Monta Ellis talks

[ohara831]

Interesting that both InsideHoops and HoopsHype are both mentioning Charlotte as someone with whom GSW may be talking with as far as dealing Monta Ellis. They mention the fact that Rod Higgins is a former exec there, that we did the Jax deal, and that young Higgins was an asst there and on very good terms with Monta. I find this very interesting.

[BlockParty]

And Stephen Silas had a great relationship with him, Monta credited Silas with helping him mature.

I still think Monta gets paid way too much for the next 3 years. We are entering into a CBA battle that will almost certainly result in a 'win' for the owners. Now is not the time to take on contracts of players that are overpaid. Rebuild through the draft and only take on trade of players that are under rookie contracts or soon to be expiring (as the Salary Cap will have to go down after the CBA).

[spectre]

GSW fans don't think much of Tim Kawakami.

What do we have that would trump Iggy or Deng? All our assets are middling at best, and most reports have GSW wanting "like" talent back. Monta also wants to go to a contender.

I don't think he's overpaid at all...no more than Crash was. He's one of the best scorers in the league.

But for a team that wants to go cheap then yeah, I suppose he is.

[BlockParty]

But for a team that wants to go cheap then yeah, I suppose he is.

This is our reality. We can't pay more than $5M/year for any player that isn't able to contribute at both ends of the court. If we followed that rule, we never would've brought in Diop, Chandler, Morrison (I know he didn't get $5M/yr at first but his QO were that high), etc.

[bes628]

If we are in talks...we need to pull a trigger.

[ohara831]

If we are in talks...we need to pull a trigger.

One source says we have spoken, the other just says we are a possible trading partner.

[ohara831]

From a numbers point, I think Hendo, Najera and Carroll + #9 would be the very best the Cats could offer. Would reduce their payroll, give them a young G in Hendo, 2 players who can contribute and who will be under Contract for only a couple years, and then #9 to go with #11 they have already. They can get 2 more players or combine to trade up. Solid deal for them. For Charlotte, Monta adds tremendous scoring potential to the Cats. A lineup of DJ, Monta, Jax, TT and Kwame would be very solid in the East. Drawback is how his lack of defense will hurt, especially in a backcourt with DJ. But there is no one in this draft we can get at #9 who can give us the scoring threat of Monta Ellis.

Not convinced I would do this deal, but I would have to strongly consider it.

[adam187]

I feel Monta has the physical tools to be a fine defender, it's just never been stressed since he's been playing for GS since he's been 18. That could be fixed.

Anybody know how his point guard skills are? I feel like he used to play point more, I wonder if people considered that a failure or they simply made him a 2 so he could play with Steph.

Rather have Steph though, but probably so would GS.

[ND22]

I think we are being mentioned because of our GSW ties, but mainly due to our need for a scorer. They throw a lot of teams in the mix just to create buzz. Until there is legitimate information linking us to Ellis, this is just smoke. Plus, we can't compete with Deng or Iggy.

[TheLegend]

No thanks to Ellis. I really don't want him. Also, I rather keep Hendo since he prove he could be a good assist on this team.

[Marvel]

NO. Rather keep Hendo.

[Chef]

i would take him just so i could enjoy watching the cats on offense. but long term i would look at him as a gateway to possibly flip in a cp3 or howard trade. if we are serious about trading for either of them, we need a high value player who is also on a bigger deal to make #'s and players work.

[teej]

I haven't been in the loop of late, but if as was noted, this is just a Tim Kawakami rumor, then toss it.

I love Tim, but only for Raiders news, not NBA stuff. He's much more in-tune with the NFL beat than anything else.

[Hormel]

Not a big fan of this trade , I don't think Ellis is a player that can take you out of the basement of your division if he's your team's best player. Sure he may get us more wins, but in sports it's either Championship or nothing, and I don't think trading for Ellis puts you closer to a championship

[Thomas Beck]

Not a big fan of this trade , I don't think Ellis is a player that can take you out of the basement of your division if he's your team's best player. Sure he may get us more wins, but in sports it's either Championship or nothing, and I don't think trading for Ellis puts you closer to a championship

Unless Charlotte gets a much larger tv market dont count on us going to or winning the finals anytime soon...

[dnbman]

Unless Charlotte gets a much larger tv market dont count on us going to or winning the finals anytime soon...

I don't think that's necessarily true. We just have to be very smart about roster decisions, which we haven't been over the last several years. A hard cap would actually help things, as the larger markets couldn't indulge multiple stars with big contracts and then add talent through trades and exceptions like they do now. By getting rid of contracts and acquiring assets, we could position ourselves to have a lot of youth and cap space to sign some starts in '13 and be very competitive.

