Ellington would be among the simplest to sign, with Capela, Smart, Parker, LaVine, Nurkic, Harrell and Anderson all restricted free agents, with their teams having the right to match outside offers. That leaves Ellington, on that list, ranked as the leading unrestricted free agent.
More on Wayne Ellington Free Agency
Wayne Ellington’s potential return to the Heat remained very much in question on Sunday, with nine other teams expressing legitimate interest in the free agent guard and Miami and Ellington failing to strike a deal in the first 18 hours of free agency. A league source said Ellington’s return to Miami remains a possibility and conversations are ongoing. But it is by no means a sure thing. The Heat said publicly and privately in recent weeks that they want to keep Ellington and would like to find a way to make it work. Ellington has said he prefers to remain in Miami.
Darren Wolfson: The amount of ex-#Twolves the Wolves have called on increases with Wayne Ellington. In case I forget to text you, @1500ESPNJudd, this can be your heads-up. I'm losing track of all the guys they have called on! Time to start making offers!
Wayne Ellington’s potential return to the Heat remained very much in question on Sunday, with nine other teams expressing interest in the free agent guard and Miami and Ellington failing to strike a deal in the first 18 hours of free agency. A league source said Ellington’s return to Miami remains a possibility and conversations are ongoing. But it is by no means a sure thing.
The Heat called Ellington to express interest in re-signing him shortly after free agency began at midnight Saturday night. But Miami in the past day also has privately expressed concern about the luxury tax, and that has left Ellington’s return in question and Miami at risk of being outbid for his services.
With the start of NBA free agency looming on July 1, one thing has become clear: Wayne Ellington, an impending unrestricted free agent, and the Heat would like to find a way to keep him on the team next season, according to multiple people with direct knowledge.
His return is not certain because of the possibility another team could offer Ellington more than Miami is comfortable paying, especially with the Heat needing to eventually trim salary to keep Ellington and avoid paying a luxury tax.
Barry Jackson: Riley, on free agent Wayne Ellington: "You definitely are going to prioritize [keeping] him."
But after averaging a career-high 10.5 points and shattering his personal-best with 149 threes, Ellington hopes he’s found a home. “This is the place that I want to be,” Ellington said following a season in which the Heat rallied from an 11-30 start to finish at .500 and fall one game short of the playoffs. “This is the place that feels like home to me; that feels really good to me. I feel like the things that we accomplished on the court show that. So we’ll see what happens, man, but I have a good feeling.”
Though Wayne Ellington said he has “a good feeling” about the Heat guaranteeing his $6.3 million salary by the July 7 deadline, that decision won’t be made until the Heat sees what it can do in the first six days of free agency.
The Heat have a $6.3 million team option to bring Ellington back next season. When asked about his situation, Ellington smiled and said, “We’ll see what happens, man. But I have a good feeling.”
The Miami HEAT announced today the signings of free agents Wayne Ellington, James Johnson and Derrick Williams. Per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Free guard guard Wayne Ellington has agreed to a two-year, $12M-plus deal with the Miami Heat, league sources tell @The Vertical.
Eric Pincus: Both Wayne Ellington and Shane Larkin opted out of their respective final years with the Brooklyn Nets @BBallInsiders
Anthony Puccio: No word on Wayne Ellington (player option) and Jarrett Jack (team option). If he isn't traded tonight, he will be waived as Woj reported.
The other two player options are held by Thomas Robinson and Wayne Ellington. There have been reports that Thomas Robinson will also opt out of his $1 million deal while there's been no word on Wayne Ellington, who would be paid $1.6 million next season.
