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Wayne Ellington could become trade bait and the Utah Jazz should be all over it

By Josh Padmore

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 07: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat warms up prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Arena on November 7, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 07: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat warms up prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Arena on November 7, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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The Utah Jazz have struggled mightily to connect from 3-point range all season long. Miami Heat wing Wayne Ellington could help remedy the problem.

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel suggests Wayne Ellington could become available in trade talks amidst the Miami Heat’s sluggish start to the season. If true, the Utah Jazz would do well to explore the possibility of acquiring him.

Now, the key word there is could. This is not a report stating Ellington is being shopped around the league or anything like that. With that out of the way, I will say that Ellington could be a huge piece to the Jazz if he were to be traded.

Utah has struggled from 3-point land this season. Jae Crowder, Dante Exum, Royce O’Neale, Donovan Mitchell and Derrick Favors are all shooting below 30 percent from deep. As a team, the Jazz are shooting 31.9-percent from downtown. That ranks them towards the bottom of the league in that department.

3-point shooting is Ellington’s bread and butter. He’s a career 38-percent shooter from distance, and set an NBA record for making the most 3-pointers ever for a bench player in an entire season last year. Get this — Ellington drained more triples than Joe Ingles, who played in all 82 games, did last season. Ellington made 227 threes, while Ingles made 204.

The Jazz would have to wait until December 15th to make a move on Ellington, since he signed a contract with Miami over the summer. But what will it take to get him? Winderman suggests a draft pick or young prospect could do the trick. You’d like to hold onto 2017 first-round draft pick Tony Bradley, so I think a Thabo Sefolosha/Alec Burks with a second-round pick trade would be adequate to acquire Ellington.

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One more noteworthy thing: Ellington essentially has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he can veto any trade. However, the 30-year old veteran would obviously prefer winning games and contending in the playoffs. While the Jazz aren’t looking good right now, there’s still lofty expectations on their shoulders following last years magnificent run.

There are a lot of questions surrounding the Utah Jazz. One thing I can give an obvious answer to: they need another 3-point shooter. Time will tell if Ellington and the Jazz are a match.

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