Here is a move that will likely result in being a great fit for both sides. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Indiana Pacers have signed guard Monta Ellis to a four year, $44 million contract.
ESPN sources say Monta Ellis and Indiana Pacers have agreed on a four-year, $44 million with an option to return to free agency after Year 3
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2015
The move comes after a strong push from the Sacramento Kings, who cleared up cap room Wednesday night in part to make a play for the shoot-first combo-guard.
Short a consistent second-scoring option over the past couple seasons, the Pacers will now team Ellis up with Paul George to form a solid one-two tandem in the Eastern Conference. Ellis, 29, is coming off a 2014-15 campaign that saw him lead the Dallas Mavericks in scoring at 18.9 points per game. He also shot 45 percent from the field and dished out 4.1 assists per outing.
While it might be a little too early to get into specifics, it looks like Ellis will join George Hill as the team’s two starters in the backcourt. Considering Hill is coming off a tremendous year for the Pacers, that’s not a bad tandem at all.
It remains to be seen what further moves the Pacers will make, but they have assuredly put themselves in position to make the playoffs with this signing.
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