Monta Ellis is a decent point guard option that the Sixers could look at in the trade market. With 11 years of experience under his belt, one would think that Ellis’s high-level playing days are over, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Ellis spent this past season with the Indiana Pacers, and had a down year. Still, a down year for Ellis is pretty good, given that he averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
The biggest plus to Ellis is that even though he’s been in the league for over a decade, he’s not rusty at all. Ellis started all but one game for the Pacers last season, which would be something incredibly out of the ordinary for the injury-plagued Sixers of last season.
Ellis is one of the older players in the league at the moment, and because of that, he knows his way around the league. He’s appeared on four different teams and been in countless different basketball scenarios. He’s got playoff experience, starting in 29 playoff games over the course of his career.
Ellis can play a lot, as he held the league record for minutes played per game in two separate seasons.
Monta won the league’s Most Improved Player award in 2007, and he never looked back, keeping his stats high from that season on out.
Ellis can play either position in the backcourt, since he’s a natural playmaker. He’s quick, and always looks for a good shot or an open teammate. His solid ball handling allows him to move all over the floor with the ball during possessions, confusing defenses and making lapses by the opposition more likely.
The Indiana Pacers may be open to this deal because they still have Ty Lawson and George Hill to run the point without Ellis. If the Sixers can offer the Pacers something attractice, they will definitely listen.
Next: J.J. Barea