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Miami Heat Offensive Intervention: Wayne Ellington’s payday

By Brandon Johnson

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 21: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat warms up before Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 21: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat warms up before Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Wayne Ellington‘s offensive growth and next payday might not be with the Miami Heat.

If Wayne Ellington confirmed one thing this season for the Miami Heat, it was the value of the journeyman.

Ellington, a nine-year NBA veteran from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, was once heralded as one of the most anticipated high school recruits. A shooting guard from Episcopal Academy, Ellington was rated as the ninth-best player in the class of 2006 and its best shooting guard, according to 247 Sports.

And shooting guard was far from a misnomer. After a 39 percent shooting season as a high school senior, Ellington followed up with a pair of 40-plus percent 3-point seasons, in his three years at North Carolina.

Come draft time, Ellington had no problem extending his range to the NBA 3-point line. His rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves was pinpointed by the another near-40 percent 3-point season, on 162 attempts.

His fondness and ability for range kept him in the league well after the glow of his high school recruitment faded. In nine seasons with seven different teams, Ellington’s 3-point shot slumped below 37 percent once, speaking to both his capabilities and his career lining up with the NBA’s 3-point boom.

In 2017-18 though, Ellington’s stock was never higher. After years of losing seasons or limited run, Ellington’s 3-point shooting coalesced with a formula for success.

Ellington had a skill Miami greatly needed but couldn’t easily obtain. After Chris Bosh’s medical dismissal, Miami lacked a capable volume shooter. Thus, head coach Erik Spoelstra welcomed his talent with open arms.

"“I don’t care if the ball is going in or not,” Spoelstra said in a 2018 post-game conference. “I absolutely love watching Wayne work at his craft every single day, and he hasn’t changed one bit in terms of his preparation. The most important thing is he creates actions for us, he creates space, you have to guard him.”"

His perennial 3-point threat gave way to great moments, including a game winning layup against the Toronto Raptors. A historic shooter by Heat standards, Ellington was one of the team’s most prized covers, drawing defense from any player willing to trace his flight path around the court.

The way he zipped, zagged and carved through defenses to find his open shot was inspiring, especially in a contract year. Set for unrestricted free agency next month however, Ellington will likely cost a pretty penny Miami doesn’t have.

But if by some miracle Ellington can make his return, where does his game evolve?

He showed utter contempt for anything inside the arc – his 2017-18 shot chart paints the best picture. Ellington scratched up a rash of shots from deep, while permitting only a freckling of makes and misses from 2-point land.

Ellington’s return to Spoelstra’s offense in Miami could explore new, off-ball terrain. Miami was second in the league in screen assists, in large part due to Ellington’s wily ways. Jolting off screens to the open floor is his bread and butter, but what if Ellington became the screen?

The Golden State Warriors create offensive havoc through a bevy of screens. Though their 3-point shooting in near unrivaled, their offensive motion creates plenty of openings for slipping to open shots, in, around the arc or elsewhere.

Miami, with their ability to mix and match lineups, would be served well by Ellington’s ability to screen. As the team’s best shooter, defenses know to clamp down on Ellington, hedge his screens and make life as difficult as possible.

Almost 69 percent of Ellington’s shots came without a single dribble. Thus, screens from Ellington become a decoy, giving Miami’s slashers and rim attackers a chance to score without bogging down Ellington with ball-handling.

And although Ellington’s poor shooting games were few and far between, his addition of off and on ball screens, could add another level to the Heat’s offense. When defenses figured out exactly how to cover Ellington, as the Houston Rockets did last January, Miami’s offensive grinds to a halt.

Adding screens to the Ellington equation could provide Miami’s offense with a variety of feints. Ellington does his best to keep Miami flush with 3s, but a back screen or two could be the difference between living and dying by his triple.

With a few weeks until free agency, Miami has a heavy decision to make.

Ellington’s services aren’t easily replicable – Kelly Olynyk and Josh Richardson shot respectably from 3, but weren’t called on to produce with Ellington’s volume.

Next: Miami Heat: Hassan Whiteside is headed to Africa

Keeping and further developing Ellington’s contributions, is a huge plus to Miami moving forward. But the salary cap handcuffs might make a reunion impossible.

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