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Monta Ellis, Andrew Bogut traded in five-player deal!
Since they drafted point guard Brandon Jennings with the 10th pick back in 2009, the Bucks have been on a hunt for a wing scorer who could support him they've tried John Salmons, they've tried Corey
Maggette, they've tried Stephen Jackson. For all of the above, some combination of age, injuries, bad contracts and less-than-stellar attitudes played a role in things not working out.
Almost immediately after they signed center Andris Biedrins to a hefty extension in the summer of 2008, the Warriors have been looking for a big man who could replace him. Biedrins gave them one outstanding season (11.9 points and 11.2 rebounds) before suffering an abdominal injury that sapped his confidence and left the Warriors searching for answers in the middle.
And so, with about 42 hours to go before the NBA's Thursday trading deadline, the Warriors and Bucks got the dealing festivities under way with a trade that addresses the major issues each franchise has been
coping with over the last few years. The Bucks get that wing scorer who can make Jennings' life easier, while the Warriors finally get the center they sought. It's a deal that could be easily presented with sun-shiney outlooks on both sides, as the Bucks and the Warriors hope these personnel changes boost the relevancy they've already regained in their respective playoff pictures.
Of course, there's the flip side of things in this deal, which is to say, the reality that what had been the Bucks' problem-Jackson, for one thing, and the repeated health problems of Bogut, who is out for at least another two weeks with an ankle injury for another-is now the Warriors' problem. Turn that over and though the Bucks are happy to get power forward Ekpe Udoh as part of the Ellis package, they have the same void at center that Golden State has had.
The Bucks are hoping they can continue to get by with the combination of Drew Gooden and Ersan Ilyasova, a pair that, though undersize, has been very effective lately on the offensive end. In the long term, Milwaukee figures to look to Larry Sanders and Udoh as frontcourt answers, and will employ those two with some frequency going forward. Milwaukee is inheriting a particularly bad defensive backcourt, but the way things stack up in the East these days, there aren't many two-guards out there who can make them pay for it.
This is a bigger gamble for the Warriors, who have repeated the notion over the years that they can win with the 6-3 pairing of Ellis and Stephen Curry. Today marks the death knell of that sentiment. Golden
State is prepared to put forth a lineup of Curry at point, with Klay Thompson or Brandon Rush at shooting guard, Jackson (who demanded a trade out of Golden State in 2009) at small forward, and David Lee and
Bogut up front. The Warriors also could keep struggling Dorrell Wright as a starter at small forward and use Jackson as the shooting guard.
But the Warriors will be in some trouble if they can't get Bogut, who has missed at least 16 games in five of his seven years in the league, healthy. When at his best, Bogut can be the kind of big man who could
put the Warriors into regular playoff contention, and he is signed for two seasons beyond this one. But Bogut has rarely been at his best for the Warriors to give up their leading scorer and a fan favorite represents a serious risk.
Maggette, they've tried Stephen Jackson. For all of the above, some combination of age, injuries, bad contracts and less-than-stellar attitudes played a role in things not working out.
Almost immediately after they signed center Andris Biedrins to a hefty extension in the summer of 2008, the Warriors have been looking for a big man who could replace him. Biedrins gave them one outstanding season (11.9 points and 11.2 rebounds) before suffering an abdominal injury that sapped his confidence and left the Warriors searching for answers in the middle.
And so, with about 42 hours to go before the NBA's Thursday trading deadline, the Warriors and Bucks got the dealing festivities under way with a trade that addresses the major issues each franchise has been
coping with over the last few years. The Bucks get that wing scorer who can make Jennings' life easier, while the Warriors finally get the center they sought. It's a deal that could be easily presented with sun-shiney outlooks on both sides, as the Bucks and the Warriors hope these personnel changes boost the relevancy they've already regained in their respective playoff pictures.
Of course, there's the flip side of things in this deal, which is to say, the reality that what had been the Bucks' problem-Jackson, for one thing, and the repeated health problems of Bogut, who is out for at least another two weeks with an ankle injury for another-is now the Warriors' problem. Turn that over and though the Bucks are happy to get power forward Ekpe Udoh as part of the Ellis package, they have the same void at center that Golden State has had.
The Bucks are hoping they can continue to get by with the combination of Drew Gooden and Ersan Ilyasova, a pair that, though undersize, has been very effective lately on the offensive end. In the long term, Milwaukee figures to look to Larry Sanders and Udoh as frontcourt answers, and will employ those two with some frequency going forward. Milwaukee is inheriting a particularly bad defensive backcourt, but the way things stack up in the East these days, there aren't many two-guards out there who can make them pay for it.
This is a bigger gamble for the Warriors, who have repeated the notion over the years that they can win with the 6-3 pairing of Ellis and Stephen Curry. Today marks the death knell of that sentiment. Golden
State is prepared to put forth a lineup of Curry at point, with Klay Thompson or Brandon Rush at shooting guard, Jackson (who demanded a trade out of Golden State in 2009) at small forward, and David Lee and
Bogut up front. The Warriors also could keep struggling Dorrell Wright as a starter at small forward and use Jackson as the shooting guard.
But the Warriors will be in some trouble if they can't get Bogut, who has missed at least 16 games in five of his seven years in the league, healthy. When at his best, Bogut can be the kind of big man who could
put the Warriors into regular playoff contention, and he is signed for two seasons beyond this one. But Bogut has rarely been at his best for the Warriors to give up their leading scorer and a fan favorite represents a serious risk.
Source : aol.sportingnews
3.14.2012 04:50
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