The Los Angeles Lakers pursuit of Dion Waiters has gone for naught, as he has agreed to a deal with the Miami Heat.
The Los Angeles Lakers have struck out in free agency once again. It isn’t for a lack of trying, as the Lakers have had a number of meetings with potential free agents. But, they are not closing the deal.
The most recent player lost was shooting guard, Dion Waiters. The Lakers were in the running right to the end for Waiters, but ultimately he chose long-term stability and money over a chance to play with the Lakers.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Waiters and the Miami Heat are finalizing a deal to reunite. Basketball Insiders Michael Scotto is reporting that the deal between Waiters and the Heat is expected to be a four-year, $52 million deal.
Free agent guard Dion Waiters is finalizing a deal with the Miami Heat, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2017
Sources: Miami Heat and Dion Waiters are discussing a 4-year, $52 million deal.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 5, 2017
This has become a trend for the Lakers this offseason. They just can’t compete with other teams offers to free agents. This has been the Lakers plan all along, so you have to give them credit for sticking to their guns. But, it is something that could disappoint some fans as the backcourt remains without any additions.
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The Lakers have been trying to land players with one-year deals. They want to keep their future salary cap as clean as possible so they can potentially land two max free agents in 2018. The Lakers strategy was something similar to what the Philadelphia 76ers have done.
The 76ers have landed two veterans on lucrative one-year deals. J.J. Redick was first, agreeing to a one-year, $23 million deal. Next up was power forward, Amir Johnson, who agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, they did not have the cap space that the 76ers did to woo veterans by overpaying them for one season. Unwilling to offer multi-year deals, the Lakers were in a tough position to land free agents. It cost them point guard George Hill, who decided to sign with the Sacramento Kings, and now cost them, Waiters.
For Waiters, this is a contract that was well earned. Waiters was teetering on entering basketball purgatory last offseason when he signed with the Miami Heat. Despite a strong showing with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016 postseason, Waiters was met with no interest in free agency.
Waiters ended up landing with the Heat on a near minimum deal and made the most of his opportunity. Waiters averaged 15.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 0.9 steals in 46 games, 43 of which he started.
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Waiters would have slid right into the Lakers’ vacant spot at shooting guard. But it was not meant to be, as Waiters will return to Miami on a lucrative deal. The Lakers will have to go back to the drawing board, looking for bargain deals to fill out their backcourt with.