Add another upper-echelon player to the growing free agent market around the NBA. According to ESPN, Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis will opt out of his contract and become a free agent next month.
Ellis, 29, became the first Mavericks play not named Dirk Nowitzki to lead the team in scoring since 2000, putting up nearly 19 points per game this past season. Interestingly, that’s not going to be enough for Dallas to even consider re-signing the combo-guard. The very same ESPN report indicates that the Mavericks have no intention of pursuing Ellis on the open market.
Originally a second-round pick of the Golden State Warriors in 2005, Ellis has long been one of the most underrated players in the Association. After putting up over 24 points per game during a two-year stretch early this decade, Ellis was shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut during the 2011-12 season. Lasting less than two seasons in Milwaukee, Ellis signed a three-year, $25 million contract with Dallas in the summer of 2013.
Now set to hit the open market after declining his $8.7 million option for next year, Ellis promises to be in demand. The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are already said to be interested.
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