Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: Dion Waiters Available
By Evan Massey
The Cleveland Cavaliers are willing to trade Dion Waiters in exchange for a difference making big man.
Dion Waiters is one of the more talented young players that the Cleveland Cavaliers have on their roster, and he is one of their only trade chips as well. They haven’t been willing to trade him to this point in the season, but they appear ready to move him if the right deal presents itself. Cleveland will likely only move him for a difference making big man, and they have their eyes on a couple different options.
"Sources say that the Cavs are well aware landing a quality big man likely depends on selling on potential trade partners to take back polarizing shooting guard Dion Waiters. Cleveland rates Waiters’ talent highly, but sources maintain that the Cavs have let a number of teams know they are prepared to surrender him if they can acquire a difference-making center in return."
One of the main names that has come up as far as a potential Cavaliers’ trade target is big man Kosta Koufos. He isn’t exactly the name that comes to mind when the term “difference making big man” is used.
There are plenty of teams out there that would be interested in acquiring a player with the talent that Waiters possesses, which could make other players come available. Cleveland isn’t going to trade him just to make a move, but they will consider legitimate trade offers. Other names will likely come up over the next week or two as potential trade targets, and there are plenty of them out there.
Waiters has averaged 8.1 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 rebounds per game this season with the Cavaliers, and simply hasn’t fit into his new role. Last season he averaged 15.9 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 rebounds, and was improving as the season moved along. There are plenty of reasons to believe that he has a very bright future as a starting shooting guard ahead of him if he can find a new team.
Cleveland simply hasn’t been able to use him in the way that he is most dangerous. He is a pure scorer, and he needs to have the ball in his hands and the ability and green light to take shots. With LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love on the roster, those shots are few and far between.
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Trading Waiters makes a lot more sense than trading a player like Tristan Thompson, and a lot of teams are looking for young scorers. There are some concerns about Waiters’ attitude and work ethic, but he has improved throughout his career so far and his attitude has begun getting better as well.
All of that being said, it will be very intriguing to see what the Cavaliers do over the next few weeks. They are definitely looking to make a trade if they can find a willing partner, and Waiters is being dangled in talks. Don’t be surprised to see more rumors pop up over the next couple of weeks, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Waiters playing elsewhere prior to the trading deadline.
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