Monta Ellis to Opt out of Contract and Become a Free Agent


As expected, Milwaukee Bucks guard Monta Ellis has informed the team that he’s opting out of his current deal, thereby becoming a highly-coveted free agent this summer. Per the Journal Sentinel and ESPN: “Ellis was owed $11 million in the final year of a six-year, $66 million deal he signed while a member of the Golden State Warriors. But he held a player option and decided to opt out to become an unrestricted free agent. The Bucks received official notification of Ellis’ intentions Monday morning. The Bucks offered Ellis a two-year contract extension last fall, a deal that would have required him to opt in and would have been worth nearly $36 million over the three-year period. But Ellis did not agree to the deal, preferring to weigh his options. Ellis played in all 82 games for Milwaukee last season and was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points, 6.0 assists and 2.1 steals. He finished the season ranked 11th in the league in scoring. […] Sources say the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers have interest in Ellis, although the Lakers could get Ellis only via an unlikely sign-and-trade deal. Ellis, who originally signed a six-year, $66 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, is close with Lakers free agent Dwight Howard. The two have long desired to play together. If Howard cannot achieve his top goal of playing with Chris Paul, teaming up with Ellis may become an option he would strongly consider.”