Dion Waiters, SG
Age: 25
2016-17: 15.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.3 RPG, 39.5 3P%, 30.1 MPG
2016-17 salary: $2,898,000
An untimely ankle injury has put the brakes on the best stretch of Waiters’ career. Since January 17 when the Heat’s commenced their season turnaround, Waiters has averaged 18.4 PPG and 4.8 assists, which included a red-hot 44.5 percent clip from three-point range.
Waiters has been a great compliment to point guard Goran Dragic and the Heat’s ever-increasing attacking approach on the offensive end. So much so, Waiters ranks sixth in the league in player drives with 11.0 per game. The combination of Dragic and Waiters, along with Tyler and james Johnson coming off the bench, has been able to make the full use of the Heat’s rapidly improving three-point shooting.
Waiters simply has the ‘x-factor’ that many teams crave, particularly late in a game where his ability and willingness to get off his own shot makes his extremely valuable.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra noted earlier this season:
"“We started the process early. We started in August. I spent a lot of time with Dion on and off the court, just getting to know each other. He’s really embraced our culture. We’ve been open minded and embraced him and his personality. It’s been reciprocal.”"
Below are highlights of one of Waiters’ best games as a member of the Heat:
Here are some other shooting guards of a similar age and role who signed deals this past off-season:
Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic
Age: 24
Contract: Five-years, $85 million
Fournier has improved in each of his four seasons with the Magic, with his numbers last season strikingly similar to Waiters this season – 15.4 PPG, 2.7 APG and 40.0 3P% in 32.5 MPG. At 6-foot-7, Fournier’s size allows him, like Waiters, to get off his own shot in a variety of situations. And like Waiters, Fournier is proficient at attacking the defence, averaging 6.9 drives per game on the season.
Allen Crabbe, Portland Trail Blazers
Age: 24
Contract: Four-years, $75 million
Crabbe is an overall solid player, primarily a perimeter shooter which nowhere near the overall impact of Waiters. To command such a hefty contract following a season averaging 10.3 PPG says a lot about the explosion of the salary cap.
Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers
Age: 24
Contract: Four-years, $50 million
Clarkson has proven to be a choice after being selected 46th overall in the 2014 draft. And considering the size of some other contracts, this was among the smarter moves of the past summer. For the season, Clarkson is averaging 14.5 PPG on 44.5 percent shooting from the field.
Kent Bazemore, Atlanta Hawks
Age: 27
Contract: Four-years, $70 million
This was yet another in a long list of head-scratching signings. Bazemore is averaging 11.0 PPG on 40.7 percent shooting from the field, not too dissimilar to what earned him this sizeable deal.