The Los Angeles Lakers recently signed free agent shooting guard Wayne Ellington to their roster. The 6′ 5″, 202 lb. guard is a six-year NBA veteran that has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, the Sacramento Kings and, most recently, the Dallas Mavericks. In college, Ellington played for the University of North Carolina from 2006-2009 and his Tar Heels won the 2009 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament.
Another Lakers’ free agent addition, power forward Ed Davis, was also a member of the 2009 National Championship team.
Ellington was the tournament’s top scorer with 115 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NBA draft that year. Ellington was drafted 28th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Despite wearing a few different NBA jersey’s, changing cities and keeping a real estate broker on speed dial, there is a definite fit for the former Tar Heel on the Lakers’ roster. Initially, he replaces shooting guard Jodie Meeks as one of the team’s top shooters. Ellington is a scoring machine and a pure shooter with a picture-perfect release and excellent range. He is an underrated passer with an advanced offensive package.
With a nice shooting repertoire, Ellington is lethal coming off screens, spotting up or shooting off the dribble. He fits in as a great team guy that comes from a winning background in college, is more than willing to accept a role player position and is a player that can knock down an open jump shot. This player has a compact form and a smooth release. He shoots with a high arc as well as tremendous balance.
Ellington has a solid understanding of how to get open, using screens or getting to open spaces off of penetration. Equally effective in transition or in the half-court offense, the new Lakers’ shooting guard is good at stopping on a dime and pulling up while his defender is still backing off. He understands the difference between a good shot and a bad one, but also is not afraid to take a contested shot if the situation calls for it.
While Ellington is a very reliable foul shooter, he has been inconsistent at times. But at 25 years old and as a career 38-percent shooter from behind the arc, this multiple-team player gets the nod to show what he can do. There are no guarantees that he will make the Lakers’ final roster. But with his skill set and the team’s need of shooters, this is a great opportunity for Wayne Ellington to become a factor as a reserve for the purple and gold.