Portland Trail Blazers: 10 bargain basement free agents

Portland Trail Blazers bargain basement free agent six – Dion Waiters

Though he didn’t play a significant role in the Los Angeles Lakers championship run, Dion Waiters is a wing who can create offense for himself and others.

His off-court issues are of concern, but there is no doubt that Waiters has a history of being a strong shot-maker who can score in different parts of the court. His injury issues may have taken away some of his explosiveness, but in limited showings for the Lakers, he did exhibit some bounce and speed in getting to the rim.

The Heat got the best out of Waiters, but their strict regimes and culture aren’t for everyone. Waiters’ significant time missed with injury may also have been part of why he had the discipline issues we saw.

In the best years of his career ( his time with Miami ), Waiters was an electric three-point shooter who hit 37.5 percent of his threes at around five attempts a game. This is a great number when you consider the volume.

Waiters, when he is fit, is also a decent defender. He is only six-foot-three, but he has a six-foot-seven wingspan and a strong 215-pound frame. He can guard twos and some threes and force turnovers and block shots when engaged.

Waiters may be a risk for a team’s locker room, but in a superior culture where he is in shape, he can be a bench shot creator.

I’m unsure of his market, but if there weren’t many suitors, he could be a backup shooting guard on the minimum.