Wayne Ellington

Ellington returns for a second tenure with the Pistons after playing 28 games (26 starts) with Detroit back in the 2018-19 campaign. The veteran sharpshooter is coming off a career-low 35.1 percent field-goal percentage across 36 games with the Knicks last season, a year in which he also tied a career low by logging just one start. Ellington is still an above-average three-point shooter whose 35.0 percent success rate from distance last season counts as his lowest figure in that category over his long career, but he contributes very modestly in non-scoring categories. Nevertheless, he could see at least a slight uptick in the 15.5 minutes per contest he was afforded last season while operating as the likely third shooting guard behind starter Delon Wright and primary backup Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, although Ellington is still purely a very deep-league consideration at best at this stage of his career and in his expected role.

After splitting time between Miami and Detroit last season, Ellington joined the Knicks on a two-year, $16 million deal. The veteran wing averaged 10.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.5 minutes across 53 contests. Ellington also converted a healthy 2.6 threes per game at a 37.1 percent clip. He's averaged that many threes per game over the last three seasons and has shot 38.0 percent from deep in his 10-year career. Ellington is a three-point specialist who provides little value in other categories, limiting his overall value. He's one of a handful of new additions to the Knicks, and he'll fight for playing time with R.J. Barrett, Reggie Bullock, Marcus Morris and Kevin Knox on the wing. It's a crowded group, but Ellington's sharpshooting should afford him minutes in the high-teens to low-20s.

Though he only saw 26.5 minutes per night, Ellington played a crucial role for the Heat last season as one of the league’s premier three-point marksmen. The 30-year-old tied with Damian Lillard for sixth in total threes made (227), drilling them at a 39.2 percent clip. That’s about all Fantasy owners will get from Ellington, however, considering his averages of 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist. Heading into this season, there’s little reason to expect Ellington’s role to change significantly.

Ellington had one of his best years as a pro last season, posting career highs in points per game (10.5) and effective field-goal percentage (55.0). He’s almost exclusively a three-point shooter, with 71.0 percent of his shots coming from beyond the arc last year. While he provided essentially no value by way of assists, rebounds, steals or blocks, Ellington’s 2.4 made threes per game during the 2016-17 campaign was certainly significant in Fantasy formats that rewarded the statistic. With all that in mind, it’s important to note that Ellington garnered 24.2 minutes per game largely out of necessity, as the Heat struggled with a myriad of backcourt injuries last season. Heading into the 2017-18 season, he could very well end up behind Tyler Johnson, Rodney McGruder and Josh Richardson in the depth chart, which certainly wouldn’t bode well for his playing time. As a result, it appears that Ellington may be a fringe Fantasy option for this upcoming season.

After a one-year stint with the Lakers, the 27-year-old Ellington finds himself on his sixth team in seven years. The 6-4, 200-pound shooting guard, signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Nets this offseason in the hopes of extending his career. In 65 games last season, he averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.4 three-pointers. He shot a respectable 37 percent from three-point territory and 41 percent from the field. Ellington is a solid contributor and is a good locker room guy. Coach Lionel Hollins has previous experience coaching him when Ellington was with the Grizzlies. Hollins has openly said that he has confidence in Ellington as a professional and his consistent desire and effort to win ball games. Barring any injuries, Ellington should carve out a modest role with Bojan Bogdanovic as his biggest competition for playing time at shooting guard. Ellington has always been a consistent shooter from distance, averaging 38 percent for his career. He will be called upon regularly to offer relief in spacing either from drive-and-kick situations in the offense or kick-outs from the post when Brook Lopez has the ball. The Nets are weird, so anything is possible with Ellington this season, but even if he gets big minutes, the only category Ellington performs in at a better-than-average rate is three-pointers.

Ellington spent last season buried on the Mavericks' bench, averaging just 3.2 points and 1.0 rebound in a career-low (by far) nine minutes per game. He was traded to the Knicks – along with Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, and Shane Larkin – in June, only to be shipped to Sacramento a month later. The former North Carolina star has struggled to find his niche in the league since entering as a first-round pick in 2009. After three mostly underwhelming years in Minnesota, Ellington bounced from Memphis to Cleveland to Dallas over the next two seasons. Outside of his 38-game cameo with the Cavs in 2012-13, during which he averaged 10.4 points on 44-percent shooting, Ellington hasn't displayed much consistency. He's just a 42-percent shooter for his career and is close to being typecast as a three-point specialist. To his credit, he's one of the better outside shooters in the league (42 percent last season), but the question is whether he'll have enough opportunities to make an impact. Ben McLemore and rookie Nik Stauskas are firmly ahead of Ellington on the depth chart, and he'll likely be relegated to a fringe-rotational role.

Known for his defense, Ellington will be something of a specialist for Dallas. Coach Rick Carlisle has had success using other players in a similar role, particularly DeShawn Stevenson, but Ellington will have to earn minutes in a suddenly crowded backcourt. He does have more experience than the crop of rookies, but it doesn't guarantee productivity.

The Grizzlies traded for Ellington over the summer, and he should be used as an offensive boost off the bench with O.J. Mayo departed to free agency. That boost will depend on Ellington’s shooting from beyond the arc being closer to the 40 percent from his first two seasons rather than his 32.4 percent from last year. He should start the season as Tony Allen’s backup at the two, but he could tumble down the depth chart if the three’s do not fall.

Minnesota had hoped Ellington could provide Minnesota with a consistent three-point threat off the bench. While his three-point shooting has been above average (39.7 percent last season), it's not elite. He'll likely have a limited role this season again.

The most outstanding player of the 2009 Final Four was supposed to give Minnesota an outside shooter, but he shot just 39.5 percent from behind the arc in his rookie season. He's buried on the depth chart at either shooting guard or small forward, but at least on the Timberwolves it's possible for him to win more minutes if he improves.

The most outstanding player of the 2009 Final Four could fill Minnesota's need for an outside shooter. He'll get a chance to win minutes at shooting guard or small forward on the wide open roster, but will likely start the season as the third or fourth option off the bench. Still, he's got some sleeper potential.