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The Monta Ellis era in Dallas appears to be over, as the Mavericks shooting guard's agent confirmed to ESPN that he has opted out of his contract.
The team doesn't plan on making a bid to re-sign the veteran guard, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, who reported Tuesday that the Mavs would have tried to trade Ellis had he picked up his 2015-16 player option.
Ellis' co-agent, Jeff Fried, wouldn't rule out the possibility of a return to Dallas, however, saying "a door to return there will always be open."
The 29-year-old is expected to be courted by the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers, according to MacMahon and ESPN's Chris Broussard, with Real GM's Shams Charania adding the Atlanta Hawks to the mix as a potential Ellis suitor.
Ellis, who had a Wednesday deadline on the option, was widely expected to opt out after leading the Mavs in scoring this season. In two seasons with Dallas, he averaged 19 points, 4.9 assists, three rebounds, and 1.8 steals while missing a grand total of just two games.
His moodiness, and its effect on team chemistry, were reportedly a concern all season, however - something MacMahon and Broussard noted.
Ellis is effective as a pick-and-roll ball-handler and a relentless attacker off the bounce, and he's an underrated passer. However, he doesn't score efficiently enough for such a high-usage player, his defense leaves much to be desired, and his locker-room reputation appears to have taken another hit this season after being rebuilt last year.
Those factors surely played a part in him settling for a three-year, $25-million deal with the Mavs in 2013 after turning down a $36-million contract from the Milwaukee Bucks, and they'll likely play a factor in the deal he signs come July.
