New York Knicks need to avoid signing Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters showed improvement last season, but his overall package may not be enticing enough for many NBA teams, especially the New York Knicks.

The New York Knicks are desperately trying to find the right combination to fit alongside their young franchise forward Kristaps Porzingis. As the free agency pool begins to dwindle, former Syracuse University standout Dion Waiters has emerged once again as a possible addition to the team’s future.

According to Marc Berman of the NY Post, the Knicks are planning to make another run at Waiters.

Waiters averaged 15.8 points and 4.3 assists per game as the semi-replacement for Dwyane Wade last season with the Miami Heat. He showed excellent poise and confidence late in games as the Heat came extremely close to clinching a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

This past season was a reminder of the offensive punch Waiters still possesses, as he was constantly looked upon as the first offensive option for an overachieving Heat squad playing without the recently retired Chris Bosh.

The crowning moment from Waiters’ 2016-17 season in Miami came in home matchup with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. The 33 points from Waiters were capped off with a game-winning jump shot with 0.6 seconds remaining, propelling Miami to one of their best victories of the season.

As positive as Waiters’ year was, he still only managed 46 games due to nagging injuries, bringing his durability into question. The offensive punch is desirable in the free agency market but if he’s unable to stay healthy and on the court consistently, it really lowers the value of the Philadelphia native. Another injured player with a new contract is something Knicks brass and its fans would like to avoid again, like in the case of embattled center Joakim Noah.

The Knicks are also in the business of changing their franchise’s image, eliminating the negative cloud that has circled around Madison Square Garden lately. Waiters has been known for being a hot head on the court and letting his emotions get the best of him. He’s openly admitted to being misunderstood by people for his demeanor leading to conflicts as the shooting guard would go on to write in his article for the Player’s Tribune.

"“Man, people have been underestimating me my whole life. I remember when I was in ninth grade, I had just transferred over to South Philly High, and I was walking to class the first day when these two security guards came over to me, mean-mugging me like there was a problem.“I told Pat (Riley) about some of the s*** I’ve seen, and some of the people I’ve lost. By the time I was 12 years old, both my mom and dad got shot. I’ve had brothers, cousins, uncles and friends get murdered. Too many to count, for real. You know what the crazy thing about death and violence is? You get numb to it. You really do.”"

Waiters may have good intentions on and off the court, but his past performances and selfish tendencies on it will always be made a topic among NBA front offices.

On the court, his ability to play within an offense — especially with players who love to move the ball around — will be critical for the Knicks to thrive. At this point in time, it’s hard to tell if his mini-breakthrough in Miami is sustainable.

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As talented a player as Waiters is he just doesn’t fit the new mission in New York.