UNC Basketball: What does Wayne Ellington bring to Lakers?

What type of impact will former UNC basketball standout Wayne Ellington have on his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, during the 2021-22 season?

Over his NBA career, Wayne Ellington has gained a ton of valuable experience. The former UNC basketball standout has played in 727 games for eight franchises, and is now at the point in his career where his veteran presence on a roster is just as valuable as his play on the court.

Although he’s already accomplished a lot in his professional basketball career, the now 33-year-old is still chasing that illustrious NBA title. After winning a national championship at North Carolina, Ellington looks to join the club of players who have won a title at both the collegiate and professional level.

After spending the 2020-21 season with the Detroit Pistons, Ellington was once again in search of a new home. His free agent process led him back to Los Angeles for his second stint with the Lakers.

When a player lands with a new team, it’s often a question as to whether or not the player will be a good fit with that respective organization. However, in this situation, it seems as if the former Tar Heel will be a natural fit with this team’s current roster.

With a roster that features a variety of different playmakers, the Lakers needed to add players who could flat-out shoot the ball. Look no further than Ellington, who has made a reputation in the league as a sharpshooter.

Over his NBA career, Ellington has knocked down 38.2 percent of his three-point field goal attempts, and is coming off of a season in which he made 42.2 percent of his attempts from deep. Recently, the Lakers posted the above YouTube clip of their new sharpshooter getting up some shots during the team’s summer workout sessions.

As the Lakers feature a very talented, yet very old (in terms of basketball age) roster, the team is clearly in “win now” mode. The organization’s front office has put together a group of players that can not only contribute in multiple ways, but have the ability to score the basketball from all areas of the floor.

Given his shooting ability, some NBA analysts believe that Ellington will be called upon to be a starter for this year’s Lakers squad. Regardless of whether or not he starts the game, it’s expected that he’ll make a huge impact based on his skillset.

With guys such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster, don’t expect Ellington to be the team’s leading scorer. However, don’t be surprised if the former Tar Heel is called upon to take some big shots for a Lakers team that believes they have what it takes to win another NBA title.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates on Wayne Ellington, and the rest of the UNC basketball program.