The Dallas Mavericks will reportedly explore trade options for shooting guard Monta Ellis should he exercise his player option for next season, ESPN.com reports.
Ellis has until later today to decide whether he wants to opt in for the final season of his three-year, $25 million deal or test the free-agent market. He stands to make $8.7 million if he stays with Dallas.
Ellis, 29, averaged 18.9 points per game this past season and was the first player not named Dirk Nowitzki to lead the Mavs in scoring since the 1999-2000 season. Despite his solid play, his mercurial attitude is said to have cause chemistry issues in the locker room last year.
ESPN reports that if Ellis opts in, the Mavericks would try to trade him for a draft pick so that Dallas can maintain its financial flexibility in free agency.
Dallas is planning to target Portland Trail Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge and L.A. Clippers third-team All-NBA center DeAndre Jordan once free agency rolls around. Without Ellis' contract on the cap sheet, Dallas will likely have enough salary space to re-sign center Tyson Chandler to pair with Aldridge or go after a shooting guard who fits better with small forward Chandler Parsons should Jordan sign on the dotted line.
Ellis has played well for the Mavericks since signing in 2012 and has helped them to back-to-back post-season berths. But Dallas does not want to give him the pay bump he is seeking should he enter free agency. Instead, the Mavericks are looking for a bigger shooting guard (Ellis stands just 6-3) who is more of a 3-and-D type of player. That could mean Danny Green and Wesley Matthews get a look in free agency.
Ellis has the highest career scoring average (19.3 points per game) of any player in NBA history never to have been named an All-Star.
