Friday, July 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am  |  95 responses

Monta Ellis Gets P-A-I-D

by Marcel Mutoni

If ever there was any doubt as to who the main man – now that Baron Davis is out of the picture – in Golden State is, the Warriors have put an end to all of that.

Monta Ellis has just gotten one of the largest pay raises in League history; the 22-year old guard went from making just under $800 K per season to $11 million a year.

The Mercury News has the details:

The Warriors locked up their franchise player for at least the next five years when restricted-free-agent guard Monta Ellis signed a six-year, $66 million deal.

“He stated to me right away that his strong preference was to play for the Bay Area fans,” Ellis’ agent, Jeff Fried, said. “Obviously, you have to factor in the economics. But this is where he wanted to be.”

Monta has the money and the status, now what? As the great philosopher Peter Parker often said, with great power comes great responsibility. Or in Monta’s case, great pressure to deliver the goods.

The Warriors have made it clear that they will go only as far as Ellis can take them, and in the loaded Western Conference, it doesn’t appear as though they’ll get very far anytime soon. That’s a lot to handle for a 22-year old. Best of luck to you, young man.

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  • B. Long

    Josh Smith’s Top Three Destination Possibilites-Stays in Atlanta, becomes a human alley-oop next to Baron Davis, heads to the Knicks for a taste of the New York nightlife and hopes they outbid Jersey in the Lebron sweepstakes to form the most explosive dunking duo since Vince and T-mac in the Toronto days.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Ellis that is. Iverson isnt as quick as those guys, I would put him around as quick as TP, Paul, Harris, Barbossa, Ellis. But since they are all similair its another moot point TAD. Hes not faster though. Lou Williams is another.

  • Lz – Cphfinest3

    Squirrel; Schortsianitis brought Calderon into the discussion, I just followed his (and TAD’s) lead. Did never say their games where comparable. Also who says that Monta will bolt after his contract is up, that’s a big assumption.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    *is as, around the same anyways.

  • Lz – Cphfinest3

    Squirrel; sorry thought your 10:26 was for me.

  • Lz – Cphfinest3

    Leandrinho is the quickest player in the L. Monta, TP, and Iverson (still) biting his heels.

  • Squirrel7

    Well, in that case, LZ, we’ll have to resume this discuss in 2013! I just think there’s fewer players nowadays who sign consecutive contracts at the same ball-club, and the Warriors never seem to be the most stable franchise….

  • Lz – Cphfinest3

    Squirrel; true and true. 2013 it is.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    But Iverson is slooowly falling behind me thinks.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Maybe the NOW Iverson, but 10 years ago, Ivy would have beat everyone of these dudes in a footrace. And trust me, he wouldn’t be too far behind now.

  • Squirrel7

    What a shame Tractor Traylor is no longer in the league, he could’ve been included in this ‘speedy’ debate……

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    fu*k it, Im out. Have a good one.

  • Squirrel7

    Laterz. TJ Ford was pretty quick in his prime, if I recall rightly. Maybe not so much since injuries took their toll.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Good for Monta.

  • Squirrel7

    Ben, I was wondering, is there a reason why SLAM issues in the UK occasionally come packaged with an old edition of Kicks? I know it’s not your fault, it’s just a little disappointing, as yesterday I got the Chris Paul edition of the mag, and thought I was getting 2 for 1, and it turned out to be a Kicks I got about 6 months ago (with MJ on the front).

  • ciolkstar

    Be happy you got anything…I live in Texas and haven’t gotten any “KIKCKS” or anything besides regular “SLAM” ishes.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    Calderon should not be making more than Montha for the simple fact that Monta will have a bigger role with the Warriors than Calderon will with the Raptors.

  • Squirrel7

    See, I’d disagree, as if Calderon is having an off night, the whole of the Raptors will likely be off too, as they rely on him to get them flowing. Whereas if Monta has a bad game, Magette and S-Jax should be able to step up.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com DP

    Monta has been deserving this money since his MIP season two years ago. I just feel like the Warriors should have tried to find at least a better back up point guard than Early Watson. Monta is more effective at the two guard slot. I saw him play the point when B-diddy was out with injury and he played decent but when he went back to the 2 slot, he was a beast. He is more of a slasher and scorer then a bonafide playmaker. Magette is going to be looked upon to do what Monta did last year:score like hell. Monta is going to have to step up the Warriors this year but hey he got the C.R.E.A.M. so it’s all good.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    yeah but Monta, with this big contract, is now forced to be that consistent guy who brings it every night. I think even though he’s making close to what maggette will make, Monta is still seen as the #1 guy. Calderon is at most #2 or possibly even #3…monta is also like 4 yrs younger.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com DP

    Imagine if Mo willliams and Monta were together at GS though? All Mississippi backcourt? They would be dynamite yes dynamite together.

  • http://www.toronto.com Mr. 416

    I guess Calderon doesn’t get any airtime in the states. if you’ve ever watched a Raptors game or just the highlights you’d see why he’s worth every penny. He keeps the game flowing keeps the rest of the team in their spots. plus he led the leauge in assist to turnover ratio and has a great touch beyond the arc.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    I’m not saying that Calderon isn’t good, but Monta is better. Two different players anyway.

