While the Miami Heat rumors over the past several weeks indicated that the team had potential to sign a major free agent, the team was ultimately forced to keep their current roster intact. A day after losing out on free agent Gordon Hayward to the Boston Celtics, Miami re-signed their guard Dion Waiters to a four-year deal to keep him as part of the lineup that nearly made the postseason. Here are the latest details on Waiters' latest deal with the Miami Heat.

Waiters' four-year deal

The ESPN website reported on Wednesday that Waiters agreed to a four-year deal worth $52 million with the Miami Heat.

The 25-year-old guard had previously turned down his player option with the team worth a bit over $3 million so he could test out free agency. However, the Miami Heat were unable to woo Blake Griffin or Gordon Hayward to their team as free agents, which meant they needed to make sure to keep Waiters on the roster.

Dion Waiters put up career-high averages of 39.5 percent three-point shooting, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds a game last season for the Heat. In addition, his 15.8 points a game scoring average was the second-best he's had during his career so far.

The shooting guard from Syracuse has now been in the league since 2012 when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected him. He was traded to Oklahoma City in 2015 and ended up leaving the team after his offer was rescinded (when Kevin Durant left for the Golden State Warriors).

That allowed Waiters to pick up a $2.9 million deal with the Miami Heat.

Miami Heat playoff-bound?

Last season saw the Miami Heat come to life in the second half of their NBA campaign, as they went on an impressive tear to nearly qualify for the postseason. They'd ultimately lose on the final day of the season in a tie-breaker with the Chicago Bulls.

However, the Bulls have lost Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo and seem to be in rebuild mode. In addition to that, the Indiana Pacers have lost their best player, Paul George.

The team drafted Bam Adebayo with the No. 14 pick in the NBA Draft and seems to be headed for another successful season. Despite being unable to snag Blake Griffin or Gordon Hayward, with a corps of Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, Dion Waiters, and other younger rising talents, this team seems like they could be one to watch in the regular NBA season and postseason. They may not be able to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy just yet, but they are certainly on the upswing.
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