4. Orlando Magic
The new head coach in Orlando is Steve Clifford. When Ellington played for the Charlotte Hornets, Clifford was the coach. In January, Clifford said the following in regards to Ellington:
“I think (his success) is a good testament to young players: What did he do? He worked, and he got a lot better. But in all aspects (he’s improved): He’s quicker, he’s stronger. He’s always been a terrific shooter, and now he plays at even a faster pace.
“You can just tell from what he’s done, this guy must be a great worker: Very professional, and he’s taken his strengths and made them even greater strengths. To this point, he’s been one of the big stories in the East.”
The Magic will not necessarily be a good team next season, but they do hold some interesting pieces. With a coach who respects Ellington’s game and the cap space, an Ellington signing could happen. If it did, the idea would be for a player like Ellington to add stability and to serve as a role model on how to survive in the league. Those are not bad elements to have in a locker room.