Defense is what could make the Miami Heat contenders by Chase Eyrich

With the NBA trade deadline approaching, the Miami Heat should consider keeping sharpshooter Wayne Ellington.

Miami Heat guard Wayne Ellington has been playing some of his best basketball yet. Currently averaging 11.2 points a game on 42.1 percent shooting from the field (40.6 from downtown), he is an asset the team can’t afford to lose.

The much-traveled Ellington has never really had a home

Ellington is an eight-year veteran who has played for seven different teams in his NBA career. One would think in a league that features three-point shooting, Ellington would have found a permanent home by now. He has averaged close to 40 percent or above from the 3-point range for five out of eight years. So what’s been the problem?

Several teams’ loss is one team’s gain

Ellington was known as a liability on defense and a one-trick pony that could only shoot open shots from a long distance. A bench player buried in the situational rotation (only to the surface) when a long distance shot was needed in a crunch-time situation. He had his moments while being a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers (10.4 points per game), Los Angeles Lakers (10.0 points per game) and Brooklyn Nets (7.7 points per game), where he had the highest scoring outputs of his career until he became a member of the Heat.

The Heat helped change his game

Since joining the Heat, Ellington has filled a consistent 3-point shooting threat void that quite frankly Heat fans and the basketball world haven’t seen since future Hall of Famer Ray Allen. Ellington is scoring a career-high in points, true shooting percentage (60.6) and player efficiency rate (13.81). But that’s not the entire story. He’s been a better defender, screener, ball handler, cutter/mover without the basketball and a fearless competitor in clutch situations.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra and his staff are transforming Ellington into an all-around better NBA player.

Why the Miami Heat should consider keeping Wayne Ellington

Spoelstra already sees the similarities between Ellington and Allen.

“He’s a walking … trigger — what do they call that in a video game? A cheat code? He’s a walking cheat code. He’s our version of this generation of the Miami Heat of Ray Allen.”

His teammates love him:

“He brings a great energy tot both ends of the court,” said Josh Richardson. Everybody knows when he comes in, you’ve got to be right, because he raises the level.”

Ellington has shown over the last two seasons as a member of the Heat that he’s more than capable of winning games in dramatic fashion. Just ask the Charlotte Hornets when he scored 26 points, starting in place of Goran Dragic.

The Miami Heat have invested a lot in Ellington’s development. And if possible, should consider retaining the services of the 30-year old sharpshooter and working out an extension in the future.

It’s safe to say he’s the biggest surprise of the season.