Dion Waiters suspended by the Miami Heat once again, so what comes next?

Dion Waiters has been suspended once again by the Miami Heat, once again for insubordination. This is his third suspension of the season.

A disastrous season has gotten even worse for Dion Waiters. The Miami Heat have suspended the embattled guard for the third time so far this season, just 24 games in.

First reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, this suspension is for insubordination and a failure to adhere to team rules:

This suspension will extend six games, including matchups with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Utah Jazz.

Waiters has yet to play this season between illness and repeated suspension, and the Heat have done just fine in his absence with an 18-6 record. The organization would obviously love to move him and his remaining two years and $24.7 million, but his continued behavior surely won’t help his trade value.

That said, NBA trade season opens up on December 15th, just a couple of days away. Once he can be moved, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see team president Pat Riley try to work some magic to move off the remainder of his contract.

Waiters has averaged 40 games per season in his three years in Miami to date, and it’s safe to say he won’t come anywhere near that this season, if he plays at all. Given the lack of value the Miami Heat have gotten out of his 4-year, $52 million deal thus far, it’s fair to say the team looks on his signing with plenty of regret.

Would it be possible to get off the rest of this contract through lesser-used means? Jackson asks and answers the question:

Can it be done? Probably not. Is it worth investigating? Sure, why not. The Miami Heat aren’t getting much more service out of Dion Waiters any way you cut it at this point.