Could Reggie Williams Replace Monta Ellis In the Golden State Lineup?

The Golden State Warriors have recently been playing like a team who can't wait until the NBA regular season end, but with the announcement that owner Chris Cohan is finally willing to sell the franchise, an air of hope now surrounds the beleaguered Warriors.

New ownership raises a myriad of different possibilities, and one of the main ones is the shape of the roster, assuming management changes once the team is sold.

There are various parts which the Warriors could use, and the only player rumored to be safe from trade consideration is rookie point guard Stephen Curry, who is perceived as the future face of the franchise.

This raises an interesting scenario involving the Warriors' leading scorer Monta Ellis, and diamond in the rough player Reggie Williams, who was recently signed for the remainder of the regular season.

The last memory I have of Williams was when he was the nation's leading scorer in college at Virginia Military Institute, and I remember being struck with the diverse ways in which he got his points.

He could shoot for sure, but he was also adept at scoring in the paint, in transition, or out of half-court sets, but the lack of competition in the Southern Conference garnered him few looks from NBA scouts.

Fast forward a few years and here is Williams with that same nasty shooting stroke plus he's an inch or two taller, and a few pounds heavier, and contributing significantly in a reserve role for the Warriors.

I'm sure the majority of Warrior fans will disagree, but Williams may just be the perfect complementary piece for Curry, and what Golden State would receive for the services of Ellis could benefit in the long run.

There are some advantages Williams has over Ellis, and the most striking is the height disparity, which was a point of emphasis for Ellis when he had doubts about sharing the backcourt with Curry.

Williams, at 6'6", is a full three inches taller than Ellis, and he knows how to use his body to his advantage against smaller opponents. His shooting ability also keeps defenses honest on the perimeter.

Ellis has no problem with getting to the rim with his exceptional foot speed, but his height limits him in post up opportunities in the paint, and Ellis has a bad habit of leaving his feet with nowhere to pass the ball.

Williams is also a better perimeter shooter than Ellis and his shot selection is something that Ellis could take some notes on and use for future reference.

In 14 games, Williams is shooting 54 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range, while averaging 14.2 points per game in limited minutes.

The few times Williams has had a chance to garner extended playing time he has been exceptional with games of 28 points, and more recently, a 29 point gem in only 24 minutes of playing time.

The main difference between Ellis and Williams is patience, because where Williams is willing to let the game come to him, Ellis has a tendency to force the issue, which sometimes leads to rushed shots or turnovers.

The true value in a possible trade of Ellis would be realized in the pieces the Warriors would be able to obtain for him, and the relatively cheap salary which Williams would demand.

There is no question that the Warriors need help defensively and they need major help in the paint. Moving Ellis may afford them the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

Georgetown center Greg Monroe would be an intriguing prospect in the middle for Golden State, as he is a big man who can run the floor, and seems to fit perfectly in the Warrior scheme.

Trading Ellis for the rights to a player like Monroe, in addition to another defensive-minded player, may be too good of an opportunity to pass up should it arise.

There are definite positives which could occur from pursuing a possible deal, and the advantages appear to hold superior weight over the potential issues surrounding a move.

The most pressing would be fear of the unknown, because no one is exactly sure how Williams would perform when pressed into extended playing time, but the Warriors do have somewhat of an idea, based on his previous performances.

Ellis does have some advantages; familiarity and popularity amongst the Warrior fanbase are paramount, but I get the feeling Warrior fans would rally around Williams if any deal happened.

Coach Don Nelson seems to be intrigued with the prospects of fielding the traditional backcourt which Williams could provide, and signing him for the remainder of the season could be a step in that direction.