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Indiana Pacers Get Monta Ellis On 4-Year Deal At Bargain Price

By Wally Hughes

Apr 26, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis (11) runs back up the court during the second half against the Houston Rockets in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Ellis leads the Mavericks with 31 points. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 121-109. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis (11) runs back up the court during the second half against the Houston Rockets in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Ellis leads the Mavericks with 31 points. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 121-109. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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It took a little longer than expected, but the Indiana Pacers finally got their man.

High-scoring guard Monta Ellis agreed to a four-year, $44 million dollar deal with the Pacers on Thursday, one day after free agency began. The signing provides the Pacers with a legitimate scorer to compliment Paul George, and  fits perfectly with Larry Bird‘s vision of shifting to a faster, small-ball lineup next season.

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There’s no doubting Ellis’ abilities as an offensive player: His career scoring average — the highest among players to never appear in an All-Star Game —  is 19.3, and he also excels at driving to the basket and finding open teammates.

He may not have the most consistent jump shot, but on a team with George and George Hill, his slashing ability will help create open perimeter looks for others.

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There will be much written in the next few days about what Ellis brings to the Pacers, but lost in all the hoopla might be a very important talking point — the Pacers got Ellis cheap. No, I’m being serious, Indiana locked up Ellis — a bonafide scorer in high demand in today’s NBA — at a bargain price.

Need proof? Look no further than the deals that occurred around the NBA on day one of free agency.

In Toronto, DeMarre Carroll agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with the Raptors — more than any other player on the team. That’s right, a player who averaged 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game last season will make more than All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

Elsewhere, Iman Shumpert agreed to a four-year, $40 million dollar deal to return to the Cavaliers, Brandon Knight is staying in Phoenix with a five-year, $70 million deal, and Khris Middleton will remain in Milwaukee with a five-year, $70 million deal.

All of those players are young and offer plenty of upside, but will be grossly overpaid. With the rising salary cap next season, teams are not shying away from offering large contracts to good role players that would be limited to superstar players just a few seasons ago. That’s what makes the Ellis deal so sweet for the Pacers.

Let this sink in: Ellis will be paid on average $11 million per year to be the Pacers’ second option on offense. That’s a bargain contract in today’s NBA market, and will look even better in a couple years when the Bucks are offering Michael Carter-Williams a $90 million contract. If Ellis ends up making an All-Star Team, Bird will look like a genius.

Even if Ellis contributes 15-18 points a night while dishing out a few assists, the Pacers will still get their money worth.

There have also been rumblings of a potential sign-and-trade with Dallas for Monta Ellis. Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday that if Dallas whiffed on DeAndre Jordan, the Mavericks may be interested in a sign-and-trade deal involving Ellis and Roy Hibbert.

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    • The Pacers’ big man has fallen from grace in Indianapolis, with Bird practically offering to pay other teams to take Hibbert off his hands. If the Pacers were able to somehow get Ellis while also ridding themselves of Hibbert’s huge contract, it would be the ultimate win-win. The resulting cap space would allow Indiana to sign one or two additional difference-makers in free agency.

    If Jordan decides to return to Los Angeles or goes somewhere else other than Dallas, it’s a real possibility that scenario happens.

    Whether the Hibbert-for-Ellis trade happens or not, snagging Ellis was a great move by the Pacers. Sure, there’s some concerns with Ellis — he will be 34 when his contract ends and he has been known to have attitude problems  — but the good far outweighs the bad.

    The Pacers have been looking for a playmaker to place next to Paul George since Lance Stephenson left, and they now have what they are looking for.

    Good move, Pacers.

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