HoopsHype.com Rumors

Marc Stein: On Bucks/Josh Smith talk: Hawks' interest believed to start w/Monta Ellis, since Monta could play next to Jeff Teague, whom Hawks still like. Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Josh Smith, Jeff Teague 

Chris Broussard: Im told Monta Ellis's name is coming up in discussions btwn Milwaukee & ATL in potential Josh Smith deal. Twitter @Chris_Broussard

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Josh Smith 

Alex Kennedy: Nobody around the league will be surprised if the Milwaukee Bucks trade Monta Ellis. Bucks may cash him in now since he can walk in July. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis 

Ken Berger: The belief among rival execs is that the Bucks would only acquire Redick if they first decided to move Monta Ellis as part of a bigger deal. Twitter @KBergCBS

Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Trade, Monta Ellis, JJ Redick, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute 

The Bucks don’t have anything going trade-wise for guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis and doubt either will get moved, a source told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

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

It’s almost a given that Brandon Jennings will explore free agency after the Bucks passed on an opportunity to sign him to an extension last summer. Jennings has exceeded expectations during his four years in the NBA but can still be wildly inconsistent with his 3-point shooting and decision-making. Also, guard Monta Ellis has an $11 million player option that he is expected to reject to become a free agent this summer. Ellis, like Josh Smith, has been productive throughout his career but elicits different opinions about whether he can contribute to a championship-caliber team. The Warriors felt they had to move Ellis because of his overall effect on the team and his desire to be the primary scorer despite the presence of Stephen Curry. Boston Globe

Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Trade, Monta Ellis 

With the NBA trading deadline Thursday, the Bucks have been exploring their many options. Some league officials claim the Bucks are willing to deal virtually anyone on their roster, although they say Monta Ellis, who has an opt-out after this season, and center Samuel Dalembert, who has an expiring contract, appear the most likely candidates to be traded. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Samuel Dalembert 

Charles F. Gardner: #Bucks Monta Ellis involved in "fender bender" accident and did not practice with team Tuesday. Twitter @cf_gardner

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis, Injuries 

But after Monday's game Ellis was asked if he could play the same style he did when he was with Golden State, before coming to the Bucks in a mid-March trade a year ago. "It's not the same system I was in in Golden State, either," Ellis said. "When I was at Golden State they put me in a lot of different positions, not just pick-and-rolls, spot-up (shots). They posted me, got me at the elbow, isos. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis 

"Coming here it's a more set offense. So it's different. So you're not going to get the same Monta that you get in Golden State. So I just have to adjust to the system that I'm in and try to do the best I could." Ellis said he's just trying to do "what I'm asked to do as a player." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis 

Ellis' body language seemed to signal a certain unhappiness or discontent. But the Bucks shooting guard insisted after practice Sunday that he is fully committed to the team's success. "I go out and play hard every night," Ellis said. "I do whatever it takes to help my team win. I don't know why people are doubting that or whatever. "I still go out every night and play hard, try to do whatever I can to help my team win, even if it's on the offensive end, distributing the ball or on the defensive end. "You go through things in the NBA. You go through a stretch where you're shooting bad. You go through a stretch where you're losing. You go through a stretch where you're winning. "You take the bad with the bad, the good with the good and move on to the next one." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis 

Ellis, 27, has an interesting contract situation with an $11 million player option for the 2013-'14 season. That means he could decline the option this summer and become an unrestricted free agent. "I'm not thinking about that," Ellis said. "Right now I'm under contract with the Milwaukee Bucks until otherwise. I'm just trying to play basketball, that's it." Following practice, Ellis spoke briefly on the court with Bucks owner Herb Kohl. Ellis said he knows how much Kohl wants to see the Bucks return to the playoffs. "That's always been his mentality, to win," Ellis said. "We're going to try to find a way to do that before it's too late." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis 

Ellis' body language seemed to signal a certain unhappiness or discontent. But the Bucks shooting guard insisted after practice Sunday that he is fully committed to the team's success. "I go out and play hard every night," Ellis said. "I do whatever it takes to help my team win. I don't know why people are doubting that or whatever. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis 

"I still go out every night and play hard, try to do whatever I can to help my team win, even if it's on the offensive end, distributing the ball or on the defensive end. "You go through things in the NBA. You go through a stretch where you're shooting bad. You go through a stretch where you're losing. You go through a stretch where you're winning. "You take the bad with the bad, the good with the good and move on to the next one." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis 

Eric (Wisconsin) The Bucks have a ton of pieces to move. None are superstars, but still a ton of pieces. Talented players and expiring contracts. Do you think they'll make a move? Chad Ford (1:10 PM) Hearing they are VERY active right now. Marc Stein reported today that Samuel Dalembert is one guy that they are actively talking about (and what an incredible game he had last night trying to show his value). But he's not the only one -- Monta Ellis, Ersan Illaysova, Beno Udrih are all available. Even Brandon Jennings at the right price. ESPN.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Beno Udrih, Monta Ellis, Samuel Dalembert, Brandon Jennings, Ersan Ilyasova 

In talking with Bucks.com, Hammond said that is not the plan. “We like our team, we really like Brandon and Monta. We like them playing together, we think they are a dynamic backcourt. And our hope is we can keep that back court together.” NBCSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings 

There would be seven new All-Stars next month in Houston if the 16 NBA players polled by HoopsHype had their say. Cavs guard Kyrie Irving, Knicks center Tyson Chandler, Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Pacers forward Paul George and Rockets guard James Harden received tremendous support in the voting while Sixers guard Jrue Holiday and Bulls center Joakim Noah squeaked in for the last spots. All-Star veterans like Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh or Paul Pierce also made the list while the usual snubees - Atlanta's Josh Smith, Milwaukee's Monta Ellis, Memphis' Rudy Gay - were left out. HoopsHype

Paul Pierce, Rudy Gay, Chris Bosh, Monta Ellis, Paul George, Tyson Chandler, Josh Smith, James Harden, Joakim Noah, Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan, Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, All Star Game 

Smith, in particular, was brutal. Bucks guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis administered the equivalent of a public wedgie on Smith, twice swiping his pass, and once stripping him of his dribble. All three turnovers resulted in fast break layins. “Rough stretch,’’ Smith said after the game. “Really rough stretch. I’ve gotta take care of the ball. I’ve gotta put it behind me.’’ Oregonian

Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, Nolan Smith 

Yet, in an informal poll of seven NBA officials — two general managers, an assistant general manager, two advance scouts and two players — Irving and Holiday received more votes than either Jennings or Ellis. Irving and Holiday were two of four guards chosen in the poll for the Eastern Conference team. The others were Boston’s Rajon Rondo and Miami’s Dwyane Wade, who were chosen as starters in fan voting. Joining the four backcourt players on the Eastern team were eight frontcourt players, including Miami’s LeBron James and New York’s Carmelo Anthony, who were also voted as starters by the fans. Racine Journal-Times

Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, All Star Game 

“To be honest, I would put myself in the same category as D-Wade. I mean, at the end of the day, the only thing that he has that I don’t have is more wins and two championships. That’s it. As far as playing at the same level? Competing every night? Both ends? Shooting inside and outside? Fast break? Transition? Monta Ellis have it all.” – Monta Ellis NBCSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis