Oct

12

Warriors Suspend Ellis 30 Games Without Pay; Mullin And Nelson Not On Board

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Injuries, NBA Off The Court Issues, SDC COMMENTARY 

When you own the team, you make the rules, even if the people you hired to run the team do not agree. In a situation that has shocked many Association observers, Golden State Warriors Team Owner Chris Cohan has decided to suspend guard Monta Ellis 30 games without pay. The suspension stems from an incident this Summer, as Ellis got seriously injured in a moped accident, then lied about how he was hurt.

The Associated Press has reported that Warriors Team President Robert Rowell acting on Cohan’s wishes issued the suspension. Ellis signed a six year deal with the Warriors before the accident, reported to be worth $66 million. Ellis originally told the team he was playing in a pick-up game in his home town when he tore a ligament in his ankle requiring surgery. However the abrasions on his leg were not conducive to an accident on the hard wood. Ellis told the truth a few days later, and admitted violating his contract by riding the moped.

Warriors General Manager Chris Mullin and head coach Don Nelson were against the suspension on the player they hope will eventually become the team’s starting point guard. Former Warriors guard Baron Davis signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers. Rowell told reporters “Chris Mullin made it perfectly clear to both Mr. Cohan and myself that he didn’t think this was a big deal at the beginning, and we happen to think it’s a very big deal. We happen to think that it’s a big deal for our fans, it’s a big deal for our season ticket-holders, it’s a big deal for our business partners, it’s a big deal for the Warriors organization.”

Mullin and Nelson are of the mind-set that the suspension may alienate a player that they are looking at as a core piece for the next six years. Cohan’s mind-set is that Ellis should have realized the ramifications of his actions, before he violated his contract. The subsequent lying about the incident, only hardened the Team Owner’s decision that Ellis must be punished.

Both sides have valid arguments. As important as team chemistry is in all professional team sports, with only five players on the floor it has a heightened signifigance in the NBA. And above all you want your point guard, your quarterback, to be a leader on the floor. If he is an unhappy camper, that will not happen.

However Cohan and Rowley believe that the responsibility lies with Ellis, that he was foolish to put himself in a situation that he could, and did get hurt. And to make matters worse, he then tried to cover it up. If you do not punish him, it sends a bad message to other players on your team and in the Association.

The suspension will end in late December, Ellis was not expected to play before then as he undergoes rehab. But now he will not be paid for those games. The biggest question may be is if this will lead to Mullin exploring other options. And if he does, was taking the stand Cohan did was worth it?

© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net


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Comments

One Response to “Warriors Suspend Ellis 30 Games Without Pay; Mullin And Nelson Not On Board”

  1. andra on October 13th, 2008 3:34 am

    I still don’t understand why did he lie?

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