The Cleveland Cavaliers preparing to enter a season with raised expectations that have not surrounded the franchise in a number of years. With big roster additions in the offseason, the team is expected to go far in the Eastern Conference and beyond. However, the roster moves for the Cavaliers do not stop after the signings of LeBron James and Kevin Love. They are still busy making moves just days away from the season beginning.
The Cavaliers have announced they have picked up the fourth-year option on the contract of Dion Waiters heading into the 2014 season. This is a surprising move to some. Waiters is one of the players that has faced trade rumors for the better part of two years. The shooting guard looked to be as good as gone last year as several teams took interest in him at the mid-season trade deadline. However, Cleveland did not make a move. Then his name continued to be tossed into the rumors surrounding Love. Waiters was reportedly one of the options in a trade package to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Again, he remained on the roster and now he will be around for even longer.
Waiters' deal is not extended through 2016 which likely puts off any potential trades in the near future. The former No. 4 overall draft pick is expected to bank $5.1 million in that final year of his deal. Meanwhile, he is expected to play a big role in the team this coming season. After averaging 15.3 points and 2.6 rebounds for the first two seasons of his career, Waiters is likely going to start this season alongside James, Love, Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao. That is big jump tome being a player that led the second scoring effort. If Waiters can really thrive this season and play well, the Cavaliers will be getting a solid player at a bargain price.
However, does the Waiters contract extension signify the end of Tristan Thompson's time in Cleveland? The power forward will be a restricted free agent at the end of the year and is someone else many believed would have been traded by now. Thompson lost out on the starting battler to Varejao which might make him expendable should he struggle this season. The Cavaliers have been complementary towards Thompson's future with the team, but with several other contracts to figure out, he could be the odd man out.