HoopsHype.com Rumors

SLAMonline has learned the Golden State Warriors have made out-of-court settlements this week in two sexual harassment claims against the team. Former Director of Community Relations Erika Smith and former dance team director Susan Hovey have each agreed to out-of-court settlements with the Warriors in their respective cases. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. SLAM

Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis, Law 

Smith sued the team in December alleging that former Warriors guard Monta Ellis sent her 61 unwanted text messages in December 2010, including a photo of his genitals. Her complaint also alleges she was fired after informing team officials that a local newspaper reporter had questioned her about receiving messages from Ellis. The settlement comes less than five months after the team issued a public response to Smith’s suit stating they would “vigorously defend the reputation of the Warriors organization in the courts.” The team also claimed in its response that Smith’s interactions with Ellis were consensual. SLAM

Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis, Law 

The Warriors really thought they could bring Stephen Jackson back to Oracle Arena until he asked Larry Riley for a contract extension immediately following the Monta Ellis-Andrew Bogut trade. Riley was surprised to find three suitors for Jackson and worked out the deal with San Antonio for Richard Jefferson and a first-round pick while Jackson was at the Minneapolis Airport and scheduled to fly to Oakland. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Andrew Bogut 

Gery Woelfel: I was told Monta Ellis wouldn't give GS officials a firm commitment he would re-up with team. Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis 

He recognized that some of the boos were because of the Warriors' trade that sent Ellis, Udoh and Kwame Brown to the Bucks for Stephen Jackson and Andrew Bogut, who is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season with a broken left ankle. The co-owner said the jeers also had to do with years and years of losing, a perceived lack of bold moves during the ownership's first 16-plus months and broken promises of lofty goals. "They're unhappy with the fact that Mark Jackson and I made some pretty big proclamations about this year, and we have every intention - even to this day - to drive toward the playoffs," Lacob said. "It's not looking too good on the losing part right now, but we're going to keep being behind our team, we're going to keep going forward and we're going to keep trying to win." San Francisco Chronicle

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Joe Lacob, Andrew Bogut 

Ellis laughed when asked about the You Tube video and whether he had seen it, after the team's shoot-around in Portland on Tuesday morning. "It was a pretty crazy scene," Ellis said. "I don't really know what to say, but I love those fans. I know they love me, too. "I know it's tough on them just as well as it's tough on me. At the end of the day, they still have to go out and support their team. Much love to 'em. In a way, it was very funny to me. It just shows how much love the fans have for me and Ekpe. They're going to truly miss the pieces they gave up." Ellis also said he wasn't upset about the trade. "It was past due with us and we knew they had to make a move," Ellis said. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis 

The Magic tried to bring in a second star, but that’s easier said than done. They pursued a number of players including Monta Ellis, Josh Smith, Steve Nash and Carmelo Anthony. However, they didn’t have the trade assets to get anything done. When Orlando was trying to convince Dwight to opt-in, they kept telling him that they just needed more time and that a second star would be on the roster soon. They’ll definitely try to make a splashy move around the draft or in July. As you said, it’ll be difficult given their cap space and limited assets, but the Magic better get creative. HoopsWorld

Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Monta Ellis, Steve Nash, Josh Smith 

Marc J. Spears: New Bucks G Monta Ellis shows classy move by buying ad in Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to thank fans for welcoming him and to show excitement. Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis 

Lacob said the decision to trade Ellis was especially difficult and then spewed this nugget: “I’m getting chills talking about (Ellis) right now,” Lacob said. “He’s one of my favorite players in the NBA. Anyone who thinks otherwise is crazy. I feel very strongly about him. It was incredibly difficult to trade him, but he’s the piece it had to be to get Andrew Bogut. We would have traded either (Curry or Ellis) to take the next step for this franchise.” San Francisco Chronicle

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Andrew Bogut 

Warriors fans were upset that you got traded: “I always knew they were going to do that. They loved me here and I loved them back. … One thing I can say, the 6 1/2 years I’ve been here, the fans have given nothing but great support to me, and I tried to give it all on the court for them. I feel that’s part of my family. It’s gonna be tough, but I think at the end of the day, it’s gonna be a great turnout.” San Francisco Chronicle

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis 

What would you say to the Warriors’ fans?: “I enjoyed the time being here. Thank you for the support. I’m always going to miss you, and you’re always going to have a part of my heart.” San Francisco Chronicle

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis 

Following Milwaukee's acquisition of Monta Ellis, the Nets offered a trade of Brook Lopez, according to Ric Bucher while on KNBR Radio. The Bucks turned down that trade and decided to keep Ellis. Ellis is known to be a player Dwight Howard wants to play with. RealGM

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Brook Lopez 

Gotta love Warriors GM Larry Riley's candor. His take on the pairing of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry: "Now that it's over, the doggone thing didn't work. We didnt get a (center) and it didn't work. We've heard for a long time that you can't play with two small guards. Well, we've now opened up some playing time for somebody at (shooting guard) that's not a small gaurd. We're going to be a more traditional looking team." There. The first open confession that the small backcourt did not work. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Trade, Monta Ellis, Larry Riley, Stephen Curry, Andrew Bogut 

Fallout from the Monta Ellis trade? (Or as they call it in Warriorland, the Andrew Bogut trade.) Well, a cold front has settled in around Joe Lacob. "My fiancee is mad at me," co-owner Lacob said, hanging out in the hallway off the court before Wednesday night's game. "She hasn't talked to me in two days." Is he kidding? "There she is," Lacob said. "Ask her." San Francisco Chronicle

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Joe Lacob, Andrew Bogut 

His fiancee brushed past without answering. She looked unhappy. Lacob's fiancee had formed a friendship with Ellis' wife. When you trade a guy, you break some hearts. It was Lacob's first big trade as Warriors boss and he said he didn't pull the trigger casually. General manager Larry Riley came to Lacob Tuesday with the vote of the team's advisory board - Riley, assistant GM Bob Myers, Kirk Lacob (Joe's son and director of basketball operations), director of player personnel Travis Schlenk and uber-adviser Jerry West. The vote was 5-0 in favor of the trade. Still, Lacob hesitated. "I was probably the last holdout," he said. "Part of that was to test the resolve of those guys." San Francisco Chronicle

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Joe Lacob, Andrew Bogut 

Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings said he heard the news the same way a lot of people did on Tuesday night. "At first Twitter was blowing up like crazy and then my phone started blowing up," Jennings said. "At first I couldn't believe it. It was like, 'Wow, we're getting Monta Ellis.' The first thing I said was, 'It looks like we'll be running a lot more.' Just up-and-down buckets, a lot of fast breaks. That's when I got more excited." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings 

"I don't see any problems at all," Jennings said of his fit with Ellis. "This will be the first time I've played with another guy who can score a lot. "He'll take a lot of pressure off me. Every night I won't feel like I have to go out there and score so many points for the team. Now I can run the point guard a little bit more, get more assists, that's something I love to do." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings 

Sean Deveney: Larry Riley says the Bogut-Monta trade dated back to last year's Chicago pre-draft camp in May and "heated up" 10 days before the A-S break. Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Larry Riley, Andrew Bogut 

Golden State's preference was to trade Stephen Curry instead of Monta Ellis but several teams that previously liked Curry better than Ellis changed their stance recently, in part because of Curry's persistent ankle injuries. ESPN.com

Golden State Warriors, Trade, Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry 

Anthony Morrow: Sad day in GS warrior history when Monta doesn't put on that Warrior uniform anymore. S/O to my bro ME8 *Salute* Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Monta Ellis, Anthony Morrow