Dion Waiters' free agency will be one one to watch. Waiters is coming off a career season with the Miami Heat, averaging 15.8 points, 3.3. rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. It looked like he had finally found a home in the NBA, but Waiters decided to decline his player option with the Heat that would have earned him $3 million in the 2017-2018 NBA season. Waiters is already drawing interest from different teams. While he has openly affirmed that the Miami Heat will have a special place in his heart and will give them strong consideration in the free agency period, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers might be willing to offer Waiters more.
Waiters wants to remain with the Miami Heat
Dion Waiters has continuously expressed his willingness to remain in a Miami Heat uniform this past season. However, the 25 year old knew that he could not the dismiss the opportunity to test an NBA market that is welcoming a large inflow of money and also experience what it feels like to be wanted by several teams.
In an interview with WSVN’s 7 Sports Xtra host Steve Shapiro on Sunday, June 4, Dion Waiters was asked whether he would be willing to take less money in order to remain with the Miami Heat. His answer was the following: “It depends. Yeah, I would, though. But, like I said, it depends, just being the right thing, at the right time. It’s just got to be right.
It’s got to be equal.”
Pat Riley has stated that he wants Dion Waiters to remain a Miami Heat player. The Heat will have roughly $37 million in cap space this summer once Chris Bosh's salary is cleared, so that puts them in a good position to pursue quality players and offer them quality contracts. Whether they will strongly pursue Waiters remains to be seen.
Lakers interested in Waiters
The NBA salary cap has increased considerably, and mediocre players are now earning big bucks. If Waiters can prove he can sustain the level of play he was able to demonstrate last season with the Miami Heat, then he will be able to earn good money for years to come. One of the teams that could covet Waiters' services in this upcoming free agency is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that new Lakers General Manager, and former player agent, Rob Pelinka might be interested in pursuing his former client Dion Waiters in free agency. However, new president of basketball operations Magic Johnson has openly discussed the Lakers' intentions of saving their cap space for next year's free agent class. "The Heat wants to keep Waiters but doesn’t want to overpay, " added Barry Jackson. Thus, it looks like it will be difficult for teams other than the Miami Heat to convince Waiters, for the Heat have already done so.
The Lakers would welcome the scoring abilities of Waiters. The shooting position in the Lakers has not been locked up by any player following Kobe Bryant's retirement. Waiters would have big shoes to fill in LA. Luke Walton's free-flowing system would encourage Waiters to gain confidence and shine. Waiters' most important decision of his NBA career awaits.