[Thomas Beck]

I don't think that's necessarily true. We just have to be very smart about roster decisions, which we haven't been over the last several years. A hard cap would actually help things, as the larger markets couldn't indulge multiple stars with big contracts and then add talent through trades and exceptions like they do now. By getting rid of contracts and acquiring assets, we could position ourselves to have a lot of youth and cap space to sign some starts in '13 and be very competitive.

The risidual money for tv spots and personal appearances in a major market is too much of an incentive for these players...Opening a ferarri dealership in miami compared to a ford dealership on south bully makes a difference in where top tier players sign. Running a summer camp in NYC or la vs charlotte or OKC is going to be a tremendous difference in money. Not to mention appearance fees at nightclubs in larger cities and major markets. Lebron can make 10 or 15 grand a night to show up at some swank spot and post up in the VIP...that shit aint happening in the QC...We aint even talking about endorsements and jersey sales yet either.

lastly, I hate to say this...but the nba is the most heavily "influenced" professional game out there. If the nba has a playoff race between clt and nyc watch the calls down the stretch. The nba wouldnt shit itself out of the ne tv markets when its nearly bankrupt to begin with. The nba will always have atleast one contender in each major tv market. Charlotte is not in one of those markets. After watching dwade travel in the finals and lebron hack everyone under the sun for 6 games i think the ref influence was more apparant than ever...too bad steve javy cant make shots for lebron in the fourth.

Dont forget these guys are in the business of selling the nba...not losing money for fairness or parity...

Just my humble opinion....

[dnbman]

The risidual money for tv spots and personal appearances in a major market is too much of an incentive for these players...Opening a ferarri dealership in miami compared to a ford dealership on south bully makes a difference in where top tier players sign. Running a summer camp in NYC or la vs charlotte or OKC is going to be a tremendous difference in money. Not to mention appearance fees at nightclubs in larger cities and major markets. Lebron can make 10 or 15 grand a night to show up at some swank spot and post up in the VIP...that shit aint happening in the QC...We aint even talking about endorsements and jersey sales yet either.

lastly, I hate to say this...but the nba is the most heavily "influenced" professional game out there. If the nba has a playoff race between clt and nyc watch the calls down the stretch. The nba wouldnt shit itself out of the ne tv markets when its nearly bankrupt to begin with. The nba will always have atleast one contender in each major tv market. Charlotte is not in one of those markets. After watching dwade travel in the finals and lebron hack everyone under the sun for 6 games i think the ref influence was more apparant than ever...too bad steve javy cant make shots for lebron in the fourth.

Dont forget these guys are in the business of selling the nba...not losing money for fairness or parity...

Just my humble opinion....

There's no doubt that major markets have a significant upper hand. However, if you get the right central player, you can build a team around him out of guys that aren't simply money-hungry. Aside from making sure their families are secure, the most important factor to a player is winning a championship. It's not easy to get the right guy, but if we acquire assets and free up cap space, we become much more likely to get a key free agent, especially if the cap is lowered and the stars have to find big contracts in other markets.

So, yeah, we may not win a championship any time soon, but I don't think that's because the NBA is stacking the chips against us or because our city is too small. We just have to prove to free agents that we know what we're doing as an organization.

[teej]

RE: NBA fixing it for big markets

Tim Duncan.

Kthxbye.

[Thomas Beck]

RE: NBA fixing it for big markets

Tim Duncan.

Kthxbye.

Tim may be the exception to the rule...for your one example i can find fifty where greed over ruled looyalty....

i never said it was fixed...i said heavily influenced...

but to you tim duncan arguement i say this....

San antonio is part of the dallas and houston market....#5 and #10 tv markets in the country... while san antonio may be a smaller market it is part of one of the top 5 regional tv markets. San antonio vs dallas or houston have been som pretty high rated national games over the past 15 years...those rivalries lock down 2 top ten markets....

had you done any research you would have seen that miami is ranked #16 behind minneapolis st paul and one ahead of Cleveland. this would have given you a stronger argument against me. instead you came with tim duncan?

kthanxsuckitTrebeck....no need to be a dick

[Thomas Beck]

There's no doubt that major markets have a significant upper hand. However, if you get the right central player, you can build a team around him out of guys that aren't simply money-hungry. Aside from making sure their families are secure, the most important factor to a player is winning a championship. It's not easy to get the right guy, but if we acquire assets and free up cap space, we become much more likely to get a key free agent, especially if the cap is lowered and the stars have to find big contracts in other markets.

