UNC Basketball Alumni: Wayne Ellington joins new team in free agency

Wayne Ellington is on the move again as he has a new home in the NBA after signing a one-year deal in free agency on Tuesday night

Former UNC Basketball standout Wayne Ellington will have a new home for the upcoming 2020-21 NBA season.

Ellington is the latest former Tar Heels player to be on the move so far this offseason as he’s officially agreed to a deal with the Detroit Pistons. Ellington was previously released by the New York Knicks earlier in the week.

ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Tuesday night that Ellington has reached a one-year deal to join the Pistons worth $2.6M.

The 32-year-old Ellington is entering his 12th season in the league after being selected in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. Ellington spent last season with the Knicks averaging 5.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He served as a veteran on a rebuilding Knicks team that was hoping to shift the focus to younger players.

Prior to his time in New York, Ellington spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Miami Heat, rejuvenating his career averaging 10.5 points per game in that span. He was traded to Detroit mid-season in 2019 and now returns to the Pistons for another one-year stint.

Ellington was known for his three-point shooting in college, playing three seasons at North Carolina and helping lead the Tar Heels to the National Championship in 2009. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

In his NBA career, Ellington is averaging 8 points per game while shooting 38 percent from the three-point line. The Pistons have made a bunch of moves this offseason and it’s expected that Ellington will be a role player off the bench.

For more on Ellington and other former UNC Basketball players in the NBA, please check back with Keeping It Heel.