Dallas Mavericks shooting guard plans to opt out and test free agency for a lucrative contract. However, if he opts out Dallas might not give him a pay increase.
Tim McMahon of ESPN said this on the situation between Ellis and last year’s key free agent pick up Chandler Parsons.
“Ellis should not anticipate that raise coming from the Mavs, who would rather move on than make a major long-term investment in a one-dimensional player whose moodiness and selfishness negatively impacted the team’s chemistry last season, according to source’s with knowledge of the front office’s thought process.
It also didn’t help matters that Ellis and Parsons didn’t click off the court, an issue many within the organization suspect was influenced by Ellis’ bitterness about Parsons being paid almost twice as much as him.”
Not only did Ellis rub the organization the wrong way with Parsons, but doesn’t fit their plans of pursuing key free agents LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan, and bigger shooting guards in Wes Matthews and Danny Green.
McMahon said this on Ellis and the Mavs free agent plans.
“If the Mavs sign LaMarcus Aldridge, their next top priority will be keeping Tyson Chandler. That would eat up the vast majority, if not all, of their remaining cap space, forcing the Mavs to fill their starting backcourt for next season in thrifty fashion.
If the Mavs sign DeAndre Jordan, they’d attempt to fill Ellis’ spot in the starting lineup with a bigger, better defender with the perimeter shooting ability to space the floor offensively. San Antonio’s Danny Green and Portland’s Wesley Matthews are the two best fits available in free agency this summer, although Matthews might not be ready to start the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.”
Ellis is known for being a dazzling scorer, but also is a bit of a tweener at 6’3 and gets bullied defending traditional shooting guards who are 6’5 and taller. Not to mention, Ellis is a known slasher and a streaky three point threat, only averaging 29 percent last year and 31 percent for his career.
The capable player Ellis is will no doubt find him a starting gig and the contract he desires, it just might not be in Dallas.