Where Do We Go From Here?
There is absolutely no doubt that Waiters will be one of Miami’s priorities this offseason, as he’s expected to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent.
What plays into the Heat’s favor is that Waiters himself has also made it a priority of his to stay in Miami, stating that he does not even want to be a free agent for a long time, per the Miami Herald:
"“I want to get it done as quick as possible,” he said. “Let’s keep this thing rolling by any means. I don’t want to go into free agency with a couple days and make a decision. I don’t want that.”"
While Waiters has yet to decline his $3 million player option for next year, he certainly will, as he’s expected to make a lot more money on the open market after a strong season.
One may look at this stretch as just a small sample size, but Waiters has proven he has the ability, and Miami is the best place for him to thrive.
Next: What is Blake Griffin worth?
Pat Riley will likely feel out the elite free agents first, but re-signing Waiters and Johnson should be the very next priority. It’d be ideal for the Heat to retain Waiters and get another season from this group but, as the years have proven, anything and everything is possible when it comes to the Heat,