The Heat re-signed Dion Waiters and James Johnson and added Kelly Olynyk
Miami still saved room for shooting guard Wayne Ellington’s $6.27 million salary, which went from fully unguaranteed to fully guaranteed yesterday.
Albert Nahmad of Heat Hoops:
No waivers were requested on Wayne Ellington by the 5pm deadline. His $6.27M salary for 2017-18 is fully guaranteed.
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) July 7, 2017
Ellington is a one-dimensional player, but his main skill – 3-point shooting – is an important one. He provides efficient scoring and floor spacing.
His lack of ball-handling and distributing skills is tolerable. His lackluster defense is more problematic.
The Heat are now set to return all their rotation players minus Willie Reed. Olynyk provides a new dimension as a shooting big, and Justise Winslow gets healthy. This is a deep and balanced team with chemistry that shined in a 30-11 finish last season.
But will so many players who overachieved last year, including 29-year-old Ellington, continue to overachieve? At least unlike Waiters and Johnson, who inked long-term deals, Ellington is entering a contract year.
