After being traded and then waived, Dion Waiters could be looking at his last opportunity in the NBA
After being traded and then abruptly cut, Dion Waiters may find himself being able to upgrade his situation. Rumor has it the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in bringing Dion Waiters to help with their lack of dynamic playmaking guards.
Production from the Lakers’ guards has been poor; Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, and Danny Green all play over 20 minutes per game and average less than nine points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been solid shooting the ball and his 41.7 percent from 3 leads the team.
To solve these offensive woes from the backcourt, the Lakers will at least give Dion Waiters a look. For the time being, he’s been cast back to his island to await his next journey.
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It is no surprise that Dion’s name has been brought up. Rob Pelinka is his former agent and he is represented now by the same agency as Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
The surprise is what they can think they can get for him. It was only in October that Dion Waiters was suspended for eating so many gummy edibles they thought he had a seizure on a team plane. Additionally, the advanced stats are not kind to Dion Waiters: he has never posted an Offensive Rating higher than his Defensive Rating.
His last season posting a positive Value Over a Replacement Player was during the 2016-17 campaign and it was only .04. Dion has also not been able to stay on the court, missing over 35 games in each of the past three seasons. Including being suspended for all but three games this year.
Dion can get buckets and has no problem shooting no matter the situation. However, Dion is not the most efficient score posting a career average of 13.2 points in 28 minutes per game over the course of his career. He’s a career 41 percent shooter from the field, 35 percent from the 3-point line and 69 percent shooter from the free-throw line.
The Lakers are lacking guards who can not only create their own shot but are unafraid to shoot. Dion is a low risk try out for the Lakers; if he doesn’t pan out it is on to the next one for them. If it does the Lakers will be able to add some more firepower to their team after they were not able to secure an addition at the deadline.
It is sink or swim time for Dion Waiters. This stop in Los Angeles might be the last time he can get off his island.