WARRIORS' ELLIS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNICKS...

BY ALAN HAHN
July 4, 2008
While the Knicks continue to wait for Chris Duhon to accept or reject
their offer, another interesting scenario is beginning to surface
involving Monta Ellis, the dynamic young guard for the Golden State
Warriors.

Ellis, 22, a restricted free agent, is starting to draw a great deal
of attention in several sign-and-trade scenarios. A person with
knowledge of the situation said nine teams have made inquiries about
Ellis. The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have shown the most
interest. The Knicks, who are searching for point guard help, are not
one of those teams, but a second source said the Knicks have been
monitoring the situation. Warriors executive vice president Chris
Mullin has maintained he intends to sign Ellis.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Mullin are close, so Walsh won't act
unless Mullin is ready to deal. The source said the potential of an
Ellis-Jamal Crawford backcourt "would be dynamic" in the Mike D'Antoni
system. Both players averaged 20 points per game this past season. A
person close to Ellis said the lightning-quick guard "would be very
interested in the Knicks" and especially playing for D'Antoni.

Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried, would not comment on the interest in his
client from other NBA teams and said talks with the Warriors are
ongoing. "We are continuing discussions," Fried replied in an e-mail.


But word of Ellis' interest in New York - and other potential
destinations - will not sit well in the Bay Area, which is still
reeling from the departure of Baron Davis. Newsday in May first
reported that Davis was making inquiries through intermediaries about
possible interest from various teams around the league as he mulled
his opt-out. A source told Newsday that the Knicks were one of the
teams he checked with, but the Knicks were not interested.

Davis has since reached an agreement with the Clippers, which left the
Warriors with just Ellis at point guard.

Ellis, who quickly emerged as a scoring machine in Don Nelson's
fast-paced offense, made $770,610 this past season and likely is
seeking a hefty raise to upwards of $10 million per season in a
five-to-six-year deal.

On Jul 4, 7:09 am, Syfo-Dyas <Syfo-D... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> A person with
> knowledge of the situation said nine teams have made inquiries about
> Ellis. The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have shown the most
> interest. The Knicks, who are searching for point guard help, are not
> one of those teams,

So basically we're just making stuff up and rehashing old news.

Slow day, Alan?

> Newsday in May first
> reported that Davis was making inquiries through intermediaries about
> possible interest from various teams around the league as he mulled
> his opt-out. A source told Newsday that the Knicks were one of the
> teams he checked with, but the Knicks were not interested.

This, however, is sorta news. Good news in the "no new salary"
department.