The Thunder have rescinded Dion Waiters‘ qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter link). Without the threat of Oklahoma City matching an offer sheet, the appeal of signing the 24-year-old becomes greater, especially for the Sixers and Nets, Wojnarowski adds on Twitter. Both teams have previously shown interest in the Philadelphia native.
Oklahoma City still holds Waiters’ Bird Rights and it’s possible that the team could still re-sign the shooting guard. Wojnarowski added (Twitter link) that the team wanted the cap-space flexibility, possibly to renegotiate a deal with Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder reportedly reached an agreement to bring Alex Abrines stateside earlier today. That, coupled with the draft night trade for Victor Oladipo, could signal the end of Waiters’ time in Oklahoma City since there may not be enough minutes in the backcourt to go around.
Waiters played 27.6 minutes per game last season, accumulating 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest. He shot a respectable 35.8% from behind the arc and while his shot selection wasn’t exemplary, it was better than in any of his previous seasons.
He will go home to Philly or to the Nets
Come to The Nets Waiters, they need a scorer in the backcourt. He could average 19 ppg on the Nets playing with Lin, And López And they would challenge for a playoff spot
Lol a core of Lin, Waiters, and Lopez is not making the playoffs. Let’s even assume the Nets get Waiters (and barring any major injury or trade to/for the Nets or other teams), in no particular order, the Cavs, Raptors, Celtics, Pacers, Pistons, Knicks, Bulls, Hawks, Wizards, Heat (if Bosh is healthy), and Hornets are all better. In my opinion, the Magic and Bucks are also better as their cores are better than the Nets’.
They would go from a 16 win team to an 18 win team with Waiters.
He should go to Philly. 3 years 22 million… He can be back home. Have a year or 2 to continue to develop. And maybe be a key cog in something special there. The Nets would only make sense if they throw out more cash. Which they should do too
If he goes home to Philly it will be a disaster. He has had his share of issues off the court. Put him back in his hometown with his “crew” and you’re just asking for trouble. There has been character concerns about Waiters since he was at Syracuse. If you are Philly, Brooklyn, or really, anyone, just pass.
Nets or Magic? Probably. Sixers prob wont sign him too much of a knuckle head.