A lot of NBA players are expected to make decisions on what they plan to do, particularly the ones with player options.
Monta Ellis, who led the Dallas Mavericks in scoring last season with 18.9 points per game, did what everyone had expected – opt out.
Ellis is just one of plenty players who have that privilege. Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers had that option and opted out and teammate Lebron James is expected to do the same as well. But it should be noted that once a player opts out, it doesn't necessarily follow that he is no longer entertaining thoughts of coming back.
Rather, the move is to try and seek better pay.
But Ellis case is different. This is because the Dallas Mavericks had already made it known that should Ellis opt out of his contract which would have guaranteed him $8.7 million in the 2015-16 NBA season, the team will not be bringing him back.
So with Ellis decision, he is free to negotiate with other teams that could be interested in his services. This early, two teams are reportedly be interested – the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers.
Of the two teams however, the Pacers pose lesser complications.
Indiana is looking for another offensive option after losing Lance Stephenson last year and Ellis could be that guy.
For the Heat, it all depends on the fate of Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic. Wade opted out of his contract as well and is seeking his rightful pay while Dragic's stay would depend if he would accept the $85 million offer spread over 5 years. The Dragic deal is not a max contract so there is a chance that other teams could offer Dragic a bigger contract.
Wade seems to be imminently loss after expressing his disappointment on how is contract was being handled while Dragic's case depend on what the Slovenian star is really looking for.
If one or both leave, Ellis is likely to be a top target. But right now, it is all about first-come first-served so between the two, the Pacers seem to have the upper hand.
