Rumors: Monta Ellis to Opt Out of Current Deal After Season

According to Dan Feldman of NBCSports, Monta Ellis will opt out of his current contract at the end of this season.

First thing’s first. Duh. Ellis has averaged over 19 points and almost five assists in his stay with the Mavericks. And his current deal would pay him just $8.72 million next year. For some perspective, here are some players set to make more than him next season if he opted in: Derrick Favors at $11.9 million, Andre Iguodala at $11.7 million, and Danilo Gallinari at $11.5 million.

Plus, the salary cap has been predicted to go through the roof with the new TV deal. Opting in to the final year of his contract makes absolutely no sense for Ellis, who just turned 29 a few months ago. Why wouldn’t he want to capitalize, especially before he’s on the wrong side of 30?

I mean, really. Who didn’t see this coming? And it’s not like he’s said he wants out of Dallas. In fact, he seems to enjoy playing for the Mavericks. But will they be able to sign him? If they want to, and all signs point in that direction, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

The Mavericks have three players with the option to opt out of their contract at the conclusion of this season. Ellis, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Raymond Felton. It’s highly unlikely that Felton goes that route, as it’s extremely doubtful he would garner more than $3.9 million on the open market.

Al-Farouq Aminu probably will. He’s played well this season and is just 24-years old. He’ll be able to get more than the veteran’s minimum. And then there’s Monta. So if Ellis and Aminu opt out the Mavericks will have just over $34.4 million in committed salaries.

Dallas will need to resign Tyson Chandler, of course, but should have plenty of extra cash to re-tool around him, Dirk Nowitzki, and Chandler Parsons. Rajon Rondo will be an unrestricted free agent, but that’s another topic. There’s still a lot left to determine about what the Mavericks want to do with him.

The point is, don’t panic. Ellis opting out of his contract doesn’t mean his time in Dallas is finished. Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson surely have known for a while that it would happen. But he deserves more, and he’ll get it from the Mavs.

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