OKC Thunder trade: 3 revised targets who solve OKC’s shooting woes
Wayne Ellington
Miami Heat’s roster is a shambles and they are reaping the rewards of a number of ugly contracts handed out in the Summer of 2016. Pat Riley and co. are stuck between a rock and a hard place but one player likely to garner a mountain of interest is Wayne Ellington.
The man with the Golden Arm set Miami’s all-time record in made 3-pointers last season converting on 227 of his 579 attempts yet only signed a surprising one year, 4.6-million dollar deal this Summer. Ellington missed the opening seven games to the season with a left ankle injury but has since bounced back averaging 10.1 points on 38.3 percent shooting and 37.9 percent from three on 7.7 attempts.
Bonafide shot maker and Clutch performer
The biggest feature of Ellington’s game is his ability to make shots from deep in a variety of ways. He possesses tremendous balance and can redistribute his weight while on the move, hitting shots at an exceptional rate while curling off screens and on pull-ups in transition. Spot-up shots off the catch are automatic for the greatest 3-point shooter in Miami history.
To further emphasize his value as a pure shooter, Ellington is a clutch performer and hits the toughest shots under pressure. Check out this shot against the Toronto Raptors last year with 18 seconds left on the clock.
Prior to making this shot, Ellington hit five triples in the fourth quarter to lead Miami back from a double digit deficit. The Heat took the game in overtime 116-109.
Best performance in 2018-19
The 31 year old’s best performance came in Miami’s 95-88 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Ellington posted 20 points, four rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes. He shot 7-13 from the field and 6-10 from 3-point range.
Numerous Line-Up possibilities
Ellington’s natural ability to shoot the rock provides OKC with a legitimate 3-point threat who would benefit greatly playing off Russ and PG13. There are question marks over the veteran’s defense but he is passable and in the right defensive system, can play long stretches without being exposed. OKC possess the leagues best defense, stifling opposing offenses with intelligent switching, smooth communication and effort. Miami runs a similar defensive style and Ellington has been solid.
The bigger question is could the Thunder play a full five man line-up four shooters around Westbrook with Abrines and Ellington sharing the floor together?
Abrines has shown tremendous strides as a defender and ranks as one of the teams best defenders by the numbers. Donovan has gambled playing the Spaniard against bigger wings and he’s responded well. If he is able to replicate this playing alongside Ellington, the Thunder have the potential to play an offensive monster line-up of Westbrook, Ellington, Abrines, PG13 and Grant.
Should that rotation prove unsuccessful, Abrines and Ellington can share wing minutes with the Spaniard best suited to playing 15-20 minutes per night. Ellington is exceptional on the break and can pull-up from anywhere on court. Given the Thunder’s desire to play in the open floor, the man with the golden arm could catapult OKC’s offense into a stratosphere we haven’t seen since 2012.
How to acquire him
It is well known around the league that Miami are striving to get under the tax threshold to avoid paying luxury tax. The Heat sits approximately $6.3 million-dollars into the tax and moving Ellington while receiving a young player or asset makes the most sense.
In a perfect world, OKC could throw Miami a future second round pick for his services and absorb his contract outright using a Trade Exception. However, it seems likely Riley will want a young asset in return. If a trade is needed, Oklahoma City will need to engage a third team to make it happen since both clubs are over the threshold.
TFerg is likely to headline the trade on OKC’s behalf given the 20 year-old has a tonne of time to develop and has shown flashes of upside during his brief time in the league.