"Monta Ellis broke the rules. Now the Warriors are making him pay.

Team President Robert Rowell announced Saturday that Ellis will be suspended 30 games for violating the terms of his player contract when he injured himself in a moped mishap this summer.

Ellis, who signed a six-year contract just weeks before the August accident, will lose roughly $3 million of his annual $11 million salary.

"We made a commitment to Monta for $66 million to be a great basketball player," Rowell said. "We're in a situation where he is now not with us. We're going to do everything possible that we can, obviously, to get him back and to help him rehab and get back on the basketball floor, but right now we felt that it was an appropriate consequence."

Rowell characterized the punishment as a "lose-lose situation" for both Ellis and the Warriors, and his decision did not come without dissent from both inside and outside the organization.

Rowell acknowledged vice president Chris Mullin's opposition to a severe penalty and added that Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried, was "not in complete alignment" with the suspension.

"Chris Mullin made it perfectly clear to both Mr. Cohan and myself that he didn't think this was a big deal at the beginning," Rowell said. "And we happen to think it's a very big deal. We happen to think that it's a big deal for our fans, it's a big deal for our season-ticket-holders, it's a big deal for our business partners, it's a big deal for the Warriors' organization."

Reached by phone Saturday night, Fried said he was awaiting further specifics about the disciplinary action before deciding his next move, including a possible appeal of the suspension.

"While Monta acknowledges his mistake in judgment, we certainly want to ensure that the Warriors' actions are not divisive to the team or potentially vindictive in nature," Fried said.

"The Warriors openly acknowledge Monta's outstanding character and integrity, and the supplemental information will enable us to further confirm that the steps are not contrary to the stated position of focusing on Monta's rehabilitation and continued growth and development as a professional.""