Dion Waiters is in line for a big pay day
By Simon Smith
Currently in career-best form, Dion Waiters will be a hot commodity this coming summer. Here we take a look at how Waiters should fare this summer against some of the other free-agent shooting guards.
Dion Waiters took a bet on himself this past offseason. Waiters received lucrative offers from multiple teams, including the Sacramento Kings, the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers. But, instead, Waiters decided to put playing time and opportunity ahead of financial gain. Waiters posted the following on his Instagram account upon signing with the Miami Heat:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIVITDCjpmj/?taken-by=waiters3
There was actually a $6.7 million qualifying offer on the table from the Oklahoma City Thunder. But when the Thunder decided to pull the offer a couple of weeks into the free-agency stakes, Waiters became an unrestricted free agent. And the Heat pounced, using their room exception to sign Waiters to a two-year, $5.93 million contract. With a player option on the second year of the deal, this is where things get interesting.
Waiters bet on himself this past summer. So far, he has been vindicated. Waiters is averaging career-highs in the three most prominent counting stats – 15.9 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. His 30.9 minutes per game is also a career-high. But it has been Waiters’ form during the Heat’s recent hot streak that has made noise around the league.
Over his last 14 games, Waiters has averaged 20.9 points, 5.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game. This includes hitting at a 48.1 percent clip from the field and an outstanding 47.0 percent from downtown, which includes 2.8 three-pointers made per game.
Considering Waiters is a career 41.2 percent shooter, these are amazing numbers.
Last week, Heat team president Pat Riley commented about Waiters’ form and impending free-agency:
"“If he can put together another 25 games similar to what he has done the last 10 or 12, that’s a pretty good sample size of what a guy can do. I think he’s really taken to heart his conditioning and playing both ends of the court. He’s a playmaker. He’s a big-time playmaker"
So what’s next for Waiters after this season, and how does the market lay out for a player deserving of a raise?