Dion Waiters’ trade value might be lower than yours.
It was widely assumed that Waiters would struggle to function within the Cavaliers’ position-less offense that already included the ball-dominating Kyrie Irving and LeBron James as well as another superstar ego to placate in Kevin Love. Waiters has never been much of a spot-up shooter and would need to adjust his game to meet the needs of the team, whether he started or came off the bench.
He hasn’t. Not enough, anyway. The Cavaliers’ offense is more than nine points better per 100 possessions without him in the game, according to NBA.com. Worse still, Waiters is averaging just 8.1 points on 36.7 percent shooting. So, while at one point he may have been a valuable trade asset capable of landing the Cavaliers a well-know rim protector, he isn’t anymore.
Now he’s more of a “Let’s hope we can grab Kosta Koufos for him” asset, per to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein:
The Cleveland Cavaliers are widening their scope in search of the rim protector that, even amid their best basketball of this young season, everyone knows they badly need.
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.
And Koufos, regarded as one of the league’s more underrated interior defenders thanks to the limited minutes he gets behind Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, would certainly qualify.
How willing the Grizzlies are to part with Koufos, meanwhile, remains to be seen.
Koufos isn’t peanuts. Let’s make that clear. He’s one of the best backup, rim-protecting bigs in the game. He certainly helps the Cavaliers address their protection inside six feet of the basket, which is polluted by the relative deficiencies of Love and Anderson Varejao. But man, imagine turning Waiters, a top-four pick, into a career backup, like Koufos.
If I’m Cavs general manager David Griffin, I try to think bigger. Packaging Waiters with Memphis’ 2015 pick might be enough to get the ball rolling on a John Henson or Nerlens Noel trade. If they wait long enough—until this summer—Brendan Haywood’s non-guaranteed contract mushrooms to $10-plus million. That, along with Waiters, could perhaps help them nab a JaVale McGee or someone else.
Then again, Waiters’ trade value has obviously plummeted. He might look good on a team like the Sixers or Grizzlies or Bucks, all of whom have a need for shot-creators. But Waiters’ stats have plunged to new depths of yuck this season while playing within a system that isn’t tailored to meet his individual strengths. Teams see those numbers, the career-low points averages, the career-worst shooting percentages, and they balk if the asking price is too ambitious.
That means Kofous may be the best the Cavaliers can do.
Assuming, you know, that Waiters is even worth a player like him at this point.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
