Monta's Peak
The Golden State Warriors tonight gave Monta Ellis one of the biggest raises in NBA history, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The dynamic scoring guard, who was a restricted free agent, went from $770K to an average of $11 million over six years. He even managed to get an early termination option in there that would make him an unrestricted free agent midway through the deal (at the age of 25).
Ellis benefitted from Baron Davis' surprising opt-out and subsequent sprint to Clipperland. But it was believed all along that Chris Mullin made Ellis a priority despite great sign-and-trade interest from the likes of Miami, Cleveland and, to a quieter extent, the Knicks. Mullin made it clear he had no interest in trading Ellis, who averaged 20.2 points per game for Golden State this past season. The Warriors have opened up the purse strings this summer by locking up Ellis long-term, matching a $9 million offer sheet to keep Kelenna Azubuike and also signing free agent Corey Maggette.
A great deal of Ellis' success has to be attributed to Don Nelson's up-tempo philosophy. System can be an often overlooked yet critical element for a player. Ellis clearly isn't a half-court point guard and he isn't a traditional shooting guard. He's the very definition of a combo guard and if you put him in a halfcourt system his flaws -- poor court vision, weak perimeter defender -- would show vividly. But in the run-and-gun, Ellis is a dynamo.
And this is why I think Jamal Crawford might have a big year this season with Mike D'Antoni at the helm.The up-tempo will only make Crawford a more dangerous player on the offensive end and also hide (or at least overshadow) his defensive issues. What we know is the guy can score in bunches and when he's on, he's impossible to defend.
Crawford is five years older than Ellis (who turns 23 in October), but you have to think he should be able to command a similar contract - similar, I said, not exact - if he puts up the kind of season this year that D'Antoni thinks he can in his system. D'Antoni has told me and others that he thinks Crawford can reach all-star status playing in his system.
And if Jamal can become an all-star and drop 20 per for a second straight year (of course winning would help, too, not to mention a playoff appearance for the first time in his career), it wouldn't be surprising to see him opt out of his current contract next summer. He would walk away from the final two years and over $19 million if he knew he could get $11 mil per in his next contract. Pushing 29, time isn't on his side.
So what do you do, Fixers? Let him walk or lock him up?
Difficult to answer until you see what he can do under D'Antoni.
P.S. - Remember the live chat, Friday morning at 11 a.m.
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Comments (28)
Not for 11 million per. That's a lot even for Monta, and his age gives him possible upside that Mullin is willing to pay a premium for. Crawford would have to have an awfully impressive season to change the impression of him as a player enough to be tossing those figures around. And at his age, he is unlikely to become stop being a defensive sieve.
Buh bye.
I don't know what the hard-on for Crawford is. He's a poor shooter with a terrible basketball IQ. This guy isn't an all-star and isn't worth big money.
Sign him Period! He will be an All Star this year without a Doubt!
Crawford's biggest mistake was returning at the beginng of the season TOO buff...the worst thing a shooter can do! Crawford will
have a few more 50+ point games THIS YEAR! He will find that "Zone" often under D'Antoni!
Its amazing me to me how many people try and associate fg% with BBall IQ . Thats just ridiculous because every great scorer believes he can make every shot from anywhere on the floor and its up to the coaches to put him in a better position to succeed.
Maggette signed for 5 years 50 million and I could see Crawford getting that much if he plays well AND the knicks win.
The one thing people overlook about these types of things is how the contract is structured .he could sign an extension or a new deal in which its frontloaded and the remaining years are very manageable
5 years 50 million with the first year being 12-13 million and the remaining years being in the 7-9 million range
There are many optioning that can be pursued .
Posted by Heri | July 24, 2008 22:53
Aren't they susposed to have restraints on Mentally ill people?
Heri....how did you do it? Where ever your from....welcome to the planet Earth!
Berman left the cage open! Uh oh!
FYI Fixers....
sorry for FTT.....thats MAK......trying to turn this into Bermans!
I should of skip passed......I will from now on! MY Bad.
While Monta is probably worth every penny, I think he could have been signed for less. Either way, Jamal Crawford nowhere near as talented as Monta Ellis. Ellis shot 12% better from the field than Crawford, and at 53% he's about as efficient as your average power forward. Granted, Crawford is better from distance (35% to 28%), but he wastes too many possessions with poor shot selection. Ellis is a solid rebounder for a guard, while Crawford racked up slightly more assists due to more time at PG. Factor in the extra half a steal per game and age difference, and it's a no brainer. Look up the stats, Monta is the far superior player and it's not even close.
While Monta is probably worth every penny, I think he could have been signed for less. Either way, Jamal Crawford nowhere near as talented as Monta Ellis. Ellis shot 12% better from the field than Crawford, and at 53% he's about as efficient as your average power forward. Granted, Crawford is better from distance (35% to 28%), but he wastes too many possessions with poor shot selection. Ellis is a solid rebounder for a guard, while Crawford racked up slightly more assists due to more time at PG. Factor in the extra half a steal per game and age difference, and it's a no brainer. Look up the stats, Monta is the far superior player and it's not even close.
Let him walk obviousley, we all talk about Stef being a loser, but Jamals is equally the loser. Sure he's one of the nicest atheltes around but the guy never wins. Im tired of watching him chuck up shots every game and for the 1 game hes hot and single handlinlgly wins it theres the 5 other games he blows it for us with bad shots. Let him walk and spend the money somewhere better
One of the things I continue to fail to understand - what kinda difference does it make if you're makin' $11 mil instead of $9.5?
