Here is Ellis’ take on the Stephen Jackson trade situation. Interesting to say the least.
What did you think when you found out?
“(laughs) It was amazing to me. I couldn’t believe it at first. It is what it is, man. I’m gonna miss him. We gonna miss him. I went to see him before he left. It seemed like he was happy. As long as he’s happy, I’m happy.”
How tough will it be to lose one of your best players?
“It was tough when we had him. (laughs) Losing him, it’s going to be tough. But we’ve got to find a way to get through it, man. I wish him the best. Now, it’s on us. That’s what they wanted, so they got it.”
Will you have to do more to make up for the loss?
“I’m not (going to) put no more on my back. Somebody else gonna have to step up. I’m not gonna do more, somebody else gonna have to step up and take on the role that Jack had and be that player. But I’m not putting no more extra on my back.”
Do you feel a need to be more vocal?
“Nope. Uh, uh. Not at all”
What do you guys lose with Jack gone?
“No. 1, besides his scoring and the ability to make the extra pass. What we’ve been emphasizing the whole time is defense. That’s one of our best defenders on the team. And we’re trying to get better as a defensive team. And now, who we got now that’s going to play defense? We got me. And who else?”
Raja Bell is a good defender
“I don’t know too much about dude. I mean (pause) it’s crazy, man.”
Jack was your best friend on the team. Will you bond with another teammate?
“I’m close to all my teammates. I’m still gonna do what we do. We’re going to hang out the way we’ve been hanging out. It ain’t going to be no different. We lost one of our close friends. That’s it. But, hey, life goes on. I’mma talk to him every day. He’s going to talk to me every day. Still going to be like he’s here. So I’m not tripping. Like I said, as long as he’s happy, I’m happy.”
So you’re happy. OK. Cool.
“I’m happy that he’s happy, yeah.”
But you’re not happy?
Yeah. I just said I’m happy that he’s happy. (Laughs)
What’s going to be the key going forward?
“Our young guys gotta pay more attention and learn the game more. They probably need to watch more film and sit back and really evaluate the game more, and better.”