After being traded by the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday–then placed on waivers by the Suns not long after–it appears former UNC guard Wayne Ellington has finally found a new home in the NBA.

Although many thought he would sign with a playoff contender in order to add perimeter shooting depth, instead Ellington is opting to sign with the Detroit Pistons.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Friday that the Pistons are planning on releasing forward Henry Ellenson in order to clear a roster spot for Ellington, who will likely slot into the role vacated by another former Tar Heel in Reggie Bullock.

Bullock was traded earlier this week to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Pistons currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 24-29. They are 1.5 games behind the Heat–Ellington’s former team–for the eighth, and final, playoff spot in the conference.

So far this season, Ellington is averaging 8.4 points per game and shooting nearly 37 percent from three-point range.

 

 

 

Photo via Associated Press

Related Stories
‹
Wayne Ellington Traded to Phoenix Suns, Expected to be Released Into Free Agency
Action continued to heat up ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, another former Tar Heel is on the move. The Miami Heat agreed Wednesday to trade guard Wayne Ellington to the Phoenix Suns alongside teammate Tyler Johnson in exchange for forward Ryan Anderson. This comes one night after former Tar Heel Reggie Bullock was traded […]
UNC Standout Day'Ron Sharpe Taken 29th in NBA Draft
Former UNC standout Day’Ron Sharpe is officially headed to the NBA, as the Phoenix Suns drafted him on Thursday night. The 6-foot-11 Greenville, N.C. native was taken 29th overall, the second-to-last pick in the first round, after a strong year off the bench for the Tar Heels in the 2020-21 season. As part of a […]
Danny Green Claims Second Consecutive NBA Title, Third With Different Teams
Make it back-to-back NBA championships for former UNC standout Danny Green, as his Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat on Sunday night at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando to cap off one of the wildest seasons in the league’s history. LeBron James was named the NBA Finals MVP for the fourth time […]
Los Angeles Lakers Agree to Trade for Reggie Bullock
It might not be Anthony Davis, but the Los Angeles Lakers made a move late Tuesday night to help add perimeter shooting by trading for Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Bullock. Bullock, who played at UNC for three years before being selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA Draft back […]
Detroit Pistons Exercise Team Option to Keep Former UNC Guard Reggie Bullock
Former UNC guard Reggie Bullock will remain with the Detroit Pistons in the NBA next season after having his team option picked up by the team on Sunday. Bullock will make $2.5 million in this, the final year of a contract signed prior to last season. After joining the Pistons’ starting lineup in December of […]
Wayne Ellington Agrees to Re-Sign With Miami Heat on One-Year Deal
The Miami Heat and former UNC guard Wayne Ellington agreed late Thursday night to a deal that will keep Ellington with the Heat for at least one more season. It’s a contract worth $6.27 million next season that brings the Heat over the luxury tax threshold with a team salary currently sitting at $127 million. […]
Detroit Pistons Plan to Interview Kenny "The Jet" Smith for Head Coach Position
As the NBA head coaching carousel continues to spin, the Detroit Pistons–who recently let go of former coach Stan Van Gundy–have plans to interview former UNC standout, and current NBA analyst on TNT, Kenny “The Jet” Smith for the position. Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports reported the news on Wednesday. The Pistons made a splash this […]
Wayne Ellington Sets Miami Heat All-Time Single Season Record for Three-Pointers Made
Former UNC standout–shooting guard Wayne Ellington–etched his name in the Miami Heat’s all-time record book on Wednesday night in the team’s season finale–hitting eight three-pointers and scoring 32 points in a win over the Toronto Raptors. Ellington’s proficiency from long distance helped him break the Heat’s all-time single season record for made three-pointers in a […]
Wayne Ellington Sets All-Time NBA Single Season Record for Three-Pointers by Bench Player
Wednesday night in the NBA saw the Miami Heat roll to a 115-86 blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena, with Heat guard–and former Tar Heel standout–Wayne Ellington setting a new NBA record. Ellington scored 11 points and hit a trio of three-pointers in the game to surpass Houston’s Eric Gordon for most […]
Brice Johnson Traded for Second Time in Two Weeks, This Time From Detroit Pistons to the Memphis Grizzlies
With Thursday afternoon marking the NBA trade deadline, former UNC forward Brice Johnson found himself on the move for the second time in less than two weeks. The former First Team All-American was sent from the Detroit Pistons to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for forward James Ennis and a second-round draft pick. This comes […]
›