NBA: Miami Guard Shows Off Physique, Ready To Step Up For Heat

Dion Waiters of the Miami Heat is one of several players the team is reportedly open to trading. So far, his name has not been mentioned in potential deals. Hence, the best the 27-year-old can do is prepare for the coming season and aim for a good showing.

The reason behind the rumored plan of the Heat is that they want to fix the team salary budget. Waiters holds a four-year deal worth $52 million that he signed back in 2017. He is on the third year of that deal and is still owed roughly $24.7 million. The 4th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft becomes a free agent in 2021 per Spotrac.

Compared to the hefty deals held by Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, it will be interesting if the Heat will still look for a trade partner. So far, only Whiteside has moved out and is now with the Portland Trail Blazers. Dragic almost went to the Dallas Mavericks before talks fizzled.

Injuries have hounded the 6-foot-5 guard the past years, a reason perhaps why Miami is getting frustrated. But if the current reveal of Ira Winderman on Twitter is to be a basis, it appears Waiters is primed and ready for the 2019-20 season.

Whatever the future holds for Waiters, he has nothing to lose if he stays healthy and reveals a good performance for the coming season. With the retirement of Dwyane Wade and Josh Richardson now with the Philadelphia 76ers, Waiters is in a good position to step up and show team president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra that he deserves to stay.

If not, a fine showing could also capture the eye of other teams, the ones who are looking for a veteran guard who can shoot it from the perimeter. Waiters holds career averages of 13.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He holds a 41.2-percent field goal average and 34.7-percent from the three-point region.

Teams in need of a reliable backup could put him to good use although his health and current value are likely to stand in the way. But if the recent image of a better-shaped Waiters is to be believed, he could just pull off a surprise this NBA season - regardless if it would be in Miami or somewhere else.