The Dallas Mavericks are finalizing a three-year deal with shooting guard Monta Ellis, according to USA Today Sports. After failing to sign Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum, the Mavericks are reportedly eying another free agent center.
Ellis's deal is for three years and worth around $28 million, according to a USA Today Sports source. The contract hasn't been finalized, but it's expected to be completed sometime soon.
The 27-year-old guard exercised his early termination option in June with the Milwaukee Bucks, who were slated to pay him $11 million. The Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats had also been considered frontrunners for Ellis.
He helped the Bucks reach the playoffs last season with his 19.2 points and six assists per game. Signing Ellis became imperative upon learning that guard Devin Harris needs surgery on his left foot, according to ESPN. Ellis is an upgrade for the Mavericks at the 2-guard, and he can provide consistent scoring.
The Maverick's main targets this offseason were Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. After failing to sign either All-Star, Dallas looked to injury-plagued Andrew Bynum as the answer at center. That didn't happen either — Bynum signed a two-year deal on Wednesday with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Now Dallas is eying Bucks free agent center Samuel Dalembert, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
"The money Dallas is no longer spending on Harris, sources said, has been earmarked for the signing of a big man, with Milwaukee free agent Samuel Dalembert ranking as the Maverick's clear-cut preference after team officials spent all day Thursday meeting with him in Dallas," Stein wrote on Friday.
The 6-foot-11 big man has a career average of 8.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
