Dion Waiters rises up for a shot during a Oklahoma City Thunder-Golden State Warriors playoff game in Oakland. (Photo : Getty Images / Noah Graham)
Former Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Dion Waiters had been looking for a team where his scoring talent would be put to good use. It appears that team is the Miami Heat, after Waiters agreed to a two-year contract to potentially become their starting shooting guard.
According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Waiters signed a two-year contract worth approximately $6 million. The second year of the deal is a player option and Waiters was signed using the Heat's $2.9 million mid-level exception.
The 24-year old previously had stops in Cleveland and Oklahoma City. The Heat had been looking for some scoring help after franchise icon Dwyane Wade left the Heat to join their Eastern Conference rival Chicago Bulls. Waiters could take over the starting guard spot vacated by Wade and could potentially earn more minutes and scoring opportunities than what he previously had with his past two teams.
Waiters started the offseason as a restricted free agent. After former Thunder star Kevin Durant made his decision to join the Golden State Warriors, the Thunder rescinded their $6 million qualifying offer to Waiters, thus making him an unrestricted free agent. After signing with the Heat, Waiters would receive an added bonus should he be traded at any point during his contract, according to ESPN.
The former fourth overall pick had a brilliant postseason last year, coming off the bench for the Thunder and helping them overcome the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs during the playoffs. He provided a strong scoring punch with the bench unit, particularly when Durant and Russell Westbrook had to rest.
The Heat's core, with this recent signing, is a young one built around 27-year old center Hassan Whiteside, who recently committed to the Heat for four more years, last year's first-round choice Justise Winslow and last year's second-round draftee, the surprising Josh Richardson. The organization led by team president Pat Riley has been known to develop young players and make them contributors, even early in their careers.
Waiters is known for his aggressiveness in driving to the basket and is a capable three-point shooter, shooting a career-high 36 percent from long range last season.
