This time of year, most NBA scouts are in Las Vegas to watch Summer League play and evaluate young, inexperienced players.
However, on Monday night a number of teams sent representatives to watch a pair of NBA veterans, Amar'e Stoudemire and Monta Ellis, try and prove they still have something left in the tank.
14 NBA teams, including the
Washington Wizards, attended the Vegas workout featuring Stoudemire and Ellis, who have both been out of the league the last few seasons.
LA Lakers, Golden State, NY Knicks, OKC, Milwaukee, Detroit, Washington, Sacramento, Denver, Portland, Orlando, Atlanta, Minnesota, LA Clippers were all in attendance with over 15 European and Asian clubs. https://t.co/XpBhT6rRI4 pic.twitter.com/Ds94QHDEo0
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes)
July 9, 2019 Stoudemire, 36, is a five-time All-NBA big man who last played in the NBA in 2016 with the Miami Heat. The best stretch of Stoudemire's career came in 2004-2011 as a member of the Suns and Knicks when he made the All-Star team six out of those seven seasons.
Ellis, 33, hasn't played an NBA game since 2017. Known as a volume shooter, Ellis has career averages of 17.8 points and 4.6 assists per game.
The Wizards do have some depth issues at power forward, but it's hard to imagine them signing Stoudemire given his age and lack of a three-point shot (Stoudemire is a career 23.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc). Plus, Washington would probably rather see what rookie
Rui Hachimura and the
recently acquired Moritz Wagner can do at the 4.
That said, both Stoudemire and Ellis are probably looking to join a title contender, something the Wizards almost certainly won't be this season. Indeed, the Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, Trail Blazers, and Nuggets also had representatives at the workout Monday night.
Washington can offer veterans minutes, but unfortunately not a chance to chase a championship ring.
