New point guard will have Azubuike
Chronicle Staff Report
Friday, July 25, 2008
(07-24) 22:24 PDT -- The Golden State Warriors' front office ran the fast break Thursday as well as its team on the court.
It was a frenetic day for the Warriors, as they re-signed Monta Ellis to a multiyear contract, matched the Clippers' offer sheet to Kelenna Azubuike and also signed second-round pick Richard Hendrix out of Alabama.
Ellis' contract is expected to be in the 6-year, $66 million neighborhood.
"Despite the tremendous interest from many teams throughout this entire process, Monta seems to have a special affinity with the Bay Area fans," Ellis' agent Jeff Fried said. "I know the Warriors received many calls, but at the end of the day, Monta's preference was to play before the Bay Area fans."
Ellis will be the face of the team's helter-skelter offense. He's expected to become the starting point guard and handle the offense with Baron Davis bolting for the Clippers earlier this month.
Last year, Ellis made another run at Most Improved Player in the NBA (he won the award in 2006-'07 season averaging 16.5 points after a rookie season of a little more than six points per game) as he raised the level of his game in the second half of the season to help the Warriors stay in playoff contention until the end.
The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.53 steals in 37.9 minutes in 81 games last season.
The 6-foot-3 Ellis scored a career-high 39 points Jan. 24 against New Jersey and scored 30-plus points on 12 occasions overall.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Monta under contract for the next several years," said team vice president Chris Mullin in a press release. "He has been one of the top young players in the NBA for the last two years and enjoyed a tremendous season last year. The growth that he has demonstrated at such a young age is incredible and we look forward to him playing a big part in our future success."
The Ellis signing, in particular, puts a more positive spin on a summer of negatives that included the departure of Davis as well as unsuccessful efforts to lure Elton Brand from the Clippers and Gilbert Arenas from the Wizards.
Mullin had said all along that he wanted to sign Ellis and Andris Biedrins before the start of the regular season.
With Biedrins' contract in the works, this may signal the end of a very busy period for the Warriors and, in fact, the roster may be almost set.
With regard to Azubuike, Mullin had seven days to match the Clippers' offer, starting when he received the offer on July 18.
Azubuike, 24, appeared in 81 games with the Warriors last season, averaging career-high figures in scoring (8.1), rebounds (4.0) and minutes played (21.4).
Briefly: The Warriors edged the NBA D-League Ambassadors 82-81 to win their third straight game at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City. The Warriors' Anthony Morrow led all scorers with 19 points.
- Camelot 2008-07-25 01:29:26 (476 views)