Monta Ellis Trade: Warriors Organization Should Be Ashamed After Pathetic Deal

In case you haven't heard, Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown have been dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks for injured center Andrew Bogut and the mercurial Stephen Jackson.

To sum this deal up, general manager Larry Riley just shipped out a 26-year-old superstar-in-the-making and a 24-year-old defensive guru. In return, the Warriors received a player who has missed 126 games in his seven-year career and a 33-year-old shooting guard making nearly $10 million while producing at a dismal level.

And to think Riley told Warriors fans that he wouldn't make a deal for nothing. "We're working day and night and we're hopeful," Riley told NBA.com on Monday night. "But what will not happen is, we won't do something that sets us back just to do a deal. We want to find the right deal, and if we get one of those we'll do it. I don't know what the odds of it are right now."

Well, so much for that.

Riley pulled the trigger on a trade that brought him a volatile player whom he traded away to the Charlotte Bobcats just three years ago. Worst of all, he pulled the trigger on a trade that could have sufficed with just Ellis and Brown.

Instead, Riley chose to include one of the most promising young players on his roster—Ekpe Udoh.

Now, there is no way to predict the fallout from this trade. And to Riley's credit, once the rosters line up, both are improved.

On paper. Which doesn't win games.

The fact is, Jackson has once again created problems for the team he plays for. He also has seen a drastic drop in production, butted heads with the Warriors' organization and, quite frankly, wouldn't have been worth Ellis or Udoh straight up.

Bogut, as noted, is as injury prone as any player in the NBA. While the talent is there and the fit is perfect, games played are the only statistic you need to look at. For instance, Bogut has played in more than 70 games in a season just twice in his seven-year career.

Nevertheless, the Warriors must move forward. As they say, there is no use crying over spilled milk; even though the Warriors made a gulf-sized spill.

Just hope for the best, Warriors fans. After all, Bogut is one of the best defensive players in the NBA. As long as he can actually stay on the court, this could work out.

Fingers crossed for a healthy season.