LAS VEGAS — For Keon Ellis, it was about wanting to be where he’s wanted.
Getting to join a Nets team in desperate need of his defense, and reunite with coach Jordi Fernández, was the perfect free agent situation.
“From what I heard, he was pulling for me really hard,” said Ellis, who played two years in Sacramento when Fernández was the Kings’ associate head coach. “And I know the way he coaches. He’s very passionate. He’s about the right things. He wants to win. So, the familiarity right there was definitely good.”
The Nets and Ellis agreed to a two-year, $18 million contract, with a full mutual option that either side can opt into.
Considering the familiarity between the player and coach, and how the Nets need his 3-and-D profile, it’s hard to see the fit not working out.
“With how much they were offering, that just speaks to how much the team wants you as well. So, that. And then obviously, you’ve got some guys on the staff that you’ve been with before, so you know the ropes a little,” Ellis said. “And then the opportunity here as well. When you combine all those things, they just lined up.”
Point-of-attack defenders who can actually shoot — prototypical 3-and-D types — are pricey in the NBA, but Ellis may provide some of that archetype.
Per 100 possessions last season — split between the Kings and Cavaliers — Ellis ranked in the 93rd percentile in steals (2.7), in the 95th percentile in blocks (1.5) and the 96th percentile in both turnovers forced (1.6) and deflections (6.4).
His stop percentile of 4.4 ranked in the 98th percentile.
“It’s just about the effort. I go out there and I just try to make it tough on guys,” Ellis said. “You’re playing against the best players in the world. They’re gonna score; they’re gonna get to their spots. You’re gonna have bad defensive games [and] good defensive games. But the mindset of every night trying to do the right things, be in the right spots and just attack the game plan. That’ll help everyone accomplish the goal.
“I’m not the greatest defender ever, but with team defense, everyone’s on the same page, that helps everyone a little bit better. Just me coming in, I’m more of a lead by example kind of guy. So I think just me going in and playing hard, that’s what motivates the next guy to go just as hard.”
Two seasons ago, Ellis was even better. He was the only player in the league to rank in the top 10 in both steals (1.5) and 3-point percentage (.433).
But he backslid somewhat this past campaign. After averaging 24 minutes in the regular season and notching a plus-4.5 net rating, Ellis struggled in the postseason. He averaged just seven minutes and recorded a minus-15.9 net rating in 12 appearances for Cleveland.
Still, playoff woes are a luxury for the rebuilding Nets, a long way from those sorts of worries. Considering how defensively challenged they were — and how badly Drake Powell, their only guard who plays tough point-of-attack defense, has been struggling on offense in summer league play so far — it’s hard to see Ellis not playing a huge role.
Ellis is confident he can get back to his 3-and-D form of two years ago.
“Just the consistency and an established role. A lot of things were up and down and moving parts, and you just never really knew what was going on,” Ellis said. “The consistency really helped with that, that year. You knew what was going on. There weren’t too many moving parts. So, that was just the biggest thing.”
Ellis is looking forward to getting settled in Brooklyn — even if he’s suffering from sticker shock.
“Oh, my God. Trying to find a house, it’s tough,” Ellis laughed. “I have to sacrifice something, some space, the prices, it’s a lot. But I’m definitely excited to be able to kind of just walk around the city and hit different spots and all the restaurants. I hear there’s a lot of good food and a lot of things to do. So I’m definitely excited to see about that, but I’ll definitely be losing some square footage.”
