Miami Heat 2016-17 player preview: Dion Waiters

The 2016-17 Season

Early signs in the pre-season have been highly encouraging for Waiters and the Heat. The first player off the bench in both hit-outs, Waiters has impressed as not only a scorer but also a facilitator.

Over two games, Waiters has averaged 13 points per game and seven assists in 24.5 minutes per game. He has shot 50 percent from the field and had an average usage rate of 29. The usage rate is obviously extremely high. However it must be noted that with Tyler Johnson starting at the two, Waiters has been the primary ball handler coming off the bench.

Until Josh Richardson returns from injury, we probably won’t know exactly the role Waiters will have moving forward. He can certainly rotate between the 2 and 3 spots, and as shown in the past two games, handle the point in spurts if needed. Until Richardson does return, playing 25-30 minutes per game, whether coming off the bench or starting, is very realistic.

Next: Player Preview of James Johnson

The next handful of pre-season games will be a great opportunity for Waiters to both acclimatize to the Heat’s structure and also prove his worth to the coaching staff. With much to prove to both himself and the league as a whole, it will be an interesting story to follow.