Shades of Vladimir Radmanovic in the Monta Ellis injury situation

We know Monta Ellis got hurt. We don't know exactly how.

Admit it, you missed me.

I’m sure you want to hear about my week off, but we’ll save it for later. While I was gone Monta Ellis suffered an ankle injury in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. He’ll be out at least three months, probably longer.

I also saw that Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times wrote that the Warriors are looking into how the injury occurred. Apparently, Ellis told the team he sustained the ligament damage while doing a basketball-related workout.

Obviously, the Warriors aren’t so sure. 

Sounds similar to the Vladimir Radmanovic situation of a couple of years ago. In 2007, Radmanovic suffered a separated shoulder when he was skiing in Utah during the NBA All-Star break.

Radmanovic originally told the Los Angeles Lakers he sustained the injury when he slipped on a patch of ice. He eventually came clean and admitted lying to the team. He was fined $500,000 by the team for violating his contract.

Radmanovic wound up missing about two months because of the injury.

If Ellis injured himself, say, water skiing, parachuting or riding a motorcycle, for example, then the general precedent would seem to be set. 

Ellis would draw a significant fine, one that would pretty much make up for what the Warriors would have had to pay him had he been healthy during the time of injury. If Ellis returns sometime in December, and looks like his old self, then it’s case closed.

The real issue _ and a nightmare scenario for fans, the organization and Ellis _ is if the injury is serious or, worst-case scenario, career-threatening. That would leave open the possibility for the Warriors to possibly terminate Ellis’ contract. And as you know, Ellis just signed a six-year, $$66 million one of those.

In Radmanovic’s case, he said he never considered appealing his $500,000 fine. In fact, he said he was “grateful” the Lakers didn’t try to void the remaining $30.2 million remaining on his contract for either the lying or the breaking of the contract. In the end, Radmanovic said the Lakers were fair.

If Ellis didn't injure his ankle playing basketball, he may end up finding out if the Warriors are fair, too.