And sign me up with the guys who think Crawford will always be Starks Jr - shooting you into a game one night, out of it the next two.
i think crawford has some of the best moves in the nba and he has the best crossover in the nba, i only wish he would take better shots and play a little d, if he does that this year i would throw 50 mil over 5 yrs. if we wanna sign lebron we need some players to play with him don't we, please get ride of zach and curry
agreeing with peaceman twice in one week is more than i can stand, let alone having to cross swords with willis on the question of crawfords value.
first i will toot my own horn a bit by noting that just two days ago i raised the spector of the liklihood of jamal opting out.
like alan, i too believe that jamal will flourish under d'antoni. and i beleive he will opt out. and i suspect the knicks will let him walk.
he will be hard to replace.
i will miss him.
Let's see if Crawford blooms this year under D'Antoni ... then let him walk ... unless he truly becomes an All Star and learns how to play some defense.
Larry Bird once said something like just about any player in the league can average 30 points a game if he takes 30 to 35 shots a game.
The bar is low for All Stars nowadays I guess.
He can walk only if Chandler and Danillo look like the future at the forward positions. If we had dumped Zach to the Clips and Crawford opted out where would we be salary wise next year?
But if you don't get LeBron or Wade your hurting at the 2.
Crawford is a streak shooter- he isn't a good shooter and he isn't a shooter that knocks down open looks- when he is on, he can have players draped on him and he'll knock shot after shot down.
But when he is off, he can't buy a bucket.
Having open looks in D'Antoni's system isn't necessarily going to translate for him.
Excellent points as usual from Fixer Nation. You guys never cease to impress me with the knowledge. I have to toss the teacher's apple to Luke, however, for an excellent post. But everyone gets an A.
I'm happy to be wrong about Crawford when he has signed with another squad for double digits and becomes the complete player we have never seen here. I like him personally and wish him well.
I am very grumpy about being right while he is still here and doing the same old thing he's been doing ever since he came into the league (and making double digits, and taking up a roster spot that should be filled with a basketball player).
His scoring talent is first rate, but his lack of interest in actually playing the game of basketball to win means you cannot give him any real responsibility on your team. He is a 6th or 7th man who cannot govern his own game, and therefor the coach has to have the ability to pull him in and out of games as needed. So like Alan was saying of Childress, et al in an earlier post - not a baller, you can't give him prominent money, nor a prominent role. He is best when he's in whirling dervish mode, unthinking, high as a kite, unconscious and pure. Why make him anything else?
Yes, tell him to drive more, use the dribble to beat his man so he is forced to make his team better, draw the defense, go to the line. Yes, put in packages for him like Rip Hamilton gets. But don't predicate your winning and losing on him making decisions, making stops, making the right play at crunch time. The guy who does that is the one who starts and gets double digits. That guy is not Crawford.
I think he will thrive under D'Antoni, and we will sadly (snicker) be forced to let him go, or use him in a sign and trade. Oftentimes doing nothing, is doing something.
From the ZZone, a Nets blog quoted over at HoopsHype:
"The Nets still have a lot of power forwards. That means if they can find takers for Stromile Swift and/or Sean Williams - I know some of you won't like that I include his name but they are looking to move him - the Nets will deal each or both.
Thorn said the Nets would like to add a third point guard for insurance and another shooter. Dooling is expected to back up both spots, but you can never have enough. They could do either through free agency or by trade.
Thorn wouldn't rule out the possibility of a big trade. With all the work the Nets have done and moves they have made you canât rule out anything."
This screams Nate Robinson for Sean Williams. MAKE IT SO!
Sh!t I'll let him walk now...He's a turnover waiting to happen and has horrible shot selection...Yes when he's on he can be difficult to contain but he's too inconsistent....Even if he's an All-Star this year, let him go and move Wilson Chandler to the 2. Problem solved.
Crawford is not a player you can win with. Even if his numbers match, he takes too many shots to make the 20. His defense is poor and is a very selfish player. This kind of thinking will keep the Knicks where they have been all along. On the bottom.
No wonder it's TROLL time over here, looks like Starberman has put up some new restrictions.
Alan, better get on it now...or it'll be TROLL central in no time!
As one great poster here put it....nothing says "Skip me " more than anything named Anoymous......LOL
Something to keep your eyes on......Bynum's agent is seeking an
80 million dollar contract extension....can the Lakers afford it?
Is Bynum worth it? Is Bynum healthy enough? His agent says whats in Bynum's (and his) best interest of course, but something tells me to keep an ear and eye on the look out! This could get interesting in September!!!!!
renaldosdealer -
Monte is a product of Baron pg play and Nelsons system . I doubt he flourishes at pg as hes never had any responsibility whatsoever since he stepped into the league besides fill the lane and look to score .
Crawford averages over 4 assists for his career is a better shooter and hasnt had the benefit of system or pg to play off of .
one player averages 20 4 and 5 on good without any responsibility in regards to how the team performs
The other averages 20,5 and 3 and has to try and carry the team
thats is the difference between the two .
Its will be interesting to see peoples reactions after Monte has to run the point for a month .Or will they simplys say he cant do it and insert Marcus williams at point allowing him to go back to zero responsibility .
To me Jamal Crawford is too turnover prone. I hope he does opt out. He is residue form the Isiah era. If you give more than you score than you're a loser.
You're on serious crack if you think someone will give Jamal Crawful a deal similar to Monta Ellis.
Jamal Crawford mos def does not
deserve a contract like Ellis...
#1 reason to me:
his age
monta ellis is younger and has an higher upside
crawford is what he is going to be
a shot jacker
when he is hot though he can score 50
but he is inconsistent
we need a SG that is a pure shooter
ala Alan Houston
who can knock down open shots
if Crawford opts out i say good riddance.