Monta Ellis Agrees to Deal With Indiana Pacers

Monta Ellis heading back to the eastern conference

Monta Ellis has finally found a new home. After opting out of the third and final year of his deal with the Dallas Mavericks, Ellis has agreed to a four-year deal worth $44 million with the Indiana Pacers.

ESPN sources say Monta Ellis and Indiana Pacers have agreed on a four-year, $44 million with an option to return to free agency after Year 3
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2015

The Pacers have been looking for a second scorer and playmaker to pair with Paul George and in that regard Ellis should be a great fit. Plus, having George Hill playing beside him in the backcourt, George on the other wing, and (for now at least) Roy Hibbert under the rim alleviates some of the concerns about Ellis’ perimeter defense.

Ellis led the Mavericks last season with 18.9 points per game and shot 44.5% from the field this past season.

He was the first Dirk Nowitzki teammate to lead the team in scoring since the 1999-2000 season. Michael Finley averaged 22.6 points to Nowitzki’s 17.5.

Ellis, 29, was selected 40th overall in the 2005 draft. He spent the first six and a half seasons with the Golden State Warriors and was part of the “We Believe” Warriors that upset the number one seed Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 playoffs.

The Warriors traded Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut during the 2011-2012 campaign. The move also handed Steph Curry the keys to the offense and team.

During his season and a half tenure with the Bucks, Ellis saw his reputation as a player dwindle. He saw his field goal percentage drop due to an array of poorly selected shots.

According to Ellis and reports, he declined a larger deal to stay with the Bucks and to pursue free agency.

When the team struck out on Dwight Howard, Ellis was the last and biggest signing of the 2013 summer.

The team would sign Ellis to a three-year deal during the 2013 offseason. Along with Ellis, the team brought in Devin Harris, Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert that same summer in an effort to retool the roster after missing the postseason the year before.

Next: Mavericks Could Be On The Verge of Disastrous Offseason

More from The Smoking Cuban

Home/Mavs News