The Heat have suspended shooting guard Dion Waiters for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, according to a press release issued late on Saturday night by the club. The team didn’t get into specifics on why Waiters was suspended, though president Pat Riley put out a brief statement.
“There were a number of unacceptable incidents this week, culminating with his unprofessional conduct on the bench last night,” Riley said. “As a consequence, I feel we had to suspend him.”
While we’ll have to wait for more details on Waiters’ suspension, it’s worth noting that he didn’t seem thrilled earlier in the preseason to be coming off the bench rather than being part of the starting lineup, as Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel relayed.
Waiters will lose out on approximately $83K in salary as a result of the one-game suspension, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). However, Miami won’t gain any tax relief, since it’s a team-issued ban. Marks also points out (via Twitter) that Waiters would receive a $1.2MM bonus if he plays in at least 70 games this season, so his suspension will slightly reduce his chances of reaching that threshold.
Before the Heat announced Waiters’ suspension, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press tweeted that the ban might extend beyond just one game. It’s not clear if that scenario is still in play or whether Miami will welcome the 27-year-old back for game two. The Heat’s season opens with a home game against Memphis on October 23, followed by a road contest in Milwaukee on October 26.
This isn’t gona help you bro. Be smart, take whatever role it is, and just force them to give you minutes. Pouting will only lower your value in the eyes of other teams.
If Waiters is suspended for the first couple of games would the Heat get to add an additional player to the roster?
If they suspend him for 4+ games, they could move him to the suspended list after the third game and open up a spot on the active roster.
But because of their close proximity to the hard cap, they wouldn’t be able to add a replacement at this point anyway.
He’s only 27??
If he doesn’t get it together soon he’s gonna end up taking orders at TGI Friday’s, and he’ll have to change his name to Dion Waiter.
That’s terrible Reflect, truly a bad pun.
Can’t believe the money and draft position that has been bestowed upon Waiters. Never in shape, always seems to cause small issues, played below his talent level. Heat was a great organization, and while they still have a good coach and president, signings like Waiters, James Johnson, etc. have pushed this team into mediocrity. Why Jimmy B wanted to go to Miami is beyond me.
It’s the same thing every year with this guy. He says nice things over the summer only for his true colors to come out time and time again. That, and injuries, are about all you can expect from Waiters. Another terrible Riley contract in recent years.
Should have let Silver impose it, bail them out tax wise.