Statistically speaking, outside of Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters was the best player on the Cleveland Cavaliers' roster last season. The shooting guard played in 70 games, averaging 15.0 points on 43 percent shooting from the field and yet his name cannot seem to get out of the trade rumors headlines. The Cavaliers are finalizing a deal for Minnesota Timberwolves' forward Kevin Love and Waiters has seen his name tossed around too many times in potential packages. While the involved players remains unknown, LeBron James is in support of keeping Waiters around.
The original trade package for Love included Waiters being sent to Minnesota. The Cavaliers were trying to avoid dealing No. 1 draft pick Andrew Wiggins, but under pressure it seems they are caving on that idea. That might actually work in Waiters' favor when it comes to his future with Cleveland. As the Cavaliers work out the perfect trade package for Love, they are getting the Philadelphia 76ers involved for some relief. ESPN.com is reporting the 76ers want 2013 No. 1 draft pick, Anthony Bennett, in a deal which would leave Waiters sitting pretty.
James appears to like what he sees in the guard. In his letter announcing his return to Cleveland, James specifically to notice to the type of star Waiters could be. Conveniently left out of that letter was Wiggins and Bennett. There is of course a growing debate of who is better to keep, Wiggins or Waiters. The rookie is considered to have a very high ceiling when it comes to potential in the league while Waiters is a proven star. There is also the risk of losing Wiggins and then not having Love re-sign with Cleveland come next offseason when he is a free agent. James' opinion likely goes a long way and if he is in support of Waiters, the guard can expect to hang around.
Waiters is preparing to play with James and not be traded. Already announcing his intentions to be a starter in 2014, the guard is also watching footage of how Dwyane Wade and James played together in Miami. The guard told ESPN.com that he preparing to make any and all adjustments needed to succeed with James and part of that is seeing what he did with the Heat.
"I have to make adjustments," Waiters said via ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst. "I like to have the ball, and we have Kyrie, and he likes to have the ball. So I have to find ways to impact the game without having the ball. I'm planning to go watch tape to see what D-Wade did when he played with LeBron. I need to learn how to be effective out there with him. [Wade] is a ball-dominant guard, too, and when LeBron came over, he had to change his game, too. He was so efficient, though, and that really helped their game. I think I can learn a lot from what he did."
