The Lakers will meet with Heat free agent Dion Waiters tonight, Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders reports. L.A. is just the latest in a long line of suitors for the shooting guard after his breakthrough year with the Heat.
While Waiters played a vital role in Miami’s dramatic turnaround last season, the franchise can’t offer him a lucrative deal so long as their iron remains in the fire for Jazz free agent Gordon Hayward.
During this time, Waiters could stake a new claim with an organization impressed by his 2016/17 resurgence. As Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times notes, Waiters is a former client of sports agent-turned-Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.
That this meeting with the Lakers will come after his meeting with the Heat could suggest that Waiters doesn’t imagine the Heat will be in a position to offer a deal that suits him, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel posits.
In 46 games for the Heat last season, Waiters averaged 15.8 points and 4.3 assists per game. While it’s unclear exactly what Waiters will net on the open market, it will inevitably be far more than the $3MM he played for in 2016/17.
We wrote last month that Waiters was open to the idea of giving the Heat a “hometown discount” considering how much he’s benefited from the organization’s culture. Just what that might entail, however, remains to be seen.
He’ll get $15-17 million per for 3-4 years. To be honest, I really want a resolution to this Gordon Hayward thing ASAP b/c I’d be more than fine with this offseason if the Heat just keeps Waiters and James Johnson, and they have movable contracts. This retains flexibility and depth…although I won’t be disappointed with Hayward coming over, obviously…hopefully, he waits just a little bit longer
Cmon rob sign your former client! We have
18 million on the table Dion come to LA!!
if it’s for 1 year only I’m down
I think Dion will fit well into the style Luke has brought to LA & I see him fitting well with Lonzo running the show.
Lonzo reminds me of Dragic, to be honest. He doesn’t have the scoring mentality or the current ability to finish at super high percentages at the rim, but that was the comp I thought about when I watched him a ton in college last year
If they can get him on a one year deal with a second year team option I’d do it. He’d be a good fit. I just can’t wait to see what they do next year. If they do bring in George like everyone thinks they will who else will they get? I know they will probably stretch Dengs contract so they can sign more free agents if they can’t trade him. Let’s say they do sign George. What position do they put Ingram at since they both play SF. Do you out George in at SG or do you put Ingram in at SG while moving Clarkson back to the bench? And if they somehow get Lebron like people say as well (highly doubt it!) then Lebron plays PF, George plays SF and Ingram SG? Interested in seeing what the Lakers do next year. I higher doubt they get James but I do think they get two big name free agents with on being George. Feels good to know the Lakers are so close to finally getting back on too. Been a rough stretch for us die hard fans.