The Warriors may be fearful of parting with talent on account of Jeremy Lin. If time and a little system tweak turned Jeremy into Linsanity!, then imagine what the right team could do for Monta or Steph.

But. They have. To choose.

More now than ever, as the March 15th trade deadline walks briskly towards us. Choosing is more important than whom they choose. The Warriors are a franchise detrimentally addicted to half measures. They see a fork in the road and waddle between two divergent paths till they’re lost in the wilds. Or at least, that has been the history out here. Lacob is still a (relatively) new owner and can favor a clear strategy, if he so deems. Descriptive has been predictive per GSW, but change is always possible. It doesn’t have to be Groundhog Day in the Bay forever.

In the past, many would cite the Monta vs. Steph issue as immaterial because problems lay in the frontcourt. Here is the flaw with this argument: If the frontcourt is the issue, then how do you fix it? The only way is to trade one of the two starters who still carry trade value. Those two guys happen to be Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. So yes, even if frontcourt talent is the issue, then it is an issue that can only be addressed through parting with guards. The team has lost just so much salary flexibility on account of the Lee signing and amnesty squandering.

Andris Biedrins has no trade value, David Lee’s contract makes him a tough sell. It has to be Monta or Steph. The question is less about, “Can they play together?” and more about, “Which do they move to get better?” My preference would be Ellis because Ellis already had his shot as a solo operator.

But honestly, and again: It’s more important to make a move. Inaction is a decision in of itself, one that most assuredly guarantees a negative outcome. So if a trade means dumping Monta for cap room? Fine. Do it–so long as they don’t repeat the Jason Richardson affair, and go on to waste cap room on the next Maggette. It is necessary for the Warriors to take path, be that rebuilding, or trading for a shot at the playoffs. Right now, they’re not on one.


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