Heat Sign Dion Waiters To 2-Year, $5.93 Million Deal
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – The Miami Heat are adding a solid scoring threat to their new-look lineup.
The Heat have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with free agent guard Dion Waiters.
The two sides came to agreement on Monday. Waiters will make $5.93 million if he plays both years, with the second coming as a player option.
"Dion is not a Room Exception player," said Heat President Pat Riley. "He wanted to play for the Miami Heat and chose to forgo other more lucrative financial opportunities to be a part of our championship organization. We are very honored that he made the commitment to come to South Florida and sign with us. Dion is young, athletic and explosive, which fits in with our roster. He will add a great dimension for us at the off-guard spot. I really like the depth and versatility that we now have in our perimeter positions. Welcome aboard Dion!"
Waiters averaged 9.8 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder last year, but had several big games in the playoffs. He played particularly well against Dallas and San Antonio in the playoffs before his role was reduced in the seven-game loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals.
Waiters will give the Heat another scorer off the bench.
A four-year veteran and former No. 4 overall pick out of Syracuse, Waiters spent the first two years of his career in Cleveland – where he appeared to be an up-and-coming score-first guard. He averaged 14 points a game as rookie and upped it to 16 points a night in his second season.
He was traded to OKC during the 2014-15 season and played in a reserve role behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Waiters could come in and pick up some of the offensive slack left by the departure of Dwyane Wade.
The Heat did sign sharpshooting guard Wayne Ellington as well as match the $50 million offer for guard Tyler Johnson – so the team does have options at the two-guard position.
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