Empire Writes Back
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets News: Wayne Ellington Signed To Two-Year Contract

ByKenneth Teape|

The Brooklyn Nets don’t have much money to sign a free agent with to replace the departed Alan Anderson, but they made a solid addition by bringing in sharp-shooting veteran Wayne Ellington on a two-year deal to start the process.

The Brooklyn Nets are cash strapped, as they are way over the salary cap. That makes it difficult for them to add players during the offseason, as their main concern right now seems to be slashing payroll to try and get under the luxury tax. Armed with only minimum contracts, the Nets will look for bargains to try and replace Mirza Teletovic and Alan Anderson, two players who left as free agents.

Also on Empire Writes Back: Who was the best Nets’ player of 2014?

The Nets will assuredly have a role for rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on the wing. He can help replace Anderson’s minutes, but he is not yet polished offensively. He can bring it defensively, but the Nets could use someone to help fill the offensive void left behind by Anderson’s departure. One player who should have a chance at doing so is Wayne Ellington, who the Nets signed to a free agent contract.

The agreed upon deal is for two years and $3 million. It is a fair contract for both sides, as the Nets get a player who should be able to provide many of the same things Anderson brought to the table, but at a fraction of the cost; Anderson signed for $4 million with the Washington Wizards, while Ellington will earn $1.5 million as a minimum contract.

Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers was one of the first times Ellington really had a chance to play during his NBA career. He appeared in a career-high 65 games, starting 26 of them, and providing solid production. With the Lakers ravaged by injuries in their backcourt, namely to Kobe Bryant and Nick Young, Ellington was given a real opportunity and he made the most of it.

More from Brooklyn Nets

He showed that he is a more than capable threat from the three-point line, knocking them down at a 37 percent clip. He is a career 38.2 percent shooter from deep, and will help the Nets right away in that department. Last season, the Nets were one of the worst teams in the NBA from beyond the arc, making only 33.1 percent as a team, ranked 26th in the league. Ellington will help improve that number.

Last season he also averaged 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, showing that he can have an impact on the game in more ways than just shooting when given the chance.

With how the Nets roster is currently situated, Ellington could find himself in the starting lineup in the backcourt next to Deron Williams depending on how Lionel Hollins wants to use Joe Johnson. If not, he should slide right into the backup shooting guard spot. He has also played point guard and small forward sparingly in his career, and in a pinch, could fill in at either spot. If he is playing a majority of his minutes away from shooting guard though, it means something has gone terribly wrong for the Nets.

The Nets will be the sixth NBA franchise that he suits up for, and seventh that he is a member of. He was traded to the Knicks last offseason from the Dallas Mavericks, but never suited up for them as he was waived and subsequently picked up by the Lakers.

Next: Nets NBA Draft Grades

More from Empire Writes Back

Home/Brooklyn Nets