5 Free Agents to “Replace” Dwyane Wade
By Ehsan Kassim
Apr 28, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis (11) drives the ball during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Mavericks 103-94 to win the series 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Monta Ellis likely represents the best option in free agency to help alleviate the scoring the Heat would lose with Wade taking his talents elsewhere. Ellis is coming off a 2014-2015 season in which he averaged 18.9 points per game on 45% shooting.
Ellis also averaged 4.5 assists for the Mavericks, en route to another playoff appearance for the franchise. Like Wade, Ellis struggles shooting the three pointer, as he shot just 29% last season. He’s a career 31% shooter, so the Heat should get a similar, but less efficient version of Wade’s game from Ellis.
Ellis will be entering his age 30 season in 2015-2016 and earned $8,720,000 last season, with a total earning of $73,603,581. He’s likely to command a 4-to-5 year deal with an eight figure yearly salary.
For the Heat, Ellis would only be an option if Goran Dragic and Luol Deng both opted out as well.