NBA Free Agency: 3 shooting guards that need to be signed – Wayne Ellington
The 2021-22 NBA season was a frustrating one for Wayne Ellington. The guard inked a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers in hopes of helping them make a push for the playoffs, but he never quite managed to carve out a legitimate role in their rotation, having been in and out.
His value on the free agent market may have tanked because of that inconsistent playing time, but Ellington has a skill set that could be useful for essentially every team in the association.
Ellington has made a living in the NBA as a long-range shooter, having knocked down 38.2 percent of his three-pointers on 4.1 attempts per game. The 34-year-old is a flat-out marksman, and that is a factor that should make him a desirable target for teams that need to add more outside shooting.
Sure, Ellington does not bring much to the defensive side of the basketball, but that three-point shot he possesses is incredibly valuable in the league today, and he could provide a sizeable spark off the bench wherever he is potentially playing.
Financially, Ellington would not cost a team significant compensation at this point in free agency. He could likely be had for the minimum, which could be a sneaky good pickup for teams looking to add another floor spacer.
His short stint with the Lakers has clouded his value on the market, but there should be at least one team willing to take a flyer on the veteran this offseason. Two teams that would make sense for Ellington are the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers, both of whom ranked bottom 10 in three-point percentage last season. Ellington would be a solid addition to help give either team some help from 3-point land.