Monta Ellis believes he has it all. Now, he will see if any teams agree with his belief as he once again tests the waters of free agency.
On Wednesday, according to ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon, Ellis chose to opt out of the final season of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks. He would have made worth $8.7 million next season if he remained with the team. Two years ago, Ellis signed a three-year deal worth $25 million with Dallas. The third year was a player option.
In recent weeks, reports surfaced suggesting that the Mavericks were gearing up to part ways with Ellis no matter his decision. If he chose to opt in, the team would have looked to trade him, perhaps for a draft pick. With his departure, the Mavs reportedly will not look to re-sign the mercurial guard.
The $8.7 million that Ellis is due under his current contract will remain as a cap hold for the Mavericks until the team renounces him. By renouncing Ellis, his salary will no longer be on the books. It also means that they forfeit the ability to re-sign Ellis using his Bird Rights.
Last time Ellis was an unrestricted free agent, the market was tepid. He was seen as a ball-dominant, inefficient volume shooter. His "have it all" quote certainly didn't help his perception around the league, either.
Initially, the Mavericks did not have salary cap space to sign Ellis. However, when they restructured Devin Harris' contract, after it was discovered he required surgery on his toe, the Mavs signed Ellis at a bargain.
In his two seasons with the Mavs, Ellis rejuvenated his career. He averaged 19 points on 45 percent shooting and established himself as an invaluable part of Rick Carlisle's pick-and-roll heavy offense. This season, Ellis averaging 18.9 points per game and was the leading scorer on the team. It was the first time since the 1999-2000 season that Dirk Nowitzki did not lead the team in scoring.
While there are still holes in Ellis' game, he's a poor defender and streaky 3-point shooter, his performance with Dallas could net him a more favorable contract. Where the money comes from is anyone's guess at this point. It just won't be from the Mavs.
