Wayne Ellington Was A Steal In The Offseason for Los Angeles Lakers
Chris Nicoll – USA TODAY Sports
It was unclear whether Wayne Ellington would even make the roster for the Los Angeles Lakers, after several tough seasons that led some to believe that he would be out of the league altogether. Instead, he has been one of the few bright spots for a team with one of the worst records in the whole league. The Lakers should be proud that they were able to get him when they did, as he has cost them very little this season.
Ellington is one of the few pure shooters on the team who is capable of consistently spreading out the defense. He has a great outside shot and is shooting almost 40 percent from the 3-point line. He is an underrated defender who is capable of guarding multiple perimeter positions, giving the team slight flexibility down the stretch.
The most impressive part is that Ellington is playing for a minimum contract, meaning that he will not hurt the Lakers financial position as it stands. With the abundance of injuries and recent rest for Kobe Bryant, Ellington has been extremely useful in giving the team more depth. He has shown that he can contribute despite his limited minutes, and should be a candidate to be re-signed in the offseason given the right price.
The Lakers do not have much talent on their roster, but Ellington has proved to be a reliable role player. He can play on both ends of the court, and doesn’t try to do too much in order to be successful. The Lakers knew that it would be tough for them to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and filled out their roster to the best of their ability with an eye on the future. Fans may not be happy with the team’s current performance, but signing Ellington in the offseason was a surprisingly good move.
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