NBA Rumors: Lakers Sign Dion Waiters For Rest Of Season, Reserve Right To Release Him

The Los Angeles Lakers have reached a deal to sign free-agent guard Dion Waiters for the rest of the season, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported.

Waiters, who had an impressive workout with the team on Monday, will be taking the spot left by erstwhile Laker guard Troy Daniels, who was released prior to the playoff eligibility deadline on March 1.

The Lakers management, however, apprised Waiters, through their talks along with his agent Rich Paul, that the team will be reserving an option to release him should things fail to work out for them.

“Waiters, his agent Rich Paul and the Lakers had several conversations, they have been positive, and it's been made clear among all: This must work out for him -- otherwise, Lakers reserve the option to release him,” Charania wrote.

Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times affirmed the said report and added that Waiters will ink a minimum deal.

“Can confirm the Lakers plan to sign Dion Waiters for the remainder of the season. He worked out for the team on Monday. He'll receive a minimum deal and will take the Lakers' final roster spot,” she wrote.

The 28-year-old was part of a multi-player deal that shipped him from Miami to Memphis during last month’s trade deadline. The Grizzlies then released him to the open market days after.

Waiters played for the Heat in only three games this season following a series of suspensions slapped by the Florida-based franchise due to acts deemed inimical for the team.

This recent development also meant that Waiters has technically beaten JR Smith for the said spot. It was initially reported that the 34-year-old NBA Champion also workout with the Lakers on the same day Waiters held his session. But apparently, the veteran sharpshooter, who was LeBron James’ teammate during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship run in 2016, will stay on the market and extend his hiatus that has already been running since he was waived by the Cavs in June last year.