Trading Monta Ellis

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Curry's face fell, and he gritted his teeth before saying, "I'll ask my dad for the money right now. He'll definitely support my training!"

Liam burst out laughing. "No need to spend any money. The Warriors have established a partnership with Brand's basketball acceleration training camp. You can train there anytime!"

Curry was overjoyed and immediately decided to start his training the next day.

As they exited the gym and got into the car, Curry started the engine and said, "Boss, thank you. I feel like Mr. Payne's training philosophy really suits me... Sometimes I wonder if you can read my mind. You always seem to find the exact tactics and training methods that are perfect for me."

"That's because I have a good eye," Liam said with a slight smile.

In his previous life, Brand Payne(Brandon Payne) was Curry's trainer and played a crucial role in helping Curry recover quickly from recurring ankle injuries and rise to MVP status. Liam had specifically sought him out, proposing a partnership between the Warriors and Brand's basketball acceleration training camp, where Brand could develop customized training plans for the Warriors players. In return, Warriors players could train at the camp during the offseason.

This was a dream come true for Brand Payne. Not only would it be profitable, but it would also boost the camp's reputation and attract more high-profile players. He agreed to the partnership immediately.

"Stephen, I spent a lot of money on this. You'd better deliver results, or you know what will happen," Liam said, smiling but with a hint of warning.

Curry's heart skipped a beat, recalling the intense "special training" that players who didn't meet Liam's expectations had endured earlier in the year. He quickly responded, "Boss, I'll work harder than ever!"

While Curry dove into his intense training with Brand Payne, the Las Vegas Summer League was in full swing.

After defeating the Rockets in the opener, the Warriors continued to rack up wins. Silas's tactics were designed to maximize each player's strengths, and in every game, different players stepped up to contribute. No team even managed to push the Warriors into a close contest. By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors' relentless offense had usually secured them a double-digit lead, which they maintained comfortably until the final buzzer.

In the end, the Warriors claimed the summer league championship, though the MVP award went to Blake Griffin, who averaged over 20 points per game.

During a post-championship interview, a reporter asked Silas, "Coach Silas, why didn't Stephen Curry participate in the summer league?"

"He doesn't need the summer league to prove himself," Silas responded.

"Griffin came to Las Vegas and won MVP," the reporter pointed out, clearly implying that Curry might be afraid of competition.

"We see the summer league as a platform to evaluate free agents. Stephen is already the core of our team... and even without him, we won the championship," Silas said with a smile.

In other words: sorry, the Warriors are champions, and the summer league MVP is secondary.

"So, you're saying Curry will be the core player for the Warriors next season?" The reporter asked, his interest piqued.

Silas nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely. Stephen will be the Warriors' core point guard. He's a true genius."

Silas knew how close Liam and Curry were. It was common knowledge that Liam had kept his ownership of the team a secret just to ensure Curry was drafted.

Moreover, Silas had spoken to Dell recently and learned that Liam had spent the past few days in Charlotte, working on Curry's summer training, which apparently involved a significant financial investment.

Although Dell mentioned that this arrangement also involved the Warriors as a whole and wasn't solely for Curry, it was clear how much Liam valued his star point guard.

Given the opportunity, Silas wasn't about to hold back his praise for Curry. After all, the boss had already made his job easy by securing the summer league title, so the least Silas could do was show his appreciation.

The next day, major media outlets reported on the summer league, but one in particular took a unique angle:

"Warriors' lead assistant coach Silas revealed that Curry will be the core of the team next season. However, it's widely known that Monta Ellis is the Warriors' top perimeter star. He was a key contributor to the Warriors' famous 'Black Eight' miracle. In the 2007-2008 season, Ellis averaged 20.2 points, 3.9 assists, and 5 rebounds per game, showing his versatility. Although he only played 34 games last season due to injury, he still averaged 19 points per game and remains a fan favorite..."

"Monta Ellis is also a smaller offensive guard with a similar body type and playing style to Curry. Both need the ball in their hands. If the Warriors make Curry the core, Ellis will inevitably need to make sacrifices. Given Curry's close relationship with Coach G, Ellis could be on the trading block..."

When Silas read this report, he was furious. These reporters were running wild with their assumptions. He had merely complimented Curry, and now people thought Ellis was going to be traded?

If his comments caused any tension within the team, how would Liam react?

Although Ellis was a second-round pick, he had developed into an exceptional scorer. For the past two seasons, he had been the Warriors' primary offensive weapon on the perimeter.

At just 24 years old, Ellis was a rising star with the potential to become an All-Star. After the Warriors traded Corey Maggette, many viewed Ellis as the player around whom the team would rebuild. In contrast, Curry was seen as a complementary piece due to his perceived lack of physical talent compared to Ellis.

The most obvious comparison was that Ellis had recorded 69 dunks in a single season, while Curry barely managed 10 dunks during his time in the NCAA. Curry was often remembered for his near-miss dunk attempts...

However, as soon as the report circulated, it started making sense to people. Ellis had already proven himself in the NBA, and at just 24, he still had plenty of room to grow. On the other hand, Curry was an unknown quantity. Rational management would likely prioritize Ellis as the core of the rebuild.

But the story between Liam and Curry was well known. Liam was not only the owner but also the head coach of the Warriors, giving him absolute control.

No one could say for sure whether Liam would elevate Curry, ask Ellis to defer, or even trade Ellis outright.

In fact, in Liam's previous life, the Warriors' management had remained level-headed. Although both Don Nelson and Larry Riley admired Curry, they still viewed Ellis as the team's core. Curry was seen as Ellis's understudy, and even when Ellis questioned their compatibility, Curry had to assure Ellis that there were no hard feelings.

But now, things were very different.

Rumors of Monta Ellis being traded began to spread like wildfire.

End of this chapter

For those who were wondering what was going to happen with Monta