3:57pm: The Grizzlies officially confirmed that they have waived Waiters, via a team press release (Twitter link).
3:39pm: The Grizzlies have waived Dion Waiters, acquired from the Heat in a three-team deal that also sent Justise Winslow and Gorgui Dieng to Memphis, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (Twitter link). A prior report had suggested that Waiters would not be long for Memphis.
The 6’3″ shooting guard, 28, was taken with the No. 4 pick by the Cavaliers in the 2012 NBA draft. He had productive, albeit erratic, seasons with the Cavaliers, Thunder and Heat before injuries and off-court issues marred his output. Waiters has not played more than 46 games since the 2015/16 NBA season. He has suited up for just three games this season.
The 26-26 Grizzlies are prioritizing youth and upside as they build around promising young stars Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. While Waiters had to be included in the deal with Miami for salary-matching purposes, he wasn’t in Memphis’ long-term plans.
Charania notes that Waiters will be paid in full by the Grizzlies for the remainder of this season and his complete $12.6MM salary for the 2020/21 season, the final year remaining on the four-year, $52MM deal he signed with the Heat in 2017.
could the 76ers fit him into their rotation
Probably not, they just got Burks and Robinson from golden state. They also probably don’t want to deal with him with all the issues he’s had this year
For the min. they will do it prob.
76ers are having enough chemistry problems without a head case being added.
Guys done. No one will want him. But whats he care—unless he’s a fool he’s set for life. And if he isn’t set for life I REALLY don’t care.
He’s going to be making around $18 million to NOT play this year and next. He won’t making a dime more if he does play, so why would he really want to play? He can sit around playing video games and eating gummi weed all day long.
Maybe he likes to play?
Now the question really is, would some team like him to play for them?
Why waive him now? First off he’s fairly young, not to long ago he was productive. You’re on the hook for the salary. Next year he’s an expiring contract maybe you can trade that in a deal for something useful for salary matching purposes.
LOL. The guy was suspended 3 times this season. Isn’t that enough?
I mean it’s not like he had a DUI or something or even got arrested. He didn’t beat a woman. He had to many edibles had a panic attack. He called in sick to party on his bday. Something happened before the season no one knows what @falito
Agree, makes no sense. Better off letting him go home but keeping him on books for next year.
We’ll see but it opens up a roster spot. Not sure how it’ll be used this season but will be helpful in the off-season. Plus they just don’t want him around the young team that’s trying to make the playoffs.
Just send him home that 15th guy normally isn’t playing anyways.
He’ll be paid $25M this year and next, end of story.
Can and will minimum with a team. Really how may non scoring clown school cadets are out there on minimum ?
At least he can score and has 18 months to rehab for a new contract.
I can think of a few teams that could use a scoring guard that gets into the paint at will, and can facilitate, and shoot the 3. And isnt a bad defender
Philly, Boston. Orlando, Lakers, Detroit, OKC, or Toronto off the top of my head
LeBron will sign him!
LeBron just might at that. He’s light years better than Troy Daniel’s is, for sure.
Dion is such a locker room cancer that Jimmy looks like a stand up guy.
GMs probably suspect whether he is literally insane or not by rumor. Hopefully this rumor is not based on whether he gets along on an unusually tight ship in Miami. But, he has never been “right”, so makes a good target. Memphis should have tried him out before signing off on 50 mil or so.
Was he bought out? I saw some reports
Once again it’s the Syracuse University curse! They try blackballing everyone of them boys. LOL