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The Brooklyn Nets kicked off free agency by signing former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis on Tuesday night, and Bleacher Report gave them a B+ grade for the addition.
Brooklyn gave Ellis a two-year, $18 million guaranteed contract with a mutual option after the first season. A mutual option allows both parties to renegotiate the contract next summer and guarantees the full $18 million if the option is exercised.
Ellis will boost the Nets' perimeter defense, as he will likely become their point-of-attack defender. He fits the ideal three-and-D archetype in the modern NBA, which made many teams wish to acquire his services when he played for the Sacramento Kings.
However, the Kings were unwilling to trade their young perimeter defender until the Cavaliers offered an enticing package. Cleveland sent De'Andre Hunter to Sacramento in return for Ellis and Dennis Schröder. It was a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls, and the Kings sent Dario Šarić and draft compensation to Chicago.
The 6-foot-4 guard appeared in 29 games for the Cavaliers, including six starts. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.8 minutes. Ellis made 35.5% of his 3.7 three-point attempts.
While he averaged the most minutes of his career, Ellis did not receive the same freedom in the playoffs. He averaged 7.4 minutes in 12 games for Cleveland.
Since he is in Brooklyn now, Ellis will likely have to compete for minutes with a deep guard rotation. However, his advantage over the other guards is that he's a low-touch, high-effort role player.
"With Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle both likely to play heavy minutes, Brooklyn needed some lower-usage guards or wings who could help on defense," Bleacher Report's NBA Staff wrote. "And Ellis certainly checks those boxes."
Ellis slotting into Brooklyn's lineup as a low-usage player helps define roles on the court much more easily. He doesn't need the ball to score, nor does he demand a higher usage to be effective.
His skill set is a perfect match for Mikel Brown Jr. and Randle, who will likely handle the ball more than any other Net on the roster. Ellis' shooting makes him a valuable kick-out option for the playmakers, and his perimeter defense slots other defenders into the right places.
Brooklyn signing him for $18 million could be a steal for the franchise. They have a three-and-D guard on an estimated $8.8 million next season and $9.2 million in 2027-28 if the mutual option is exercised.
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Brooklyn gave Ellis a two-year, $18 million guaranteed contract with a mutual option after the first season. A mutual option allows both parties to renegotiate the contract next summer and guarantees the full $18 million if the option is exercised.
Ellis will boost the Nets' perimeter defense, as he will likely become their point-of-attack defender. He fits the ideal three-and-D archetype in the modern NBA, which made many teams wish to acquire his services when he played for the Sacramento Kings.
However, the Kings were unwilling to trade their young perimeter defender until the Cavaliers offered an enticing package. Cleveland sent De'Andre Hunter to Sacramento in return for Ellis and Dennis Schröder. It was a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls, and the Kings sent Dario Šarić and draft compensation to Chicago.
The 6-foot-4 guard appeared in 29 games for the Cavaliers, including six starts. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.8 minutes. Ellis made 35.5% of his 3.7 three-point attempts.
While he averaged the most minutes of his career, Ellis did not receive the same freedom in the playoffs. He averaged 7.4 minutes in 12 games for Cleveland.
Since he is in Brooklyn now, Ellis will likely have to compete for minutes with a deep guard rotation. However, his advantage over the other guards is that he's a low-touch, high-effort role player.
"With Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle both likely to play heavy minutes, Brooklyn needed some lower-usage guards or wings who could help on defense," Bleacher Report's NBA Staff wrote. "And Ellis certainly checks those boxes."
Ellis slotting into Brooklyn's lineup as a low-usage player helps define roles on the court much more easily. He doesn't need the ball to score, nor does he demand a higher usage to be effective.
His skill set is a perfect match for Mikel Brown Jr. and Randle, who will likely handle the ball more than any other Net on the roster. Ellis' shooting makes him a valuable kick-out option for the playmakers, and his perimeter defense slots other defenders into the right places.
Brooklyn signing him for $18 million could be a steal for the franchise. They have a three-and-D guard on an estimated $8.8 million next season and $9.2 million in 2027-28 if the mutual option is exercised.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roundtable-rtb/id6450423049) and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
