Dion Waiters cashed in, now it’s time for him to become an All-Star
By Cory Sanning
The talent pool in the East has steadily shrunk
With both Paul George and Jimmy Butler being shipped west in recent weeks, the star power the Eastern Conference is waning.
Outside of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony, and Isaiah Thomas, what true superstars still reside on the east coast?
Unfortunately, Dwyane Wade isn’t a guaranteed lock as he once was, and don’t throw Gordon Hayward and Kevin Love in that upper-echelon category, either. While all have proven to be much more consistent and even-keeled than Waiters since they all respectively came in to the NBA, the landscape has shifted entirely.
Last year’s All-Star guards–John Wall, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Kemba Walker, in addition to Irving and Thomas–still remain, but we could potentially see several first-time All Stars from the East this year.
Waiters has always carried a chip on his shoulder, and I have a feeling that will play a major factor into why Miami might reach the playoffs next season.
Who knows? Maybe the Heat roll into All-Star weekend in Los Angeles two or three deep.