According to a recent report, the Miami Heat have retained their sharpshooting guard Wayne Ellington. Chris Haynes of ESPN reports that Ellington agreed to re-sign with the Heat on Thursday evening.
Sources: Wayne Ellington agreed to a one-year deal for $6.2 million.
Ellington had a career year last season in his second year in Miami, and became a integral part of the team’s playoff run. While posting career highs in minutes, and points per game, as well as the best effective field goal percentage of his career, Ellington made himself indispensable to the team’s rotation.
Ellington’s most notable skill is his three point shooting, which added much needed spacing and consistency to Miami’s bench. The Heat finished 23rd in the league last season for points scored per game so Ellington’s scoring boost off the bench was not just a boost but a need for the team’s success.
Ellington has been in the league for the past nine seasons, but has yet to find a consistent home in the NBA. As a career journeyman he’s undoubtedly searching for some stability, and Miami may be able to offer it to him. With this deal, Miami would tie with Minnesota for Ellington’s longest stay at three seasons. Ellington played his rookie season in 2009 for the Timberwolves, but the team moved on after three years. Ellington may have only signed a one year contract with Miami, but it’s possible he’s found a long-term home.
With Wayne Ellington reportedly finishing his deal, the free agency market has gotten that much thinner. As July reaches the midway point in a few days, the free agency period is waning. Teams are looking to add the last bit of talent they can find on the market before all of it is snatched away, and Ellington is just one more to scratch off the list.
