Dion Waiters Traded

[Derek]

Dion is a better player than Wiggins period. Maybe someday Wiggins will be better, but he isn't exactly touted for being NBA ready.

I'm not so sure about that, and I wasn't even all that big on Wiggins heading into the draft. Dion has been developing into a nice player, but he's not anything special. It wouldn't surprise me to see Wiggins outperform Waiters in this upcoming season.

 

[Cavatt]

The only way Wiggins starts over Dion is if we land a FA sf that is better than Dion. I think Wiggins is going to start at the 3. I don't have any doubt in my mind that the "Wiggins is a 2" thing was solely for LBJ's benefit. They hired 2 coaches that had the best plans to make the backcourt work. Why do that when you are trading Dion or relegating him to 6th man?

Griffin really likes Dion, and was promoted partially to keep him on the team when Grant wanted to trade him if the rumors are to be believed.

 

[SteelSmack]

I'm not so sure about that, and I wasn't even all that big on Wiggins heading into the draft. Dion has been developing into a nice player, but he's not anything special. It wouldn't surprise me to see Wiggins outperform Waiters in this upcoming season.

I'm curious how a guy with limited handles and less ability to shoot than Dion is going to outperform him. Athleticism won't get you as far in the NBA as it did in college.

 

[Derek]

I'm curious how a guy with limited handles and less ability to shoot than Dion is going to outperform him. Athleticism won't get you as far in the NBA as it did in college.

He might be a slightly worse shooter than Dion, but from what I've seen he moved much better off the ball. He's a good spot up shooter, and an excellent transition player. His off ball movement will get him great looks as a spot up shooter, and his athleticism will get him easy buckets in transition.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Waiters have a better season either, but a lot of people seem to be acting like Waiters is a proven All-Star in this league and shouldn't be questioned. It's not nearly as clear cut as many people want to believe.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Dion is a better player than Wiggins period. Maybe someday Wiggins will be better, but he isn't exactly touted for being NBA ready.

 

[SteelSmack]

He might be a slightly worse shooter than Dion, but from what I've seen he moved much better off the ball. He's a good spot up shooter, and an excellent transition player. His off ball movement will get him great looks as a spot up shooter, and his athleticism will get him easy buckets in transition.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Waiters have a better season either, but a lot of people seem to be acting like Waiters is a proven All-Star in this league and shouldn't be questioned. It's not nearly as clear cut as many people want to believe.

Fair enough.

I don't see anyone acting like Waiters is a proven All-Star, just a bunch of people who realize what he did the 2nd half of last season would put him right on the cusp of being an All-Star, if that's actually who he is.

 

[Fuggles]

Wiggins would start over Waiters purely for fit reasons. There is no reason to argue about who is going to be better next season.

Also, if we bring in a vet SF I imagine Jack is shipped out and Waiters will get plenty of minutes.

 

[OptimusPrime]

They should both be starting. Wiggins isn't a SG anyway. But if Dion is ok coming off the bench it would be great for the team, well, better than trading him. The 2nd unit would be better than the starters again like this year.

 

[Soar]

The Delly and Dion combo was great last season.

The more we can see of that, the better.

I feel like Dion would be best in a role that allows him to do his own thing with the offense. That would be a bench role on this team and I'm not sure he would be willing to accept that. I don't blame him if he would rather be moved than come off the bench.

 

[OptimusPrime]

The Delly and Dion combo was great last season.

The more we can see of that, the better.

I feel like Dion would be best in a role that allows him to do his own thing with the offense. That would be a bench role on this team and I'm not sure he would be willing to accept that. I don't blame him if he would rather be moved than come off the bench.

Dion, and the team, is best when he is on the floor. He is capable of any role they need from him. It hurts the team when not starting limits him to 28 minutes a game.

 

[Pioneer10]

Why wouldn't Wiggins start at SF? We have crap at this position, he's not a good ballhandler for the SG spot, he's got prototypical length and height for the position, and he can sit at the corner 3 spot to make easy jumpers off of Kyrie and Dion driving to the basket.

It's hard not to read these threads and feel that people have made up their mind about Dion as if the second half of last season never happened

 

[OptimusPrime]

It's hard not to read these threads and feel that people have made up their mind about Dion as if the second half of last season never happened

Most of them didn't see the second half of the season, so they just look at his PER and assume they know what he is as a player.

 

[Tornicade]

BTW who has fit better with Irving in the Back court than Dion? CJ Miles didnt. Delladova Didnt, Jack Didnt, Livingston didnt,

in fact the best fitting high tempo offense the Cavs have seen were a back up rotation of Jack, Delladova, Gee, Thompson and Zeller

Dion meanwhile has fit in with ball dominant guards. shooters and any other type of guard you match him up.



Dion and Kyrie underperfom what they should be doing theres no question about that but noone has performed significantly or even moderately better than the Irving/Waiters combo.

Kyrie needs to fit his game within the team Period. Kyrie is the one who stalls the offense and doesnt always make the correct pass or make the pass in rythm.

Im not so sure Wiggins will have much more success than any of the other guards that have put in with kyrie.


As far as Griffins two comments. I wouldnt be surprised if he said that just to give to scale it up just a tad more in the offseason

Dion didnt wait for the ball last season. he didnt hold onto it either and he ran his routes and also lined up on the perimeter.

Dion might just be the most complete two way player on the roster with wiggins coming in on his heels

 

[Lazor]

I just like how all the Dion fans blame Kyrie for all the problems and try to make Dion sound like the most complete player in the league. Dions a baller and has a chance to be a good player but talent wise he is not Kyrie and he needs the ball in his hands just as much as Kyrie does to be effective. Dion and Kyrie don't fit together well on the floor. I think Dion is gone. We need more of a pure shooter at SG since we now have one hell of an athlete in Wiggins to play SF.

 

[Pioneer10]

I just like how all the Dion fans blame Kyrie for all the problems and try to make Dion sound like the most complete player in the league. Dions a baller and has a chance to be a good player but talent wise he is not Kyrie and he needs the ball in his hands just as much as Kyrie does to be effective. Dion and Kyrie don't fit together well on the floor. I think Dion is gone. We need more of a pure shooter at SG since we now have one hell of an athlete in Wiggins to play SF.

This is what is frustrating: Dion definitely has his weakness (mainly with finishing at the rim being by far the biggest concern) but he has turned himself into a good catch and shoot player. He played very well with two other PG's in Jack and Delly playing AT THE SAME time in the small ball lineups that Brown ran when Irving was hurt so it's hard to think he can't play with guys who like the ball in their hands as well. In other words he has the tools to play off others initiating offense rather then just being a exclusively a PnR type.

True, Waiters isn't going to morph into a prime D. Wade but he's a solid young SG who doesn't look like he's going to peak anytime soon. Especially with Wiggins now who should be able to guard the 3 spot adequately so what the Waiters fans are saying it is shortsighted to try to trade him just to trade him for this mythical "fit" reasoning. Now if you get ahead on the deal (ala a Love) then go for it.