Dion Waiters was supposed to become a huge NBA star when the Cleveland Cavaliers grabbed him with the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. However, he only lasted a little over two years there before the Cavs traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Waiters served a bench player for the Thunder and then moved on in 2016 to sign a one-year deal with the Miami Heat. According to ESPN, Dion said he was betting on himself with the deal and had faith in his role with the Miami Heat.
The Original Dion Waiters Miami Heat Deal
That original deal with the Miami Heat saw Dion Waiters - a former first round draft pick - take only $2.9 million for one season.
According to Waiters, the reason that he took such a low deal was that everyone needs to bet on themselves sometimes and that is what he was doing. As a result, Dion reminded reporters that it worked out just fine.
The Miami Heat started out the season struggling mightily. However, they reversed their fortunes in the second half of the season and ended up sitting at .500 to finish the season, losing out to the Chicago Bulls in the tiebreaker for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Dion Waiters played in 46 games and the Heat went 27-19 in those games.
The Miami Heat did so well at the end of the season that their head coach Eric Spoelstra was in the talks for the NBA Coach of the Year Award.
It also caused Dion Waiters and his teammates - many of whom were about to become free agents - to sit down and talk about sticking together and building on their success.
Dion Waiters New Deal
As Dion Waiters said, he was betting on himself and it worked out. While everyone talked about sticking together with the Miami Heat, Waiters did his part to keep his end of the agreement.
Waiters signed a new four-year deal that could pay him up to $52 million if he meets all his incentives. Dion averaged 15.8 points and started 43 of the 46 games he played in.
The Miami Heat also signed forward James Johnson (12.8 ppg) to a new four-year deal worth $60 million. Those two will return with point guard Goran Dragic, center Hassan Whiteside, and shooting guard Wayne Ellington.
The Heat also brought in a second center in Kelly Olynyk on a four-year, $40 million deal. Waiters said that this team can continue the second half success and can be "real good" in the 2017-18 NBA season.
Dion Waiters had spoken to other teams as he considered his options as a free agent but he also promised Pat Riley and Eric Spoelstra that he would remain patient and wait for their deal. That also paid off for Waiters and he foresees big things for the Miami Heat next season.
