Speaking on Wednesday to reporters, including Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said he’s “sick to my stomach” about not being able to find more minutes for veteran sharpshooter Wayne Ellington.
Ellington – who was an important part of Miami’s rotation in 2017/18, knocking down 39.2% of his three-pointers in a career-high 26.5 MPG (77 games) – has been the odd man out this season when the team has had a relatively full roster. His MPG average has dipped to 22.7, and he has frequently been a healthy scratch.
Since December 4, Ellington has appeared in just four games and played 32 total minutes, and with Dion Waiters set to return from his ankle injury, playing time may be even harder to come by going forward.
As Jackson relays, Ellington hasn’t had any conversations with Spoelstra or Heat president Pat Riley about a potential trade. However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of approaching team officials at some point and asking them to find a place where he could play more.
“Anything is a possibility,” Ellington said. “I can’t sit here and say yes or no to a question like that right now. But at the same time, I want to play but I want it to be with these guys, with my brothers. Hopefully we can work it out.”
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The Heat have re-entered the top eight in the Eastern Conference in recent weeks, relying on wings like Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow, Rodney McGruder, Dwyane Wade, and Derrick Jones. Because Miami’s most productive lineups haven’t featured Ellington (Miami has a -9.5 net rating in his minutes), it has been difficult to find a role for the 31-year-old, though Spoelstra stressed that’s “not an indictment on his play,” adding that he has “great empathy” for the veteran.
While Ellington, who is in a contract year, is staying patient for now, he admits that the thought of joining a team that would play him more has “absolutely” crossed his mind, according to Jackson.
“You come off your best season in your career to this situation, of course it crosses your mind,” Ellington said. “I’m human. A lot of things cross your mind. It’s a tough situation for anybody.”
All these guys complaining about minutes lately even though they’re getting 20 minutes or more a night. These guys do realize that 12 guys can’t all get Starters minutes on a team right???
What does that have to do with this story? Ellington is not complaining, requesting a trade or anything: he was just asked about the situation and admitted to be frustrated, which seems pretty understandable in his situation, since he is by no way getting “20 minutes or more a night”: only appeared in 4 games in the last month (which means he got a DNP in about 70% of Miami’s games during that period) for a total of 32 minutes. So rather different from what you mentioned.
He also missed time due to a death, some minor injuries, and being sick
Good problem for the Heat to have.
Heat will continue to have enough injuries throughout the rest of the season for Ellington to keep getting playing time. They could use a depth option at the 4 though, so maybe they can match up with someone like that for Ellington. Maybe Memphis and Jamychal Green? Heat would probably have to add some kind of pick to that, I would think. There could also be options on the buyout market that make sense, and I still think they should get Melo
They could use draft picks.