ESPN’s Chris Broussard reported this afternoon that the Cavs are trying to move Dion Waiters and that the second-year guard is open to a trade. The Cavs insist they’re merely fielding offers for Waiters, who says he’s content to remain in Cleveland. While we track the major developments in the story here, there’s also some background info to pass along, which we cover below:
- This wouldn’t be the first time the Cavs have offered Waiters in trade discussions, according to HoopsWorld’s Alex Kennedy. It’s odd to see a player drafted so highly on the block so soon, Kennedy says, adding his speculation that there’s more to the story than has been reported so far (Twitter links).
- Cavs coach Mike Brown says he’s unaware of any trade talk the team might be having about Waiters, and answered “yes” when asked whether he wanted Waiters on the team, as the Plain Dealer notes via Twitter.
- Character issues made Waiters a “huge gamble” for the Cavs when they drafted him fourth overall last year, tweets Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, who figures that if he knew about Waiters’ off-court matters, the Cavaliers must surely have known, too.
- The Cavs and Waiters may be denying the rumors, but Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio nonetheless believes there’s at least some truth behind the reports.