Golden State Warriors: Bogut-Ellis Trade Still Paying Off
Improved Team Chemistry
Nov 8, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with teammates after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Lastly, because of the Warriors’ decision to trade Ellis, the Warriors have improved their team chemistry and generally play more like a team than when Ellis was on the team.
When Ellis was on the Warriors, he was the number one option on offense, which was partially warranted but also because Ellis has a playing style that is dependent on having the ball in his hands for most of any given offensive possession. Ellis commands the ball and could definitely be considered a “ballhog,” even though he has improved his assist numbers over his career.
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Now with Ellis gone, the Warriors are a less predictable team, since they have so many weapons on offense, and opposing teams can’t just focus on shutting down Ellis to shut down the team’s offense. The Warriors are also a very selfless team, as they don’t care who has a big night or who scores the most on any given night. Each player just wants to contribute in any way they can to get a win.
The Warriors’ team chemistry has been the best in the NBA since Curry took over the team and since Ellis was traded. Ellis’ somewhat selfish and egotistical style of play made it tough for the Warriors to excel as a team, so now that he’s gone, the Warriors have re-focused on the team, not the individual, and have soared because of it.
The Bogut-Ellis trade occurred almost three years ago, but the trade is still paying off for the Warriors in many ways. In fact, the trade was one of the biggest reasons why the Warriors have catapulted from the basement of the Western Conference to the best in the West. If Ellis was still on the Warriors, there’s no way they would be in the same spot they are in today.
Ellis was extremely fun to watch and was very talented, but he was never going to be the future of the team. No matter how much fans adored him, trading him was completely necessary, and fans now see why it was.
Behind the Ellis trade of acquisition of Bogut, the emergence Splash Brothers, the hiring of Coach Kerr, and the construction of one of the deepest, most cohesive rosters in the NBA, the Warriors are now an elite team.