Even if Warriors had interest in Marbury, it would likely cost them Monta Ellis

November 29, 4:02 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Stephon Marbury: Out of the Warriors' league 

Since it’s Warriors at Knicks in an hour or so, and Stephon Marbury is suspended for the game, how about a quick reality check on that whole thing?

On the topic that I've now seen written and suggested: Some kind of uniting between the Warriors and Marbury.

Ha.

The Warriors wish.

Here's the truth: Whether the Warriors would want Marbury as a player who could help or merely someone to overhaul their cap situation in a hurry, they couldn’t get him without giving up Monta Ellis.

That's right. Monta Ellis.

The Knicks are all about clearing space for the summer of 2010. If they're going to give up Marbury, and his $21.9 million expiring deal, they're going to need back players on short deals or a star.

Too many of the Warriors’ contracts last beyond that important offseason. Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Corey Maggette Stephen Jackson, Jamal Crawford, Kelenna Azubuike, all of them go beyond 2010.

The only way the Knicks would part with Marbury and put a temporary crimp in getting LeBron James is if they could bring home a big-time talent right here, right now.

Ellis would fit the bill. Which is the only way the Knicks would do it.

Of course, that's why the Warriors would never do it.

The whole point being that this many Warriors players locked into this many years doesn’t do a whole lot for their options.

I just saw that Amare Stoudemire is unhappy in Phoenix ... just like Tracy McGrady was once unhappy, Shaquille O'Neal was once unhappy and like Baron Davis was once unhealthy.

Sometimes those guys are gettable. But usually only if a big part of the equation is legitimate young talent a short contract or two.

For the Warriors, the young talent might be there, but not the short contracts.