  • http://www.freewebs.com/betcats BETCATS

    who is Monta Ellis?

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    He IS worth every penny he’ll be paid, i dont think anyone is debating that. Rafer also keeps Houston’s offense flowing and gets people in their spots, he doesn’t have a great ratio or shot, which is why he’ll make almost half of what Calderon will. Calderon is close to mo will, williams is more explosive, Calderon has more control, which is why Calderon will make slightly more.

  • http://www.nba.com/celtics/ Moose

    @ BETCATS: you serious dude???

  • http://www.freewebs.com/betcats BETCATS

    no dumby that was AND1′s marketing campian.

  • http://www.ballerblogger.com Brandon Hoffman

    I like Monta. He’s extremely talented. But he doesn’t have a position. The only guy I can compare him to is AI, and knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have signed Iverson to a six-year, $66 million contract at Ellis’ age. Ellis is a guy that is fun to watch, but he won’t lead his team to anything of worth.

  • http://www.alllooksame.com Tarzan Cooper

    monta is the most underrated player in the l. he has some of the best shot selection. fg% is tremendous.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    i actually think BETCATS meant gumby and not dummy.

  • http://birdmonster.blogspot.com tenorca

    Tarzan’s right. I can’t believe the Dubs got him back at a reasonable salary; it actually seems fair for everyone.

  • http://www.ballerblogger.com Brandon Hoffman

    And before someone attempts to rip my AI comment above to shreds, let me explain. I love Iverson’s heart. He deserved his MVP. But he has to be surrounded by a group of players who have no desire to touch the ball on offense and are willing to do all the dirty work on defense. Otherwise, he’s just a high volume scorer. Nothing more, nothing less.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com DP

    Brandon is right. Monta is a scorer, a f*cking highlight reel. I don’t like him as the leader but maybe he will prove me wrong. This not like he is in Jackson, MS anymore when the coach’s gameplan was something like this: “pass the damn ball to Monta!”

  • Schortsianitis

    Although i still believe that Calderon is a (slightly) better player than Monta (and you can say that for players playing different positions like you can say that Kobe is a better player than Bosh) i completely understand the reasons why he is paid more money in the WARRIORS (most of those reasons mentioned in the above comments). But in a more complicated style of game (like the european one) Calderon would definitely make more money since his heady play and great shooting ability would be of greater value than Monta’s freestyle running(which i prefer to see as a fan).

  • playaz Martin

    I bin tellin tha basketball about Monta, now that Baron Davis is gone monta should really put in up number I perdict 25ppg 5rpg 6apg 2spg CP3 n Deron williams look out here comes Monta Eliis

    P.S I am from Toronto

  • Nathalie

    he should have been playing overseas all these years! lol

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    @ Schortsianitis: No offence, but you are a complete idiot if you think Calderon is anywhere near as good as Monta Ellis, or if you think his potential is close to Monta’s whatsoever. Monta Ellis has the potential to be one of the best players in the league if he develops correctly for the future. Now, Calderon is a solid point guard and a very decent player and has the potential to be an all-star point guard (in a conference that lacks these types of players), but Ellis is the type that can and will be able to carry a team. And what is he, 22 years of age?

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    @ playaz Martin: Learn to spell..

  • Schortsianitis

    Thinking that players like Monta Ellis are better than players than Calderon is one of the reasons why the U.S. kept losing in international competition when faced with serious and inteligent teams (Teddy i bet you r mind can’t even consider Calderon as better than A.I. and Baron Davis. But go ask Popovich or any serious coach around the world for the matter). Fortunatelly for the U.S. (and unfortunatelly for the rest of the world…) Colangelo is way smarter than the average NBA-AND1 fun…

  • mitch

    A good player but I am unhappy cause he stole the most improved from k mart and those bandwagon wariors. Sacramento wat? KINGS

  • B-moore

    Jose Calderon.. Top 5 pg in the world… better than Arenas, kidd, nash, Iverson, Davis, CP3, DWilliams, Tony Parker.. well that’s at least a pgs better than Calderon

  • Schortsianitis

    Arenas and A.I. are definetely not point guards,B.davis is more of a scorer(but a stricky shooter), and kidd is almost done. The only ones better than Calderon are: 1)D.Williams 2)CP4 3)Parker 4)Nash . Check more than points per game in order to judge a player(and even if you check only that, look also how many shoots needs someone to get his 20+ a night….)

  • http://www.myspace.com/fresh2def6 Ta!ented

    Git dat paper monta! lol

  • KA

    LOL at spidermans granddad comment, check your sourcesbuddy LOL

    monta is dope but he’s no franchise player.

  • Playaz Martin

    Yo B-moore, Jose Caldoneron is good but not better than CP3,Deron Williams,Baron Davis,Kidd and Tony Parker. Fact CP3 is the Best PG in the league just check the Stats.

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