Monta Ellis, Andrew Bogut swapping teams in Golden State-Milwaukee blockbuster trade

The Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly come together on a five-player deal that features a pair of big names. Multiple outlets, including Yahoo! Sports, ESPN and SI.com, are reporting the deal will be consummated.

In the trade, the Warriors will send guard Monta Ellis and centers Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown to the Bucks in exchange for center Andrew Bogut and forward Stephen Jackson.

Ellis and Bogut are the primary names involved in the first major deal of the NBA season. Ellis, despite his exploits as the Warriors go-to-guy and top scorer, has been the subject of trade rumors for the past few seasons. The ability of Ellis to co-exist with backcourt mate Stephen Curry has been a question since Curry was drafted three years ago. Both are ball-dominant, undersized players.

Bogut has established himself as one of the more versatile centers in the NBA when healthy. The problem is Bogut cannot stay on the court, missing huge chunks of games due to a variety of different injuries. Bogut may not suit up again this season with an ankle injury, and he was plagued by an elbow injury last season. The big man has only played in at least 70 games one season since his rookie year.

Udoh had just earned the starting job in Golden State and began showing signs of development on both ends. The Baylor product in his second season is known primarily for his work on the defensive end, where he excels as a shotblocker. Brown, the former No. 1 overall pick, has not played in two months with a chest injury.

One interest side story in the trade is the return of Jackson to Golden State. Jackson was a member of the Warriors team that shocked the Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA playoffs. Since then, he has failed to find a home in Charlotte or Milwaukee and has continued to develop his reputation as a malcontent.

The trade immediately boosts the roster of the Bucks, who are fighting for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Ellis will likely start alongside Brandon Jennings in the Milwaukee backcourt, provided Jennings is not dealt in another trade.

The Warriors will have to wait to see dividends from the trade. While Bogut may miss the remainder of this season, he is under contract through 2014.

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