Two summers back, coming off an unsuccessful year-and-a-half-long stint with the Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis struggled to generate interest in free agency. The former Golden State Warriors spark plug withered on the vine until the second week of July before eventually inking a three-year, $25.1 million make-good deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
After spending two years making often-beautiful music with the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Brandan Wright and Tyson Chandler in the high-screen game under Rick Carlisle, Ellis elected to opt out of the final year of his contract, betting that the promise of a rising salary cap would embolden some suitor to splash the cash and give the 29-year-old shooting guard a raise from the $8.