Wayne Ellington, Miami Heat
Generally speaking, the Sixers should avoid shelling out long-term money if LeBron James and Paul George don’t come walking down Broad Street. That might complicate some of these potential targets, but they’re names to keep an eye on nonetheless.
If the Sixers have to walk away from Redick and Belinelli, Ellington is arguably the best replacement on the market. Another sharp-shooting gunner off the bench, his ability to move off the ball and drill spot-up threes would fit seamlessly in Brett Brown’s system.
Ellington was an underrated candidate for Sixth Man of the Year last season, averaging 11.2 points in 26.5 minutes per game. He also shot 39.2 percent on an average of 7.5 three-point attempts per game, blending volume and efficiency to an impressive extent.
A career journeyman who has peaked in Miami over the past two seasons, Ellington could view Philadelphia as the best place to continue his upward trajectory. He’d get plenty of playing time, effectively running many of the same sets designed for Redick and Belinelli.
By virtue of his athleticism, he’s also less of a defensive liability than Belinelli. Redick has always been a solid team defender, but Ellington can also hold his ground more consistently at the point of attack.
Coming off two strong seasons, Ellington may be looking for a long-term deal. If the Sixers can get him to buy into more money on a one-year flier, though, he could fit nicely — for obvious reasons.