So, yeah, we may not win a championship any time soon, but I don't think that's because the NBA is stacking the chips against us or because our city is too small. We just have to prove to free agents that we know what we're doing as an organization.

I agree one hundo...i think the backlash against lebron may be the best thing to ever happen to small market teams...Players like CP3 and Dhoward have already made statements that they have no interest in following the lebron model. Mike could alway pull a marlins and buy one too. But the chips are stacked against us for landing a top tier free agent. If we can draft a lebron, Durant or a similar player and build around them before they leave we'll be good. But i dont see a mello kobe lebron Dirk or any such player taking their talents to south bully as a free agent.

Sweet Jesus I hope that I'm wrong....

[teej]

I brought up Duncan because that's a sustained story of success, winning 4 rings in the last 12 years. Also, Nielson considers San Antonio it's own market, but even if you want to pair it with the Houston (200 miles away, versus nearly 300 to Dallas), then it's pretty much no different from Charlotte (if you add in Greenville, SC and Greensboro/Winston-Salem, which are both much closer markets than Houston is to SA).

Miami is different because while it's not a big tv market, it's still recognizable by pretty much everyone, and has cultural relevance. Even if it's the same as Minnesota's, it's a lot more name-brand then Minny.

[Thomas Beck]

I brought up Duncan because that's a sustained story of success, winning 4 rings in the last 12 years. Also, Nielson considers San Antonio it's own market, but even if you want to pair it with the Houston (200 miles away, versus nearly 300 to Dallas), then it's pretty much no different from Charlotte (if you add in Greenville, SC and Greensboro/Winston-Salem, which are both much closer markets than Houston is to SA).

Miami is different because while it's not a big tv market, it's still recognizable by pretty much everyone, and has cultural relevance. Even if it's the same as Minnesota's, it's a lot more name-brand then Minny.

Regional coverage is when teams are seen in selected other markets near theirs. Yes, the bobcats are broadcasted regionally and so are the mavs. However the regional broadcasting market for san antonio includes the #5, #10 and #37 tv markets in the country. Charlottes regional markets if you include raleigh and winston account for the #24, #27 and #46 tv markets. And you say thats no different than charlotte? Hell throw in greenville spartanburg asheville and columbia and maybe we can garner a comparable regional market. Surely, you can see why it would benefit the nba to keep a rivalry going between these three teams. Houston vs mavs is 2 top ten tv markets any time they play on tv...nationally or regionally. Keeping any two of these three teams deep in the playoffs is a benefit to the nba and its sponsors.

Back to my original statement....Heavily influenced.

Do you think Lebron, Wade and Bosh get the same calls as Hendo, dj and tyrus? If they these guys get preferred calls or protection calls constantly how can the outcome of the game not be influenced?

If we let dj travel like wade every single play we could watch his numbers go up signifigantly. If they let Crash play D as hard on Kobe as Kobes allowed to play on everyone else watch Kobes numbers go down. These things influence the game...

And please dont come with that Jordan got calls ish either. Could any team employ the "Lebron rules" in todays NBA and knock his ass on the floor on every screen or drive to the hoop? Hell no! Why? Because this game is "heavily influenced" by the nba, its referees and tv marketing. More so than it ever has been in my 30 years as an NBA Fan.

[teej]

Is it influenced by who's on the court? Hell yes.

But, market has nothing to do with that.

If LeBron, Bosh, and Wade played for the Kings, and they were playing the Knicks in the Finals, they'd still get the calls, because they're LeBron, Wade and Bosh. We don't get calls because our players suck and/or haven't proven themselves. Not because it's Charlotte.

[Thomas Beck]

Is it influenced by who's on the court? Hell yes.

But, market has nothing to do with that.

If LeBron, Bosh, and Wade played for the Kings, and they were playing the Knicks in the Finals, they'd still get the calls, because they're LeBron, Wade and Bosh. We don't get calls because our players suck and/or haven't proven themselves. Not because it's Charlotte.

Lebron got calls before he proved himself. So to you a Lebron foul or travel is different than a Hendo foul? If the calls are based on the player and not the rule than an unfair advantage is given to someone. If there is an unfair advantage than how is the game not influenced by the refs?

Like it or not the NBA is insolvent. 22 of 30 teams failed to make money last year. The nba is struggling to manufacture a star and garner any sort of interest they can. even if this means comprimising the integrity of the game.

Maybe you're right...its all a coinkie Dink that players go to major markets and that the only teams making money are major market squads and that those teams routinely end up making it farther than small market teams.