NBA Trade Rumors: Waiters Reinstatement Could Be Part Of Holiday Deal

Dion Waiters may have caught a break with reports that the Miami Heat plan to reinstate him. The 28-year-old guard has yet to play an NBA game this season but it appears all that is bound to change soon.

Waiters has spent most of this NBA season in the sidelines, serving sanctions for various offenses. His last one was a six-game suspension without pay for failing to adhere to team policies and continued insubordination, the Miami Herald reported. In all, the 6-foot-3 guard has served three suspensions with the Heat this season.

The new development rebuffs an earlier report by ESPN's Bobby Marks that Waiters' career may be over. This stems from the fact that the Heat and Waiters failed to find a win-win solution. The same sentiment was aired by unnamed executives.

It should be noted that Waiters has a long road ahead. He has a lot of catching up to do and will have to earn his spot in the rotation. Curiously, it should also be noted that the Heat said that they would reinstate the troubled guard but made no mention he will be used, the Miami Herald mentioned in a separate report. It is possible that he could be added but appearing in an actual NBA game remains a big question mark.

Waiters has two more years left in the contract he signed back in 2017. He was originally set to make $12.1 million this season and $12.6 million next NBA season. The 4th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft will become an unrestricted free agent in 2021, according to Spotrac.

The good news for the Heat is that they have managed to surprise critics this NBA season. They are running third in the Eastern Conference standings with a 21-8 record. Their success can be attributed to new franchise face Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Kendrick Nunn.

According to a previous report, the Heat may be looking to boost their backcourt soon. With Chris Paul no longer within reach, a logical target would be Jrue Holiday of the New Orleans Pelicans. If team president Pat Riley can do the math, a potential trade involving Waiters and Holiday could ensue. Holiday is due $26 million this season and then $27 million next year. Could there be an NBA trade in the offing?