Miami Heat Re-Sign Dion Waiters To 4-Year Contract
The Miami Heat missed out on Gordon Hayward, but secured their future by signing Dion Waiters to a long-term contract.
Going into the 2016–17 campaign, Dion Waiters was a player who had been much maligned in his time with the Thunder and the Cavaliers. Waiters had been seen as an inefficient isolation player who would never live up to the potential expected from a guy selected in the top four of the draft. It was for this reason, that he ended up signing a one-year deal with Miami, worth around $2.9 million, with a player option. If Waiters had failed in Miami, then he may have found himself sliding out of the NBA, which would have been an unfortunate event.
After striking out with Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016, Miami filled its roster with players who had a point to prove. None, with maybe the exception of James Johnson, proved themselves as much as Waiters did, and he revived his career under the tutelage of Erik Spoelstra. Waiters played at a high level throughout the season, and developed his game in multiple areas.
His elevated level of play meant he attracted interest from around the league, but on Wednesday night, it was confirmed by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that he would remain in South Beach. Waiters signed a four-year, $52 million deal, which is great value in the current market.
The Waiters contract was obviously a plan B for Pat Riley, but this does not mean the move should be disrespected. Waiters filled a variety of roles in the Heat’s offense, and he played well on defense, as shown by the fact that the Heat had a better defensive rating when he was on the court.
Dion Waiters 2016–17 Stats:
15.8 points (42.4 field goal percentage, 39.5 3-point percentage), 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.9 steals
Fit:
One of the major issues Waiters faced when he entered the NBA is that people saw him as purely an isolation scorer. Waiters was often used in slow half-court situations, and this led to him earning a reputation as an inefficient shot-chucker. The Thunder were last in the NBA in passes per game in Waiters’ sole season with the franchise, and Waiters was mainly used as a spot-up guy, as well as an option when the shot clock was winding down.
The fact he was used like this is not a knock on Billy Donovan, as Donovan had to run an offense without ball movement to maximize the skill-sets of Russell Westbrook and to a lesser extent, Kevin Durant. But, Waiters became the odd man out in OKC, and bar a couple of playoff daggers, his time there was not notable.
When Waiters joined Miami, he was given a much bigger role in the offense, and he joined an offense with more ball movement, and more player movement. Waiters got the majority of his attention last season for his game-winner against the Warriors in February, and for the infamous ‘Waiters Island’ movement on social media, but he turned out to be a very consistent player for the Heat. He deserved his contract, and he will be a pivotal player as the Heat aim to push for a playoff spot next season.
One of the major reasons Waiters is such an important player for Miami, is because he is the perfect foil for Goran Dragic. The Slovenian point guard enjoyed a comeback year in the 2016–17 season, as his 3-point percentage rose drastically from 31 percent, to 40 percent. One of the major reasons for this, was that Waiters’ aggressive playing style created more space on the perimeter for Dragic to work with.
In the 2015–16 season, the Heat were an isolation team, and this did not suit Dragic, as he is a player who likes to attack quickly, then dart out to the 3-point line. When Waiters missed the final 12 games of the season, Dragic’s 3-point percentage dropped all the way down to 32 percent, which shows how valuable he was to Dragic. The Heat’s more aggressive small-ball style of basketball helped Dragic a lot, which increases the value Waiters has to the franchise. To put it simply, the Heat need to maximize their two best players, and Waiters really helps in this area.
The fact Waiters was trusted by Erik Spoelstra meant that he posted career-highs in assists, 3-point percentage, value over replacement player, and box plus-minus. His resurgence should not be overestimated, as he is never going to turn into a star player, but he became efficient, unselfish and versatile.
More than anything, Waiters’ revival in Miami shows that their philosophy of signing misfits is paying dividends. Waiters was more than likely on his way out of the league, but Spoelstra revived him, and the result is the Heat have a reliable starter. Waiters will never be a star, but he is a great fit in the Heat’s motion offense, and deserves a spot in the rotation next year.
If Pat Riley decides to go whale hunting next year, then Waiters’ contract is very movable, as he is a player who thrives in a drive-and-dish offense, which is the type of offense most teams are trying to run. If Waiters continues to play well, however, Riley may see him as a legitimate offensive piece that can play alongside superstars. Waiters will never get the credit he should, but the move is a positive one for the Heat.
Grade: B
