NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Reasons Monta Ellis Isn't Going Anywhere

It's the question that's on everyone's mind in Warriors land: Is Monta Ellis going to be traded?

Some thought that Ellis would inevitably be shipped out after the Warriors drafted Klay Thompson, a shooting guard out of Washington State, in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft.

This didn't make Ellis very happy.

The Warriors star actually came out and demanded a trade from the Warriors after the selection was made, but then later changed his statement by claiming that he only wanted out if the Warriors didn't improve their roster.

Now that Ellis' future with the team in in doubt, I believe that it is in the Warriors' best interest to keep him around. Trading Ellis will only be detrimental to this team, both in the short term and the long term, because he is the heart and soul of the Warriors.

Here are five reasons why Ellis will still be wearing a Warriors jersey at the start of the 2012 NBA season, if there actually is one...

1. Ellis Has Evolved into a Multidimensional Offensive Threat

When Ellis was a rookie in 2005, he was deemed a one-dimensional shooting guard who could only score off of the drive.

Ellis took that accusation to heart and has improved a different aspect of his game every year since coming into the league.

When defenders started to give him space in order to neutralize his driving ability, Ellis developed a consistent jump shot to combat the defensive strategies against him.

The most notable career strides Ellis took came in 2010 when he added a couple more elements to his game: three-point shooting and playmaking.

Ellis was never a good three-point shooter in his young career, but he changed that in 2010 by shooting a career-high 36 percent from behind the arc.

Moreover, Ellis learned how to be a complete playmaker and create plays for the rest of his teammates on offense. In 2010, we saw Ellis "drive and dish" more often than any other previous season and the stats reflected that since he averaged a career-high 5.6 assists a game. 

Another notable change in Ellis' game was his improved discipline. He stopped heaving up shots when it just simply wasn't his night. In the past, Ellis would continue to take shot after shot in order to pad his stats. He could score 35 points on any given night, but it was generally at the expense of taking 35 shots.

In 2010, Ellis strategically selected his shot attempts and still managed to score in bunches.

2. Ellis Has Emerged as the Big-Shot Taker

Every NBA team has one, but only a few teams have a player who has enough ice in his veins to make that last-second shot when the time is running out on a consistent basis.

Ellis unanimously took over as the team's big-shot taker in 2010 and thrived in his new role. There was even a stretch of back-to-back nights against the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings where Monta either tied or won the game with a last-second jump shot.

Having that rare ability to get an open shot at any time he pleases, Ellis possesses what only a very select few of players in the NBA have.

On top of that ability, he has the composure to make that shot when it counts the most and that is the definition of a clutch performer.

3. Jury Is Still out on Whether or Not Ellis and Curry Can Play Defense Together

The Warriors backcourt of Ellis and point guard Stephen Curry has widely been scrutinized as being the worst defensive backcourt in the entire NBA.

Even though this statement is a bit harsh, the dynamic duo of Curry and Ellis has done little to prove otherwise.

Both are undersized for their position, which makes it even harder for them compensate for their lack of defensive capability.

However, it's unfortunate that Ellis and Curry receive such a bad rap for their defensive incapabilities because I don't believe the statistics tell the whole story.

It's a tough assignment for Curry and Ellis when they are expected to defend against opposing guards considering the Warriors have no interior defense.

I mean, if Ellis was guarding me, I would feel like I had a free bucket once I drove past him because Andris Biedrins or David Lee guarding the rim aren't going to scare me one bit.

The Warriors have lacked the defensive presence at the center position for many years and its absence has hurt the team defensively at every other position on the court.

Until the Warriors can find a true defensive center, I believe the jury should still be out on whether or not Ellis and Curry can play together in the backcourt.

4. It Isn't Impossible for Monta To Learn How To Become a Good Defender

I mean, it's a valid point, right?

Ever since Ellis put on a Warriors jersey, Don Nelson was his coach who preached nothing but running, gunning and scoring as many points as possible. Defense wasn't even an afterthought in the Nelson system and I doubt that they even practiced it throughout the year.

Fortunately for Ellis—or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it—Nelson found himself a new favorite toy in Ellis since he was exactly the kind of player he wanted: an extremely quick guard who could score at will.

I don't think it would be so ridiculous to say that Ellis was never really taught how to play defense in the NBA until Nelson left after the 2009 season.

Ellis is still only 25 years old and has more than enough athleticism to improve his defensive game. With Mark Jackson stepping in as the new head coach for the Warriors, I believe Ellis deserves an opportunity  to prove that he can be a complete shooting guard in the NBA.

I mean, Ellis did have 168 steals last year which was good enough to rank him second in the NBA next to Chris Paul—the greatest pickpocket in the NBA.

5. Warriors Will Not Get Equal Value in Return

Let's face it, the rest of the league will undervalue the worth of Ellis in a potential trade with the Warriors. Consequently, they will not receive equal value in return for Ellis who is undoubtedly the best player on their roster.

Unless trading a team's best player away makes them a better team in the present or in the near future, I can't see how it could be deemed a good trade.

Ellis is the heart and soul of the Warriors and the cost of losing his presence for an inferior player in return will not make this team any better.

Sure, there is always the possibility that the Warriors could acquire a big man in return for Ellis, but defensively sound centers are currently at a premium in the NBA so teams will likely be reluctant to give one up for just a shooting guard.

However, one trade possibility that has swirled around is the potential swap of Monta Ellis and Philadelphia 76ers' Andre Iguodala.

The Warriors would gain a defensively sound guard/forward who would perfectly fit the team's need.