if Ellis is traded, it will likely be for a big man. 

You can expect a lot more news on the Ellis trade front in the coming days. Check back here as we'll bring you the latest rumors and updates.