some articles from espn.com
With that thought in mind, let's take a look at the situations of the top five players who become trade-eligible Monday.
2. Monta Ellis, Warriors
First things first: The notion of trading Ellis "has not" been discussed in any way, shape or form, according to Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried. And that probably stands to reason, given that no team in its right mind would take on a $66 million, six-year obligation to a fellow who tore up his ankle in a moped accident.
Ellis, still weeks away from returning, has filed a grievance against the Warriors for suspending him 30 games while also claiming they retain the right to terminate Ellis, since riding a moped put Ellis in violation of his contract. Fried's argument is that the Warriors can either terminate or suspend Ellis, but cannot keep the termination option open.
Ellis told reporters Thursday he feels "no pain, nowhere" and considers himself "slightly" ahead of schedule for a presumed January return. Then we get to see if he can be the replacement at the point for Baron Davis that the Warriors envisioned he would be.
3. Corey Maggette, Warriors
Quick quiz: Has Maggette accumulated more assists per week or games missed due to a strained hamstring?
He has four assists per week during the season's first seven weeks -- that's 28 total -- while he missed his seventh game Friday night.
Given the recent acquisition of Jamal Crawford, who like teammate Stephen Jackson has been known to, er, make a few shots available for himself each night, one would imagine there are not going to be enough shots to go around once Maggette, Ellis, Jackson and Crawford are all healthy and playing together.
But even if that becomes the case, the Warriors want to see how the lineup works before they give up on it, so don't hold your breath on Maggette going anywhere anytime soon. Team president Robert Rowell, who has supplanted Chris Mullin as the chief power broker in the front office, was the driving force behind the Maggette free-agent signing last summer after Golden State lost Davis to the Clippers.
then
• I heard the first concrete rumblings this week that the Warriors are indeed prepared (yes, so soon) to part with their big free-agent signee, hard as it figures to be to move Corey Maggette in the first season of a five-year, $50 million contract. Maggette is one of the 90 guys who becomes eligible to be traded Monday.
-- Marc Stein