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New York Knicks: Pros and Cons of bringing Wayne Ellington back

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: Wayne Ellington #2 of the New York Knicks dribbles against the Utah Jazz during the first half at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: Wayne Ellington #2 of the New York Knicks dribbles against the Utah Jazz during the first half at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: Jordan McRae #52 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against Taj Gibson #67 and Wayne Ellington #2 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Capital One Arena on October 7, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: Jordan McRae #52 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against Taj Gibson #67 and Wayne Ellington #2 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Capital One Arena on October 7, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Pro: Defensive Prowess

Wayne Ellington isn’t exactly regarded as one of the NBA’s premier defenders, but that doesn’t mean he’s less than . In fact: During his scarce playing time during the 2019-20 regular season, Ellington was one of the best defenders on the New York Knicks.

That may sound like a low bar, but smart franchises retain players who are a positive influence on those around them—and Ellington fits that bill.

Ellington is currently averaging 4.2 rebounds and 0.8 steals per 36 minutes, but those aren’t the numbers of significance. What matters more is the fact that New York was at its best on defense with Ellington and its worst without him.

The Knicks boasted a team-best Defensive Rating of 105.5 when Ellington was playing and a team-worst mark of 113.2 when he wasn’t.

That monumental difference of 7.7 points per 100 possessions isn’t the only indicator that Ellington was a positive influence on defense. Ellington boasts a positive Defensive Real Plus-Minus, which no other Knicks guard can say.

As such, New York should give serious thought to bringing Ellington back for the 2020-21 season in an attempt to establish itself as a respected defensive team.

Every player counts on that journey, and Ellington has proven to be an asset.