Monta Ellis and the Pacers are discussing a possible buyout, sources told Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). The buyout could be completed later this month, Taylor adds.
It wouldn’t be a major surprise for Ellis to be seeking a better situation or to join a contender, considering his diminished playing time last season. Ellis, 31, started 81 games for Indiana in 2015/16 but started just 33 of 74 games last season. He averaged 8.5 PPG and 3.2 APG in 27 MPG, all career lows except for his rookie season of 2005/06 with the Warriors.
Ellis is due to make $11.2MM next season and holds a player option for $11.69MM in 2018/19.
A buyout would leave the Pacers a little thin at both guard positions even with the addition of Victor Oladipo in the blockbuster trade with the Thunder that shipped Paul George to the Western Conference. Indiana also agreed in principle to a two-year contract with point guard Darren Collison on Monday. Ellis knows he’d likely be a backup at either spot for a team in a rebuilding phase.
Ellis will be suspended for the first five games of next season for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
Come back to the Mavs. He had some good years here and the crowd loves him
The Pacers want to overhaul the culture in Indy… Getting Montà out of town is step one. Al Jefferson is predictably next
I like it, but I don’t get Collison being brought back since he had legal issues last year too.
I think it has more to do with his complete lack of production rather than his legal issues.
Maybe the Nets should pick him up.
Mike Bibby was so eager to leave Washington he forfeited his entire $6.2MM player option.
There are other examples of NBA buyouts, but Bibby’s case is the one I remember with the biggest guaranteed money forfeited by player.
Would Monta Ellis do the same? He has a $11.69M player option.
NBA buyouts intrigue me, I always like finding out how much money the player ends up giving up. How much does Monta hate Indiana (or vice versa)
have no idea wat direction the pacers are going and I don’t think they Kno either!!!
Assuming youth movement, but we should find out for sure if they trade/buyout Thad Young and Al Jefferson. Collison’s deal is really only a 1 year deal, so now way to tell there.
They’re obviously rebuilding around Turner…I’m pretty sure management has even come out at one point saying that they wanted to do that.
That’ll be a seriously expensive buyout
Lay him off
Lay him off. It makes sense.
They don’t HAVE TO buy him out. Unless they want to try and save whatever they can.
Timberwolves written all over him