In this trade idea, the Miami Heat send “Philly Cheese” himself, Dion Waiters, to the Sixers, in return for, the infamous Markelle Fultz.
The Sixers buy into their hometown hero, Dion Waiters, because many believe that Fultz’ career is done in a Sixers jersey, as his career has left a bad taste in Sixers nation’s mouth. Waiters’ is everything Philly wants from Jimmy Butler currently, a high-volume shooter that can make buckets when need be, except the Sixers don’t have to pay Waiters’ a max contract this summer.
Obviously, Butler is lightyears ahead of Waiters’ in talent, but having a differential of almost $25 million in contract space between the two players (if Butler signs max there), would be too much money to make the Sixers comfortable for the future.
If you’re Philly, keeping Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons is the right idea, not paying a max to a player that could potentially be John Wall for you (guaranteed max contract and won’t be healthy until 2020) is also the right move.
As for Miami, grabbing a former No. 1 pick for Waiters is a no brainer on paper, especially if the Heat don’t necessarily need Waiters because of the logjam at the guard position. Fultz could also be a perfect backup to Winslow/Dragic until the Heat decide to move on from Dragic, and then they’ll have to decide how to move forward with a combo guard backcourt of Winslow and Fultz. Albeit, these aren’t bad things to worry about if your Spo or Riley, as they haven’t had many point guards to choose from when Dragic has been hurt, really only looking to Tyler Johnson to fill those minutes.
And while it may read like I am talking myself into this deal, I’m not, I don’t think Fultz is the right move for a Heat team that is in the need of instant talent, but maybe Spo can work his magic.