Sat down with Warriors GM Larry Riley before the game.

Say what you want about the man, he is present and accountable. He didn’t dodge the media, didn’t skirt any questions, nor did he complain about the negative reaction he’s gotten for his decision. And he clearly explained why he made the decision he made.

The gist: he didn’t do anything to hurt the Warriors plans by waiving Speedy Claxton and his $5.2 million contract. Here are his answers in full (The first two questions were from a season-ticket holder who bogarded our interview. They were good questions):

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I have not talked to GM Larry Riley, so I haven’t gotten his explanation. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is his first unadulterated bad decision as a GM.

The rest of his moves, I understand the reasoning. I may not have done them, but I get the logic. The Warriors made room for forward Anthony Tolliver on the roster by waiving point guard Speedy Claxton, who is injured and hasn’t played all season. Yes, they did. Giving up Claxton’s $5.2 million expiring contract, a valuable bartering tool, 12 days before the trade deadline for an NBA Development League call-up is just bad.

Bad.

Bad.

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Today is the last day of forward Anthony Tolliver’s second 10-day contract. Tomorrow, the Warriors have to decide whether they want to sign him for the rest of the season.

A week ago, I would’ve said the Warriors would keep Tolliver and cut center Chris Hunter. They would have to eat the rest of Hunter’s contract as he’s guaranteed for the season, and that would be an usually bold admission of a mistake by the team. But Tolliver was looking much more productive than Hunter, who can hardly get into the game. But Tollliver has tapered off, and his shot still hasn’t gone down consistently — a must for a power forward-type in Nelson’s system. Throw in the success of swingman Coby Karl, and it might add up to Tolliver being let go.

Coach Don Nelson is in love with Karl, who can pass and has rebounded fairly well. Of course, he could taper off as did Hunter and Tolliver, as D-Leaguers do. But he may have done enough to make the Warriors more interested in keeping him than Tolliver. The one feasible move the Warriors have is to cut Hunter (which they may not even want to do since it is eating money). The rest involves the trading valuable assets. Since the trade deadine is so close, I seriously doubt they waste an expiring contract to keep a D-Leaguer.

There is a window though that may allow the Warriors to keep Tolliver and Hunter. Say they waive Hunter and keep Tolliver. That leaves them with no spot for Karl, should they decide they want to keep him for the rest of the season. However, Karl’s second 10-day contract expires after the trade deadline. The Warriors will either have capitalized off their expiring contracts, or they’re going to let them come off the cap anyway. Of course, if Cartier Martin is still available, they may want to pick him up.

Who should the Warriors keep: Hunter, Tolliver or Karl?

Tuesday, I asked Ellis, who has vacation plans that involve fishing, if he would be willing to forgo those plans if he gets the call from the league.

ELLIS: “I’ll think about it,” drawing a chorus of laughs.

Looks like Ellis won’t have to give up his chill time on the water. The league announced today that Commissioner David Stern has pegged Denver Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups as the All-Star alternate, taking the place of injured New Orleans point guard Chris Paul. Billups’ fifth All-Star appearance means Ellis won’t be making his first.

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Monta Ellis declined to talk to the media today. Don’t think it was because he was disappointed he didn’t make All-Star. He just doesn’t like talking to us. He’s answered questions once since checking himself out of the game Friday. So, in a week span, his only public comments came after the loss to the Hornets. How many face-of-the-franchise players can get away with that?

Anyway, no reaction from Ellis about not being chosen. Corey Maggette did fill in for him.

MAGGETTE: “It’s disappointing for me. Mr. Unbelievable has been doing everything for this team.”

