NBA Free Agency: 5(ish) best free agents still available

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Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

All the things I just said about Jamal Crawford and Liam Neeson, subtract eight years.

Wayne Ellington is the definition of an NBA journeyman, having played for seven teams in his nine-year NBA career. He seemed to have found a home in Miami, where he’s been for the last two years and turned in the two best seasons of his career.

During the past two seasons, Ellington has put up career highs in points with 10.5 and 11.2 per game. He finished sixth in the NBA in 3-pointers made and fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting, was Miami’s best outside shooter and their leading bench scorer.

At just 30, Ellington is a career 38 percent shooter from beyond the arc, a competent perimeter defender, and a reliable, professional teammate. He made just over $6 million in 2017-18 but given his performance the last two seasons and the increased importance of players with his particular set of skills in the modern NBA, I expected him to be off the market in no time at somewhere in the $8 to $10 million dollar range.

There are probably as many teams out there that could use his as teams that don’t need him. The LABron Lakers could absolutely use his shooting but they most likely won’t have the cap space to afford him. The Thunder could also use another perimeter shooter and should be able to afford him, especially if they dump Carmelo’s salary. Both are outside possibilities at this point, the Heat are likely the favorites to retain him for the 2018-19 season.

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