A fresh start seemed inevitable for Dion Waiters from the moment LeBron James signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the former Syracuse star has finally been given one.
On Monday, Waiters was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a three-team deal that also sent JR Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavs. Given that he was clearly unhappy with his role in Cleveland, it’s safe to assume Waiters is relieved.
One of the reasons Waiters was unhappy with the Cavs is he thought he should be starting. In fact, Sam Amico of FOX Sports reports that Waiters believes he is a better player than Kyrie Irving and that the Cavs “favored” Irving.
We knew Cleveland’s backcourt was crowded from the start of the season. The truth is no one has really hammered down the point guard job with the new-look Cavs, which is why LeBron James took hold of it without consulting head coach David Blatt.
Waiters, a former No. 4 overall pick, obviously won’t be running the offense in Oklahoma City. That job belongs to Russell Westbrook. Still, Kevin Durant said Monday that he expects Waiters to step in and contribute immediately.
“We’re gonna make him feel wanted,” Durant said, according to Amico. “Don’t think he felt that the last couple years.”
Durant is probably right. For evidence that Waiters wasn’t really wanted in Cleveland, look no further to LeBron’s reaction to this missed shot.
Smith has been a sixth man throughout most of his career, and he knows that will be his role with the Cavs. That fact alone could make him more valuable to Cleveland down the stretch than Waiters would have been.
