Monta Ellis: A Golden State Warrior for Life?

In a day that featured his first five-on-five practice in over eight months, Golden State Warriors' injured guard Monta Ellis gave various reporters from Bay Area news agencies something to smile about and dissect.

"Listen, whatever it is about me leaving, wanting to go, I don't want to play for Nellie—that never came from my mouth," Ellis said.

In recent weeks, famous San Jose Mercury columnist Tim Kawakami continually expressed his opinion about Ellis never playing for the Warriors again. Ellis' comments on Tuesday Jan. 13 indicated otherwise.

"I don't know where they got that from, but I'm here for the next six years. I'm a Warrior. I'm going to always be a Warrior. Whoever put that out there did it because they wanted a story."

Or did they?

Ellis, who injured his ankle in moped collision last August causing the $3-million fine and 30-game suspension, filed a grievance against the Warriors handle over the situation last summer.

Jeff Fried, Ellis' agent, is expected to be in the Bay Area on Monday Jan. 19 to evaluate the situation. Fried and Ellis will obviously make their decision after their meeting with Warriors' officials.

Despite the 6' 3'' guard's strong declarations and commitment to this dysfunctional organization, words remain deceptive.

Warriors' fans must have lit up after they saw initial reports of Ellis' comments. And rightfully so. However, the situation has to be taken a look at from an in-depth perspective.

Former Warriors' Forward Al Harrington, during the offseason, seemed to throw out positive words about his situation with the Warriors; specifically about head coach Don Nelson.

Despite the numerous reports that expressed the 6' 9'' forward's intention to be dealt, Harrington always made sure to focus on the positive side of the situation. He even denied Kawakmi's report that clearly stated his desire to bolt out of Oakland in the early part of the season.

Nov. 21, 2008, Harrington found his way to Mike D'Antoni's structured run-and-gun system in New York City.

Now, Ellis sits around microphones answering questions and throwing out those magical words to the media—just like Harrington, Chris Mullin, Robert Rowell, Baron Davis, and Nelson did.

He might be honest and he might not be. But what all Warriors' fans must fully acknowledge is the fact that Ellis remains angry over the front office's decision to fine and suspend him.