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NBA free agency: Wayne Ellington signs with Miami Heat

By John Buhler

Feb 8, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Wayne Ellington (21) brings the ball up court during the 2nd half against the Denver Nuggets at Barclays Center. The Nets won, 105-104. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Wayne Ellington (21) brings the ball up court during the 2nd half against the Denver Nuggets at Barclays Center. The Nets won, 105-104. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Heat have found a player to help them out at shooting guard in veteran Wayne Ellington, signing him to a two-year, $12 million-plus deal.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical of Yahoo! Sports, “free-agent guard Wayne Ellington has agreed to a two-year, $12 million-plus deal with the Miami Heat.”

Miami is incredibly thin at shooting guard after former face of the franchise in Dwyane Wade left via 2016 NBA free agency for his hometown Chicago Bulls and key rotational player Tyler Johnson wasn’t given a qualifying offer by Miami, as he now is a member of the Brooklyn Nets.

Miami may not have the firepower to even make the Eastern Conference Playoffs after Wade’s departure and Chris Bosh’s lingering health concerns surrounding his blood clotting condition.

However, it seems that team president Pat Riley wasn’t going to splurge in free agency after signing center Hassan Whiteside to a near max contract and the Heat missed out on Kevin Durant in his free agency sweepstakes.

Though it may be a tough season for Heat fans to endure, it’s probably in the club’s best interest to position themselves to be a marquee destination in 2017 NBA free agency. If Bosh’s contract is off the books by mid-season if he isn’t clear to play, Riley could theoretically offer two top-tier free agents next summer max contracts.

Getting a new pick-and-roll partnership with a Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, or Russell Westbrook at the point with a Blake Griffin, Paul Millsap, or Serge Ibaka in the front court seems largely possible.

Ellington will provide veteran leadership to the Heat at the two guard. He’s played in the NBA for seven seasons, most recently with the Nets. Last season on a terrible Nets team, Ellington averaged 7.7 points per game, starting in 41 of 76 contests for Brooklyn. It’s a team friendly contract that helps the Heat fill a temporary void at shooting guard. Riley knows what he’s doing.

For more NBA free agency news, please check out our NBA free agency category page.

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