This morning I wake up to check my email and I come across a report by Mark J. Miller of Yahoo sports (http://goo.gl/YsEgH) saying that there are strong rumors going around that the Golden State Warriors would be willing to trade guard Monta Ellis to the Philadelphia 76ers for forward/guard Andre Iguodala. ESPN’s and former NBA point guard Mark Jackson was named head coach last night and the Warriors are looking to make changes to their franchise. The trade makes some sort of sense for both teams and I’ll tell you why from my point of view.
The Warriors started a talented backcourt of Ellis and 2nd year point guard Stephen Curry, and they were effective offensively. But their lack of size and defensive ability was a hindrance all season. Both of them are only 6’2”-6’3” and teams would use their bigger guards to post up and put them in pick and roll situations. A trade for Iguodala would give the Warriors a bigger wing player to go alongside Curry and a legit defender that this team desperately needs. Golden State plays an up-tempo type of basketball and Iguodala would be the perfect fit.
The Sixers lacked a legit number one scoring option this season and because Iguodala was the highest paid player, most Sixers fans thought he should be that. But he’s not, and he caught hell during his career here after he signed that big contract a few years ago, for not developing into the player the Sixers thought he would. Monta Ellis would give the Sixers a legit scoring option on the perimeter and go to guy. Ellis has averaged 24.5 ppg over the last two seasons, but has the tendency to take shots early in the shot clock and makes no effort on the defensive end. He also has three years left on a contract paying him $11 Million per year.
I’m in favor of moving Iguodala for sure, but I don’t want another big contract back in return (like Rudy Gay). Monta Ellis is a good player, but is he good enough for the Sixers to avoid being a 7 or 8 seed yearly, and make it out of the first round of the playoffs? The right medley of front office decisions can take you from a laughing stock to a game away from the conference finals (check out the Grizzlies), and even though the Sixers will have to deal with the Miami Heat for the next five years, along with the Bulls and Knicks, they need to make progress.
I’m all about winning it all, not making lateral moves to just stay in the middle of the pack or stay afloat. The way the NBA is currently structured, the only way to get out of purgatory is to dump salary and/or get lucky in the NBA lottery and make the right draft pick. The Cleveland Cavaliers have a $14 Million trade exception they can use and if I were the Sixers, I would try my best to ship Iggy’s ass there. But hey, I’m not the General Manager. I’m just tired of the circle of mediocrity this franchise has displayed since the trip to the Finals in 2001. It has been a damn decade and it has to stop.
Brandon Pemberton of Brandon on Sports, Blogger for War Room Sports
