5 big-name free agents Los Angeles Lakers must avoid in 2017

Dion Waiters, SG, Miami Heat (Player Option)

I know Dion Waiters enjoyed a breakout year with the Heat. He’s finally looking somewhat worthy of the No. 4 overall pick the Cleveland Cavaliers used on him back in 2012. That, however, doesn’t mean he should be a target for the Lakers this offseason.

This past season, Waiters put up career highs in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game. He also connected on 39.5 percent of his shots from beyond the arch, his best in five NBA seasons. Overall, it was an outstanding showing from a guy who needed to prove he could be a star.

So why shouldn’t the Lakers go after him? Well, there are a couple of reasons.

The first is that Waiters is going to cost far too much on the open market. During the 2016-17 campaign, he pulled in just over $3 million from the Heat. After emerging as a reliable playmaker for Miami, chances are his asking price will increase significantly once he declines his player option. The Lakers, however, can’t afford to gamble big bucks on an inconsistent shooting guard.

The second is that Waiters simply can’t be relied upon to continue producing at this pace. Maybe he’s matured and found himself as an NBA-caliber talent. Or maybe it was a fluke season that will serve as the peak of his professional career. Either way, Waiters carries far too much risk for a Lakers team that must avoid bad contracts at all costs.