Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Dion Waiters (R) drives past San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili. (Photo : Getty Images)
Restricted free agent combo guard Dion Waiters is still without a contract and team two weeks into this summer's free-agency period. Apparently, there is no shortage of suitors as the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings are all rumored to be interested in acquiring his services.
The 24-year-old former Syracuse standout had an excellent postseason with the Oklahoma City Thunder this year even if the team went short in beating the Golden State Warriors during the Western Conference Finals after squandering a 3-1 series lead.
Starring in the first playoffs appearance of his entire four-year career, Waiters averaged 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 18 postseason games, ably performing a backup role to All-Star Russell Westbrook or playing alongside him during some stretches.
According to the Claremore Daily Progress, the fourth overall pick of the 2012 draft is "one of only four restricted free agents of consequence remaining on the open market", with the other three being Donatas Motiejunas, Moe Harkless, and Tyler Zeller.
The report noted, though, that Waiters' current wait does not mean that he is "worth less than many anticipated entering July" as past restricted free agents with bigger names than he had waited until August or September to sign their new contracts.
Waiters is coming off a four-year, $16.8 million deal the Thunder had inherited from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2012, which is his rookie contract. This is the first time he is entering the market and the 2013 NBA All-Rookie First Teamer seems to be looking to maximize the experience.
Meanwhile, Bleacher Report indicated that Waiters is "the most exciting player left on the market with a reasonable chance of leaving his current organization" and that he is "generating interest around the league", particularly from the Nets, Sixers, and Kings.
Brooklyn's interest reportedly increased after the team missed out on Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson, who both chose to stay with their mother clubs in Portland and Miami.
The Sixers, his hometown squad, is also luring Waiters, but the Thunder is said to be ready to match any two-year offers for their prized shooting guard, which means a huge four-year contract is the only way they can snatch him out of Oklahoma City.
Lastly, Waiters is reportedly also set to visit Sacramento to talk with the Kings, but there are no official reports of the exact extent of the team's interest in him.
