Ellis was a fan favorite for Dub Nation, so the trade stung. But former Warriors executive Jerry West believes Curry is who he is today because of the Ellis trade. “I think when there was a trade made up there, it gave him more room to do things, and also have the ball in his hands,” West told 95.7 The Game’s Damon Bruce, Ray Ratto and Matt Kolsky on Friday. “If you have someone that can do something really well and you don’t have the ball in your hands or you don’t have players that compliment you, it’s tougher to reach the excellence he’s reached. “A very popular player during my time up there, Monta Ellis was traded and to me, that opened up [Curry’s] ability to become who he is today. I think it made him more confident. They weren’t a good, I think, pair together, and they were both terrific players, really terrific players. But I think Steph was the person that had the most growth left in him, and when Monta left, you’re seeing Steph Curry of today.”