Wayne Ellington is talking to his agent, Mark Bartlestein, about working out a buyout deal with the Knicks, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post.
The 32-year-old shooting guard has appeared in just 25 games after signing as a free agent over the summer. His $8MM salary for next season is partially guaranteed for just $1MM, so his days in New York appear numbered.
“There will be a decision to make,’’ Ellington said at today’s shootaround. “I’m just listening to my agent at this point. I come in here, come into work every single day like it’s a normal day. Listen and get advice and take it from there.’’
The Knicks are expected to accommodate Ellington if he decides he wants out, Berman adds. Ellington’s playing time has been cut significantly since Mike Miller took over as interim head coach and Reggie Bullock returned from injury. The team showcased him a little bit on Thursday against the Magic, and Ellington responded with 12 points in 18 minutes.
Berman suggests the Lakers, who Ellington spent the 2014/15 season with, could have some interest.
“There’s a lot of stuff out there,’’ Ellington said. “There’s a lot of different things floating around for options. It’s part of the business. It’s part of the game. There’s nothing imminent right now. There’s nothing for sure. I’m going to keep pushing forward. We won three games in a row, try to keep that going.’’
Berman shares a few more buyout tidbits in his story:
- The Knicks could have obtained rookies Terance Mann and Mfiondu Kabengele along with Maurice Harkless in Thursday’s trade that sent Marcus Morris to the Clippers, but they opted for Harkless and a package of draft picks because they wanted to avoid waiving players right away. New York has a full 15-man roster and would have needed to open two spots before the deal could have been finalized. Berman suggests that management is either counting on saving money with buyouts or just wants the veterans to stay for leadership.
- Bobby Portis, another Bartlestein client, is also a buyout candidate. The Knicks have a $15.75MM team option next season on Portis, who was reportedly included in a trade offer to the Warriors for D’Angelo Russell.
- Buying out Ellington would give the Knicks a better chance to evaluate Damyean Dotson before he enters free agency this summer.
Big fan of Dotson hopefully stays long term. Knicks haven’t had a reliable shooting guard I feel like since Allan Houston
Jamal Crawford
Perry was likely instructed to prefer picks vs players, but if Kabengele was available in lieu of a 2nd/swap, then I think they should have taken him (and I’d have been happy to release Ellington to it).
Not having done it, though, Knicks should consider accommodating their fans more than Ellington. Whatever small value he might have in the offseason (team option) is something they should hold onto.
Even though the Knicks have guys at certain spots, I dont believe those guys would have been available. If that were true, they would have had to take it, I would think
With a weak free agent class I say the knicks exercise that Portia option.
Crawford was a longtime ago
Very risky, turning down Kabengele & Mann for late draft position. No real explanation yet. A Perry decision I presume. Unsaid was– maybe they’re not that good?– but it was probably fear of dismissing regulars more or less.
Personally, I don’t equate the two. MK is a guy I would have valued above Robinson-to-Sanon or the Det 2nd. Mann behind those two assets. Maybe it was a package deal. I wouldn’t have taken both MK and Mann since there’s nobody beside Ellington that’s an easy cut, and the mere fact that LAC were offering them up (without being asked, which is implied) might have given me pause as well. Neither is young (for a rookie), and it was thought both would be able to contribute right away which, despite injuries, hasn’t happened. Still, not wanting to release guys “right away” isn’t much of a reason, particularly if Ellington is bought out within days.
Philly, Toronto, Okc, and the Lakers probably make the most sense for the man with the golden arm