Knicks news: Wayne Ellington says he's in New York 'to help lead a very young team'

Wayne Ellington says his main goal with the New York Knicks is to "help lead a very young team." The guard signed a two-year deal this summer.

Wayne Ellington says his main goal with the New York Knicks is to “help lead a very young team.”

Ellington signed a two-year deal with the Knicks this summer after spending time with the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons last season.

“I’m here first and foremost to help lead a very young team,” Ellington said, via Steve Popper of Newsday. “That’s one of the things [Knicks coach David Fizdale] and I spoke about, helping to lead. And of course, I’m here be a player, whether it’s starting or coming off the bench, whatever Fiz needed me to do, I’m going to be ready and prepared for it. That’s really not my main focus, whether I’m a starter or not, but I’m definitely coming in here to compete.”

After missing out on superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this summer, the Knicks used their cap space on Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Marcus Morris, Taj Gibson, Wayne Ellington, Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock.

The seven veterans will show Knicks youngsters Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett what it takes to win on a consistent basis in the NBA.

Last season with the Heat and Pistons, Ellington averaged 10.3 points while shooting 40.3 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc. He'll space the floor well for New York.