ATLANTA — The Lakers have given Wayne Ellington a comfortable distance since taking an indefinite absence last week after his father was shot and killed in Philadelphia.
But Lakers coach Byron Scott reported that Ellington informed him Monday night that he intends to rejoin the team Thursday in Dallas. The Lakers will then play Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.
“He’s hanging in there and is also ready to be back with his basketball family as well,” Scott said. “Guys would love to see him and embrace him and tell him how much they care for him and miss him and tell him how badly they feel about what happened to his family. We all want to let him know that we’re here for him.”
Ellington missed the past four games while spending time with his family in Philadelphia. He also attended his father’s funeral on Saturday.
Ellington made the Lakers’ roster on a non-guaranteed contract, averaging 7.8 points on 57.1 percent shooting in 20.6 minutes as both a backup shooting and point guard. Ellington grew up outside Philadelphia before starring at North Carolna and having numerous stops in his five-year NBA career, including Minnesota (2009-12), Cleveland (2012-13), Memphis (2012-13), Dallas (2013-14) and the Lakers (2014-15). Ellington has a non-guaranteed deal in the offseason, though $581,692 of his contract locks in if he stays on the roster past Dec. 1.
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