Warriors' Ellis injury aftermath: Shaun Livingston isn't a savior, but he's
something

Posted by Tim Kawakami on August 27th, 2008 at 1:25 pm

Before Monta Ellis' shattering ankle injury, I was suggesting that the
Warriors should and could make a play for oft-injured free-agent point guard
Shaun Livingston, who remains unsigned.

Now that Ellis is gone, probably until January or February, I would NOT say
that it should be no-holds-barred for Livingston.

Hey, he's not likely to be ready, either, for the start of the season and it
gets a little dicey when you have TWO young point guards with shaky
knee/ankle situations.

But. Livingston, if relatively healthy (and reports are that he's looking
pretty good in workouts), was probably the Warriors' best option for added
depth last week.

So Livingston has to be considered a strong option now that the Warriors are
down to Marcus Williams and (not yet signed) C.J. Watson as healthy point
guards on the roster to start the season.

We've gone over some of the other options before, let's do it again,
quickly:

* Stephon Marbury: Still on the Knicks' roster, but could get released. If I'm
the Warriors, I'd rather go with Williams and Watson and anybody other than
Marbury. That's a NO.

* Kyle Lowry or Javaris Crittenton: Memphis seems reluctant to trade from
their surplus of young PGs (they also have Mike Conley and might use O.J.
Mayo a little there, too) and I don't know what the Warriors have that could
entice the Grizz now. Nope, Al Harrington probably is not that enticing.

* Earl Watson: Not likely with a recently fractured thumb and more than $12M
due over the next two seasons. That's a NO.

* Jannero Pargo: Would've been an option. before he signed with the Russian
Super League. GONE.

* Jason Williams: Off-the-wall option. until he signed with the Clippers.
GONE.

* Anthony Carter: Signed one-year deal to remain with Denver. GONE.

* Keyon Dooling: Signed deal with New Jersey. GONE.

* Ben Gordon: Still an unsigned restricted F/A. But not a PG, would want
Ellis-level money and duplicates Ellis. No chance.

* Kirk Hinrich: Locked up long-term. Mentioned in talk talk before and
during the drafting of Derrick Rose, but Bulls seem to want to hold onto a
Rose-Hinrich backcourt.

* Jamal Crawford: One of my early theoretical targets. Knicks look like they're
holding onto him for now.

* Louis Williams: A potential Warriors target this summer, re-signed with
76ers. Not really a PG, anyway. GONE.

I'm sure I've missed a few, but let's face it: Anybody who has proven he can
play NBA point is probably not available for acquisition at this late
juncture.

Unless he has been hurt. And is holding out for larger guarantees that has
been offered.

That's Livingston. Again, he doesn't solve the pressing need after the Ellis
injury because Livingston might not be ready until December, either. And he
might never be able to play back-to-back games because of his knee woes.

But if the Warriors can guarantee him two-plus years at the minimum. and if
he accepts knowing that he has a shot to really play. the Warriors could
have two shots at a future blooming point guard instead of just one.

Ellis, if he gets healthy. And Livingston, if he gets healthy.

And if they both get healthy. that's a very nice-if risky-long-term
backcourt.