With Gordon Hayward officially a Celtic, the final major piece of the free agency puzzle is in place, and the rest can begin sorting itself out. Restricted free agents are slowly beginning to receive offer sheets and mid-level type guys are beginning to ink deals — like Nick Young landing in Golden State.
Among the most intriguing free agents remaining on the market is Dion Waiters, who is coming off of a career year in Miami and looking to cash in on that performance this summer. In a year in which much of the cap space has dried up for contenders and many other teams around the league remain held up by cap holds for restricted free agents and others, there isn’t quite the market there was last year with the massive cap jump.
Waiters still has offers, though, and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, he will make a decision soon. Waiters has narrowed his focus down to three big market teams in the Knicks, Lakers, and Heat.
Free agent Dion Waiters inching closer to resolution, considering Miami, New York and Lakers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2017
The Lakers have been linked to seemingly every veteran point guard or shooting guard on the market throughout this process, but their need for shooting help makes Waiters an interesting option. However, Los Angeles’ front office has noted their desire to have flexibility in the coming years, so Waiters would probably have to take another short term deal.
The Knicks may be more willing to give Waiters more years and have a similar need for a scorer on the perimeter, but will Waiters want to jump into that situation where there remains plenty of roster uncertainty for next year.
Miami, having missed out on Gordon Hayward, seems like the best fit for Waiters, as they still need someone on the perimeter that can provide his scoring punch. Along with a team need, Waiters clearly works well with the Heat staff and that fit, the culture fit, might be the most important thing to Waiters’ success in his next deal.
The problem is with Waiters getting the offer he wants from Miami. The Heat loved Waiters on a bargain deal last year, and Waiters loved being there. If they had given him a competitive offer by now, he likely would’ve already agreed to it, but Pat Riley is going to be Pat Riley and try to get a bit of a bargain again.
Waiters Island might be relocating, but after last year, whatever team lands him will be far more excited about the decision than teams were a year or two ago about the prospects of bringing on Waiters.
