Tuesday’s Monta Ellis-Andrew Bogut swap set off a tidal wave of reaction in the NBA world, some positive, some negative. For the remaining Warriors players, it was almost all negative, and some didn’t hesitate voicing their frustrations to the media before their contest with the Kings on Tuesday. As tweeted by beat reporters Marcus Thompson and Rusty Simmons:
Said one Warriors player: “So we’re just giving up on the season?”
— Marcus Thompson (@gswscribe) March 14, 2012
One Warriors player said: “If we’re giving up, I can feel my hip hurting already.”
— Rusty Simmons (@Rusty_SFChron) March 14, 2012
Dorell Wright, “I’ll talk about the game. I’m not talking about the trade crap.”
— Rusty Simmons (@Rusty_SFChron) March 14, 2012
The Warriors’ discontent comes from two places. First, with three players being shipped out, the remaining guys lost probably three friends (that’s assuming Kwame Brown is capable of having friends). And as we all learned at the end of summer camp, it’s always hard to say goodbye.
Second, by losing their best player for somebody who likely won’t suit up this season, the Warriors probably feel upset that the team appears willing to keel over and die. And the players have every reason to feel swindled: they are currently an arm’s length out of a playoff spot. The suits in the front office will tell you this deal makes the Warriors better in the long term, but the guys currently on the team don’t care about a franchise’s future.
The Warriors should look on the bright side. The trillest rapper in the NBA is coming to their locker room.
H/T I am a GM
Photo credit: Jeff Hanisch, US Presswire
