Wayne Ellington, a 13-year veteran whose last NBA stint came with the Lakers in 2021/22, has joined the Heat as a player development coach, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Ellington will replace Anthony Carter, who left Miami a couple months ago to join the Grizzlies.
Ellington, 35, hasn’t officially retired, but the fact that the longtime shooting guard is joining Miami’s coaching staff is an indication that his playing days might be coming to a close.
According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link), Ellington was considering continuing his career in a front office role, but the Heat offered him a job as a coach and he accepted it. The team just made the announcement, but Ellington has already been acting in an unofficial capacity for several weeks, Reynolds adds.
The 28th pick of the 2009 draft, Ellington has played in 770 regular seasons games (20.9 MPG) for nine teams during his career, averaging 8.0 PPG and 2.1 RPG while shooting 38.2% from three-point range. He had his most productive seasons during his tenure with the Heat from 2016-19, averaging 10.5 PPG as a shooting specialist (38.4% from deep on high volume).
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald explore what’s next for the Heat after they were unable to trade for Damian Lillard, who landed with the Bucks in a three-team blockbuster. As the authors note, the Heat will have to fill their 14th standard roster spot before the season starts — they currently only have 13 players on standard deals, including Orlando Robinson‘s partially guaranteed salary.
- First-round pick Jaime Jaquez was involved in the Lillard trade rumors and he admits he heard the speculation, he told Chiang of The Miami Herald. “I won’t lie, at first it was in the back of my head,” Jaquez said earlier this week. “Like what’s going to happen? Am I going to leave? You never know. But as we moved on and time went on, I just got really comfortable in my situation that whatever happens happens. I just believe it’s all a part of a bigger plan. Things happen for a reason. If I stay, great. If I get traded, it was fun while it lasted. But I try not to worry about that. I can only control what I can control.” The former UCLA standout also said he’s fully healthy following a shoulder injury in Summer League and has been working on his shooting and defense ahead of his rookie season.
- Missing out on Lillard is “close to a worst-case scenario” for the Heat, contends William Guillory of The Athletic. As Guillory writes, Lillard would have been an ideal fit on the offensive end, and he’ll also be joining the rival Bucks, which not only improves Milwaukee’s roster but also may make Giannis Antetokounmpo more likely to sign an extension. Guillory believes the Heat can’t just stand pat and need to bolster their offensive firepower to make another deep playoff run. He also wonders if Tyler Herro will have any lingering resentment after being involved in trade rumors all summer.
Bulls will probably wait to see how things go, but of they have a slow start and DeRozan isn’t looking to extend, then he could become an in season target at an affordable price
Heat with Butler has enuff mid range
With the Heat, you can’t have enough mid range. Unlike the rest of these 2k coaches who mental capacity can’t process basketball beyond jacking up 3s, Spo knows how to create offenses and plays based on what tools he has. As long as you can make the ball go in the hoop, Spo will get you to your spot
DeRozan as a target for Kim Kardashian, or for a new Miami drug kingpin?
Miami isn’t overly sweating losing Lillard. At some point, the bag of balls + Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry will bring back a star caliber piece. At some point the fire sales on players will begin with teams out of contention.
Portland will regret beginning to build a team before you even know exactly what you have in Scoot Henderson. The West is stacked the next two years. Be as bad as possible to ensure the high picks. Having DeAndre Ayton, Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday doesn’t get you to the playoffs. However, it might get you enough wins to secure maybe the #13 pick, which was Gradey Dick by Toronto this year. Instead of being really bad, and getting no worse than the #4 pick, which this year got you a Thompson twin.
Ayton plays a position with a skill set that is the opposite of where the NBA is going. He is who they are keeping. Portland thinks he has found his forever NBA home.
Jerami Grant only has value to a contender. Which contender has desireable draft assets they are willing to give. How much do you improve the franchise with 1 or 2 1st round picks that are no higher than 27 or 28. Pretty much 2nd round picks at that point. You are not getting back young talent from a contender.
Jrue Holiday is on an expiring contract. Who is giving up the farm for that???
Great points. Scoot can very well become a great player, but quite often these young smaller guards don’t quite meet their expectations. their direction looks awkward with Holiday in the Lineup. Grant isnt old, but he’s not young too match Scoot, so don’t understand their plan there, especially since they just signed him.
That is why Portland went for younger players. Holiday will be flipped for a younger player this year. The west is stacked so better to rebuild now then have a very slim chance. Some team is going to give the trailblazers some good picks for Holiday. The Heat problem is they don’t have the pieces to make trades.
What young player they getting for Holiday. Give an example.
I hope they don’t do it, but I could see a Pacers package that might include Nembhard or Nesmith. The Pacers likely won’t do anything, but as I understand it, they do like him a lot.
Well what’s the package? In order to make salary work, they would have to add in Buddy and either McConnel or Theirs, a long with Nesmith. Which at that point your gutting your team for an expiring player. If you’re the Pacers, you get Holiday to compete, but if you have to unload key players to get him, how are you going to compete?
I don’t have a package for you as I hope the Pacers don’t make a move like this. I’m just mentioning a couple of young players that could be included (since you asked) if they do make an offer for him.
Hardy or Green, FRP and THJ for Holiday
Yea that’s a possibility, they would have to thrown in Kleber or Holmes to make salary work, but I could see cuban doing that
Just wait and see. You know how the NBA works some team will offer 1st round picks for a player like him and a recent drafted player.
It’s Ayton’s team baby! Scoot just has to get him the ball. #1 pick baby! Got him for Nurkic! Ha!
True, Phoenix got bamboozled in that trade
Heat have more than enough. So do Raptors, TWolves, Knicks, Sixers. Holiday won’t cost more than Dame.
Jovic, Lowry, Two #1 picks. Plus two swaps.
Two picks and 2 swaps? That’s more than they got for Dame, dafuq?
I’m going to miss the Duke.
The man with the golden arm. Good to have him back in the organization. Stand up dude
Id keep jrue to mentor scoot on being a pro hoooer for as long as possible. In the meantime I’d take them to have more W’s than the lowly Mavs and the army of old men on skates that for some reason try guarding Luka at practice