Report: Kings may waive Wayne Ellington using stretch-provision

Wayne Ellington’s time with the Sacramento Kings may last for a shorter period of time than a Britney Spears marriage. According to Rick Reeves, the Kings may waive the shooting guard by using the stretch provision tool.

A bit different from the typical waive, the stretch-provision allows teams spread the salary payments over time instead of paying it out all at once. By doing so, this gives teams a bit of cap flexibility immediately.

With that said, Ellington’s possible cut may have more to do with the roster depth instead of salary or talent issues. As of now, the Kings have a total of 18 players on the roster. At the shooting guard position, they have six players, Ellington included. Of that group, you have last year’s lottery pick in Ben McLemore, this years lottery pick in Nik Stauskus, Ray McCallum, Jason Terry and Ellington. Of that group, Terry and Ellington are the most expendable hence the possible use of the stretch provision.

Last season, Ellington was seldom-used by the Dallas Mavericks, averaging a career low in minutes (8.2), points (3.2), rebounds (1.0), assists (0.4). By the seasons end, Ellington was packaged alongside Jose Calderon and others in a trade revolving around New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler.

If Ellington is indeed cut and finds a new home in free agency, he will be on his sixth team in a span of three seasons (MIN, MEM, CLE, DAL, SAC).