2 Wayne Ellington G

The Heat picked up the $6.27 million option on Ellington's contract for the 2017-18 season Friday, Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post reports.

In the first year of the contract last season, Ellington set career highs in points per game (10.5) and three-pointers made (149), leading to an effective field goal percentage of 55.0. He also missed the first 16 games of the campaign, which continued a trend of submitting at least that many DNPs in four of his eight years in the NBA. With his return to Miami now guaranteed, expect the 30-year-old to uphold his standard as one the Heat's primary three-point threats.

Ellington (personal) has been cleared to play in Thursday's game against the Raptors, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

Ellington's availability came into question earlier Thursday, as he was recently away from the team following the birth of his child on Wednesday night. However, Ellington was able to catch a flight in time to be back on the court Thursday and should continue to see an elevated role in the backcourt with Dion Waiters (ankle) remaining sidelined for the foreseeable future. Ellington logged 27 minutes in Tuesday's game against the Suns.

Ellington's status is up in the air for Thursday's game against Toronto following the birth of his child Wednesday night.

Ellington was not present at shootaround Thursday morning, but the hope is that he'll rejoin the team in time for Thursday night's contest. If that's not the case, some combination of Tyler Johnson, Rodney McGruder and Josh Richardson would absorb his vacated minutes.

Ellington recorded 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-8 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one steal across 22 minutes during a 120-112 win over the Pelicans on Wednesday.

Ellington stayed hot Wednesday with 19 points and five three-pointers made for the second consecutive game. These last two times are no fluke, as Ellington has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight games. As the team's backup shooting guard, he looks to be a solid option for owners in need of points and three-pointers.

Ellington scored 19 points (7-13 FG, 5-11 3Pt) while adding two assists and a rebound in 27 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 102-98 loss to the Pacers.

It's his best scoring performance since late January, but Ellington has been a consistent threat from the Heat's second unit for a while now, draining multiple three-pointers in 10 straight games and averaging 14.4 points and 4.0 threes a game in March. His fantasy value is limited as he doesn't contribute much in other categories, but he's been a big part of the team's late surge for a spot in the playoffs.