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NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Utah Jazz

By Jerry Christodoulatos

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MAY 6: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz high-five during the game against the Houston Rockets during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2018 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MAY 6: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz high-five during the game against the Houston Rockets during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2018 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Wayne Ellington

Like so many misfits and journeymen, Wayne Ellington has found a home with the Miami Heat. Although he’s always been a legit 3-point bomber, Ellington has turned into a solid rotation piece in Miami over the past two years. He’s one of the most deadly catch and shoot players in the whole NBA. Last season he attempted almost six such attempts from 3-point range per game, nailing a blistering 40 percent of them; Ellington ranked tenth in the whole league in that category. He’s an efficient on high shot volume from deep, which gives him real gravity as a shooter.

Ellington would fit seamlessly on this Jazz squad. Although Utah gets up a solid number of three point attempts per game, the team’s spacing can get really cramped at times. The Rubio-Favors-Gobert trifecta struggled to score early in the season for this reason. Adding Ellington into the mix would give the Jazz a legit knockdown shooter in the backcourt, an element that they haven’t had in quite some time.  Ellington worked wonders for the spacing-challenged Miami Heat. He could definitely benefit the Jazz and unearth some new looks for the offense. As far as his defense is concerned, Ellington is generally a negative presence on that end. With all the defensive talent on this team though, Utah shouldn’t worry about teams attacking him on defense, particularly in the regular season.

Luring Ellington away from Miami could be difficult if the team is committed to keeping him. Miami has his early bird rights, so they can pay him up to 175 percent of his last salary. Wayne made $6.27 million last season, so Miami could give him a contract starting at almost $11 million. That almost certainly won’t happen though. His market won’t be that hot and Miami is on the brink of the luxury tax abyss. The full MLE seems like the most that Ellington could get on the open market. The Jazz can pursue him below or above the cap, but they may be reluctant to dish out a full MLE contract if they bring back both Favors and Exum this summer though.

If Utah lands Ellington, it would probably need to trade Alec Burks. The finances would work even if they kept Burks, but the backcourt rotation would be cluttered at that point. With two years and about $22 million left on his deal, Burks would be superfluous and expensive.

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