Which impending NBA free agents could have contributed in the Conference Finals?
By Ti Windisch
2. Wayne Ellington
Players who can space the floor have never been more valuable in the NBA than they are right now, and if there is one thing Wayne Ellington can do its stretch the floor. Ellington shot 39.2 percent from behind the 3-point line on an impressive 7.5 attempts per game during the 2017-18 regular season.
That high volume and efficiency led to Ellington finishing tied for sixth among NBA players in total made threes, with only Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, Kemba Walker, Kyle Lowry, Paul George and James Harden making as many or more triples. That’s not bad company.
Ellington had his best season from long-range this past year, but he’s no stranger to sinking triples. He’s shot 38.1 percent from deep across his career thus far, and has only dipped below 37 percent twice in nine total NBA seasons. Wayne Ellington is a legit sharpshooter.
Luckily for him, that means top-level teams will likely have a lot of interest in having him in a relief role. The Golden State Warriors, for example, would kill to have Ellington around to sop up minutes that are going to Quinn Cook and Nick Young in the postseason. He’s a much better and more consistent shooter than either of those two.
Ellington might find more money with teams who have less chance of deep postseason runs, but if he decides to chase a ring he could end up being a big difference-maker come May and even June.