Who he is: A six-year veteran out of the University of North Carolina, Ellington has already played stints with the Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Cavaliers, Mavericks, and Lakers.
How the Nets got him: The Nets signed Ellington, an unrestricted free agent, to a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
Big Stat: 39% — the percentage of Ellington’s career field goal attempts that come from long-range.
Strengths: Outside shooting.
Weaknesses: Defense, inside scoring.
2014-15 recap: Ellington’s season was one of professional highs and personal lows. He had perhaps his best season as a pro, setting career highs in points, games started, and minutes played, and shot 37% on three-pointers, which ranked 23rd among shooting guards and 58th in the NBA. Off the court, he suffered the loss of his father in November.
2015-16 outlook: The Nets, starved for outside shooting, will rely on Ellington to space the floor off the bench. Ellington will be reunited with Hollins, who was his coach with the Grizzlies for 40 games in 2012-13, when he shot an efficient 42% from three-point range in 17 minutes per game. If he can replicate that performance – or even his 37% clip from last year, which would have ranked best on the Nets – he will have a key role.
What a good season for Ellington would look like: Ellington thrives as the Nets’ sixth man, hitting 2-3 threes a night on 40% shooting. He provides desperately-needed spacing so that Brook Lopez has room to operate.
What a bad season for Ellington would look like: Jarrett Jack and Shane Larkin cannot find Ellington for open shots when he’s on the floor, and he falls behind defensive-minded wings Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Markel Brown on the depth chart.
