So it stands to reason that Ellis will have an impact on what the Warriors do in the draft on June 25 in New York. Ellis, the team's highest-paid and most-heralded player, is expected to take over as the full-time point guard next season, as Nelson has said in the past. Who they select at the No. 7 spot should give insight about the immediate direction of Golden State.

Do they draft point guard Brandon Jennings and run the risk of putting pressure on Ellis' development, considering Jennings is certainly the truer point guard and probably ready to contribute almost immediately?

Do they select sharp-shooting point guard Stephan Curry, someone who has some star-power on his own and perhaps could rival Ellis' scoring ability while bringing some point guard skills?

Do they skip their point guard needs and draft a big man or a swingman man? And if they do, is that a gesture of confidence in Ellis or a sign they prefer a veteran point guard backing up Ellis?

The latest from the rumor mill is that Nelson and Riley's trip to visit Ellis was to talk him off his trade demands and that they promised him they wouldn't draft a point guard. Ellis did not address those reports directly during his radio interview. Ellis was not available for comment. The Warriors are making Riley available to the media on Monday.

If nothing else, that the two went to visit Ellis suggests his opinion and feelings matter. For his part, Ellis said he was having no direct influence on the draft. He said they "told me a couple names" but he's going to roll with whatever decision they make.

Ellis did, however, intimate that some things needed to be worked out, specifically between he and Nelson.

"I actually think it is going to help us a lot, me and coach getting on the same page and not going through what we went through last year," Ellis said in the radio interview. "But everybody's got to be on the same page and that meeting really put us on the same page that we're going to come in to training camp for another season and get this thing back on the road."

Ellis' unhappiness has been an issue for the Warriors since he injured his left ankle last off-season and lied about how, prompting a 30-game suspension from the team. A couple team sources said Ellis demanded a trade shortly after season's end.

But Ellis, once again, proclaimed his desire to stay with the organization.

"I'm a Golden State Warrior," Ellis said in the radio interview. "I'm gonna be a Warrior and hopefully one day I can retire as a Warrior. Right now, I am a Golden State Warrior. I'm not thinking about leaving. It hasn't come across my mind. The only thing I want to do is win. That's all I really can say. I don't know where that stuff has come out, but right here, right now I'll set the record straight: that never came from me and I'm a Warrior. And you don't have to worry about Monta Ellis because No. 8 will be in a Warriors jersey next year."

Unless, that is, if the Warriors decide to trade him this offseason. Such a decision would certainly impact how the Warriors use the No. 7 pick.