NBA Trade Speculation: 4 Reasons Why Warriors' Monta Ellis Is as Good as Gone

It's the question every Golden State Warriors fan is asking: Will Monta Ellis still be a Warrior at the start of the 2012 season?

There are valid points on each side of the argument, however, all signs are pointing towards the Warriors moving Ellis once the right deal is on the table. Trade rumors have been flying around dating back to last season's trade deadline, like the potential swap with Philadelphia 76er Andre Iguodala or Los Angeles Laker Andrew Bynum, but Ellis still currently finds himself in the Bay Area.

There is a reason why so much trade speculation has surrounded Ellis—it's because trading him actually makes sense for the Warriors.

Here is a list of four reasons why Ellis will be traded once player movement is permitted in the NBA.

4. Warriors' Need for a Defensive Big Man

If you have followed the Warriors at all the past few years, you would know that they have lacked a defensive-minded center who can guard in the paint and bang down low in the post with the best.

The Warriors have always been able to score with ease, but it was at the expense of playing any defense at all. At the core of every great defensive unit in the NBA is a defensively gifted center, and the Warriors are in dire need of one if they have any hope of competing for the playoffs in the near future.

Centers are currently at a premium in the NBA, so many teams would unlikely be willing to give one up for the likes of a scoring guard like Ellis. However, in order to get something in this league, you have to give something up and Ellis is one of the more attractive trade assets on the Warriors roster.

3. Shooting Guards Who Can Score Are Easy To Come By

If there is any position in the NBA that has an abundance of talent, it's a 2-guard who can score in bunches. While Ellis is certainly one of the best in the business when it comes to scoring, the Warriors would be able to sustain the loss of Ellis by finding another adequate scoring guard to take his place in the lineup.

The former Denver Nugget J.R. Smith is a similar player to Ellis and could probably be had for a relatively cheap price. Although Smith doesn't have the same awareness to score around the rim, he's a much purer shooter who can play lockdown defense against the opposing team's best offensive threat at the guard position.

On top of Smith, there are plenty of more well-rounded guards throughout the NBA who would soften the blow if the Warriors were to deal Ellis for another positional player.

2. Klay Thompson

When the Warriors selected Klay Thompson—the 6'7" shooting guard out of Washington State—with the 11th pick in 2011 NBA draft, management made a strong indication that Ellis could very well be on his way out of Golden State.

Apparently, Ellis shared the same feelings and ended up requesting a trade after the Warriors selected a player who plays the same position that he does. However, one common misconception about that trade request is that Ellis wants to play for a winning team and wanted out if the Warriors were not intending on improving their roster this offseason. It's hard to fault the guy for wanting to win, but it makes you scratch your head since he made the request literally hours after the Warriors selected Thompson.

It's hard to believe that the Warriors selected a shooting guard in the first round without the intention of having him play an extended amount of time in 2012 since the team had so many another needs on the court, especially on the defensive side of the ball. While Thompson wouldn't necessarily replace Ellis' presence on the court, he would certainly alleviate his loss by adding some size in the Warriors backcourt.

1. Ellis and Curry Can't Play Defense Together

There is a reason why the "Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry can't play defense" argument is the most mentioned when discussing the potential trade of Ellis. It's a valid point since both of the guards are undersized and lack the defensive skills to make up for their smaller frames. Bigger and more physical guards realize this and can exploit the mismatch throughout the game.

While the dynamic duo of Ellis and Curry might be one of the flashiest in the NBA, their glaring weaknesses on defense make them hard to watch at times.

If the Warriors had a guard on their roster who could come into the game when Kobe Bryant is manhandling Ellis in the fourth quarter, the combination of Ellis and Curry in the backcourt could work. However, the Warriors do not have this defensive stopper on their roster, which poses a problem that the Warriors must address if they have any hopes of contending in the Western Conference.

Why Ellis Won't Be Traded?

If you follow the Warriors, you should know that not only is Ellis the heart and soul of Golden State, but also the team leader and MVP. Ellis' game has improved every year since he came into the league in 2005, and he has emerged as the team's big shot-taker when the game is on the line. Not every team in the NBA has that type of player on their roster, and the ones that do certainly covet his presence on the court.

Moreover, when mentioning the "Ellis and Curry can't play defense together" argument, it's important to look at the overall picture. When Ellis was drafted the Warriors in 2005, his head coach was Don Nelson—the run-and-gun coach who preached the importance of offense. Defense wasn't even an afterthought in Nelson's coaching scheme, so Ellis was never forced to learn how to play defense at the NBA level.

Ellis is certainly athletic and talented enough to learn how to play defense and actually took strides to becoming a legitimate NBA defender in 2011 when he endured his first season of actually being coached how to do so.

The jury should still be out on whether or not Ellis can play defense in the NBA.