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As I said all along, three guards would get in for the West. Chris Paul and Brandon Roy were locks. They are perennial All-Stars on playoff-caliber teams. It would take a terrible year for either of them not to get in.
That left Monta Ellis fighting for one spot with the likes of Utah point guard Deron Williams, Denver point guard Chauncey Billups, and even San Antonio point guard Tony Parker.
Williams got the nod. Ellis did not. So, the last Warriors All-Star is still Latrell Sprewell in 1997.
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He was a no-brainer. League made it official. Warriors rookie guard Stephen Curry was voted in by the assistant coaches as one of the nine rookies to play in the Rookie Challenge on Friday night of All-Star Weekend. He is the first Warrior to participate since Monta Ellis in 2007, when he wowed everyone with his arsenal of dunks. Curry is the first Warriors rookie to participate since Jason Richardson in 2002. Richardson won MVP.

Here is the rookie squad:

Omri Casspi, Sacramento
DeJuan Blair, San Antonio
Stephen Curry, Warriors
Tyreke Evans, Sacramento
Jonny Flynn, Minnesota
Taj Gibson, Chicago
James Harden, Oklahoma City
Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee
Jonas Jerebko, Detroit

The Sophomore team, which is 8-2 in the history of the rookie challenge, looks far more formidable with its size and experience:

Michael Beasley, Miami
Marc Gasol, Memphis
Danilo Gallinari, New York
Eric Gordon, Clippers
Brook Lopez, New Jersey
Kevin Love, Minnesota
O.J. Mayo, Memphis
Derrick Rose, Chicago
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City

Warriors guard Monta Ellis will not play Tuesday night at Sacramento, the team announced during Monday evening’s practice.

His sprained right ankle is severe enough top keep him out for the second consecutive game. Ellis was at practice, but in sweats. He is listed as day-to-day. The Warriors host Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets, then Stephen Jackson and the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday.

Ellis sprained his ankle midway through the first quarter, according to several accounts. But he didn’t ask to come out of the game until early in the third quarter. Ellis headed straight to the locker room and didn’t return. He missed Saturday’s game at Phoenix. X-Rays were negative. Ellis was re-evaluated on Sunday and Monday before he was ruled out against the Kings.

Guard C.J. Watson, who returned from a four-game absence Saturday, will likely get the start in Ellis’ spot. Saturday, NBA Development League call-up Cartier Martin started at shooting guard in place of Ellis. Watson and rookie guard Stephen Curry are the only guards the Warriors have available.

Shooting guard Anthony Morrow did not practice Monday night, just got up shots on the side. He didn’t look to be favoring his sprained right knee. The Warriors said he would be out for 1 to 2 weeks. Friday’s game at New Jersey was one week.

So, the media (Rusty and I), have submitted our grades. Let’s see yours. Feel free to explain your grades. Please

Monta Ellis -

Corey Maggette -

Andris Biedrins -

Stephen Curry -

Anthony Randolph -

Ronny Turiaf -

Anthony Morrow -

C.J. Watson -

Devean George -

Chris Hunter -

UDPATE: My Baaaad! I was wondering why no one was grading Nellie and the front office. Then I realized I left them off the list. Thanks Rigged!)

Don Nelson –

Larry Riley -

I am assuming Kelenna Azubuike, Raja Bell, Brandan Wright, Speedy Claxton get an Incomplete since they haven’t played or have played very little. I didn’t include the 10-day contract players either.

Another thriller between Denver and the Warriors. Certainly, Denver is a better team with better players. Certainly, Chauncey Billups was playing on a whole other level, making up for an off night by Carmelo Anthony. Certainly, Denver’s big men had a mismatch against the depeleted Warriors first line, which featured two legitimate big men, size wise, in center Andris Biedrins and D-League call-up Anthony Tolliver.

Still, with that being said, they should’ve won that game. But Monta Ellis, Don Nelson and Stephen Curry dropped the ball late.

CURRY: “It’s tough, you give all that effort, you play that hard the whole game and you have it in your hands and you want to walk away with that win, at home, especially. It’s tough for us, but we have a back-to-back Friday and Saturday, so we have a chance to continue the momentum we have and try and get two wins.”

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