Golden State Warriors: It's Time for Ellis and Company to Throw in the Towel

Now don’t overreact, I’m not talking about blowing up the team. I’m simply suggesting that this season might be too far gone to salvage. The 23-29 Warriors trail the eighth-seeded Trailblazers by five and a half games going into the February 13th matchup with the Thunder.

And unless they go on a serious winning streak, seven, eight, nine in row, it appears the team, its fans, and especially its owners might just need to start looking ahead to the 2011-2012 season.

The Warriors this year are an okay team. They possess a great deal of individual talent, but they still lack the consistency needed to be a playoff contender. The Warriors' recent efforts against the Bulls and Nuggets are balanced out by horrendous performances versus the Suns. 

Every Warriors player other than Monta Ellis has had a few week-long spells of wildly inconsistent play. While the additions of Dorell Wright and David Lee have certainly boosted the talent of the roster, the inconsistent bench minutes have really hurt the abilities of Reggie Williams, and Vladimir Radmanivic.

While Williams has been on fire off the bench of late, Radmanivic has been languishing over the past month or so. Granted, he’s not the greatest player, but on the Warriors' thin bench, he’s one of their best. 

I’m not sure if Keith Smart is to blame for the poor bench play, but the Warriors' bench rotation has been inconsistent, which certainly contributes to their lack of productivity. They need to find a way to improve their bench if they want to contend in the future.

When the Warriors' new ownership took over in mid November, Joe Lacob and Peter Guber promised roster moves to make the Warriors a contender. As of mid February, no moves have been made, and the Warriors are continuing their drift into west coast obscurity.

I don’t fault the new ownership, I just think the sale was finalized too late into the season to make any meaningful changes. If the takeover had finished in August, it would have given the team time to make a few acquisitions and incorporate them prior to the beginning of the season.  

That being said, the Warriors should look to improve their team before the trade deadline. With over $14 million in the expiring contracts of Gadzuric and Radmanivic, the Warriors have the ability to pick up a few quality role players. They also have the chance to be a buyer in the free agent market come the offseason.

Okay, so what do the Warriors need to do? They need to avoid blowing up the roster. Trading either Ellis or Curry would probably serve to be a step in the wrong direction. They are only in their second season together, and I don’t see their partnership moving backward over the next few years. 

They need to build the bench either through trades, free agency or the draft. A true backup point guard is a necessity, as well as a solid post defender who can spell Lee and Biedrins. When starters play 40-plus minutes per night, they can’t compete against fresher apposing players down the stretch.

If the Warriors can solidify the bench to lighten the load on the starters, they will have a much better chance to compete next year. They need to finish this season on a high note. If they can show they can compete down the stretch, it will be a boost to team momentum and a better selling point to potential free agent targets.

The Warriors have the potential, and with just a few tweaks before November, we won't be having this conversation next year.

This season might be over, but the future of the franchise is still bright.