W’s suspend Monta for 30 games

It’s semantics at this point, given the state of Monta’s ankle, but the Warriors officially suspended Monta Ellis for 30 games for the “Moped Incident.”

We’ve heard different accounts about whether Monta will be the same player post-surgery as he was last year, when he averaged 20 points a game and was clearly the best player on the squad.

But what’s more interesting is the message sent by Warriors management, namely team president Robert Rowell. This was apparently his call, not Nellie’s or Mullie’s. In a press conference, Rowell indicated that both Warrior icons have just one year remaining on their respective contracts - and results are expected.

So don’t expect any slack to be cut even though the team will be without their two best players from a season ago (Hollywood Baron being the other).

Will the Dubs coalesce as a team without Monta? That remains to be seen. They have a great young frontcourt (when was the last time anyone has ever said that about the squad), and enough veterans (Jack, Maggette, even wise young Azubuike) to put up a fight in the three months they’ll be without Monta.

All this move does is once again illustrate how fragile the framework of a pro sports team really is. First it was DunMurphy, then Baron, Monta’s hurt and Nellie and Mullie have very little room for error.

It should make for fabulous drama, regardless of the outcome, this season.

And just for the record, Monta will lose about $3 million of the $11 million he was scheduled to make this season. That’s what you call a real life lesson.