Dion Waiters Traded

[Dylan Windler's Mom]

Until he proves otherwise he is the 6th best player on the team.

If Andy keeps playing how he did tonight and Tristan continues to perform well like he's done all preseason, Dion being our 6th best player won't necessarily be a bad thing. It would be a positive.

There isn't a team in the NBA that would be this worried about having a talent like Dion as their FOURTH option. Insane debate topic. In the modern NBA having a third perimeter player that can thrash a defense is a HUGE asset and you guys want stand still guys who shy away from the ball. Again, insane. I guess you guys have all forgot about Ira Newble?

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

Dion's shot selection still leaves alot to be desired but I love his defense / swagger / passing skills. You can just see he wants it bad out there and he always plays with an edge to his game. Come playoff time when the intensity picks up, you want a guy like that and his value will be very evident IMO.

I would keep him a starter but stagger the rotations like someone already suggested. Want to keep Dion in the right mindset and Lebron will continue to work with him I'm sure on shot selection and the mental aspects of the game.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

And trust me I want to believe it, but where is this idea coming from that Dion has become a defensive stopper? He's had a nice play here and there but with a defensive rating of 110 throughout the preseason thus far (six games, so not completely reliable, but just another stat to look at), -.03 defensive win shares, and 1.33 blocks and steals per game combined, all along with the eye test, I'm just not seeing it.

 

[Cashius X]

Completely agree. I just think it would be best for the team AND even Dion if he came off the bench. I don't know why people get so defensive when this is suggested. We have enough dominant scorers in the starting lineup. We need an off ball spot up shooter like Miller (or Allen if he comes, perhaps even Joe Harris if he impresses enough but probably not likely) to complement Kyrie and Lebron better. And then Dion would serve as the scoring punch off the bench and lead the second unit. People get this idea that if you want Dion coming off the bench, you hate him and think he sucks, which is utterly moronic.

I find it funny how you say the first bolded statement and then follow up with the second. You realize Dion shot 41% on Spot up 3s last season, right? That % ranks him ahead of long-range snipers such as Dirk and Ray Allen. That's an elite stat and it shows that Dion is pretty damn good at spot up shooting (something you seem to "prefer" out of our starting shooting guard).

What other reason do you have for wanting Dion to come off the bench? Your last reason was so valid I want to hear more...

 

[AmirT0]

Raptors have the worst fan base in the NBA.

Waiters>>derozan>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ross.

Waiters>>DeRozen? Are you kidding me? Ross is trash. No question there. But DeRozen better than Waiters.

 

[Cashius X]

And trust me I want to believe it, but where is this idea coming from that Dion has become a defensive stopper? He's had a nice play here and there but with a defensive rating of 110 throughout the preseason thus far (six games, so not completely reliable, but just another stat to look at), -.03 defensive win shares, and 1.33 blocks and steals per game combined, all along with the eye test, I'm just not seeing it.

Who are you going to start over Dion that spaces the floor while at the same time provides good defense? Delly? Mike Miller? Joe Harris? Marion? Dion is our best perimeter defender outside of LeBron and Marion and he's also one of our best perimeter threats in terms of shooting the ball. You're saying a whole bunch of nothing right now.

I'm just going to stop engaging you because I feel like your sole purpose is to try and rile people up and incite a reaction.

 

[killerkev369]

Raptors have the worst fan base in the NBA.

Waiters>>derozan>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ross.

What? Are you kidding?

 

[All4One1ForAll]

I find it funny how you say the first bolded statement and then follow up with the second. You realize Dion shot 41% on Spot up 3s last season, right? That % ranks him ahead of long-range snipers such as Dirk and Ray Allen. That's an elite stat and it shows that Dion is pretty damn good at spot up shooting (something you seem to "prefer" out of our starting shooting guard).

What other reason do you have for wanting Dion to come off the bench? Your last reason was so valid I want to hear more...

The problem is that he'd rather scoring one on one than move without the ball and take spot up threes. And don't ignore that Miller shot 46% from 3 point land last year and is still excellent and moving without the ball.

 

[MirORich]

Here is a few reasons I would always argue against Miller starting and Dion off the bench.

1. Defense and speed. The gap is already wide in defensive ability between Dion and Miller(no knock on Grandpa Mike) and I believe as the season, coaching and practice goes on, that gap will only grow wider.

2. Consistency/continuity of starting lineup. With Kyrie and Andy, you already have two guys potentially starting that do have a history of missing games. It's actually one reason I might prefer to start Tristan but I was am ok with Andy starting I guess. But Miller is a guy who also has that injury history and age. I think its important to have as much consistency and continuity with the starting lineup and barring a freak accident, Dion grades out as being far more likely to be durable and there all season.

3. Rotations. Blatts already seems to have a clear vision for Dion which has him getting the first 5-6 minutes of each half with the starting unit, being the first sub out, and then doubling back in when LeBron and Kyrie check out with a minute or so left in the first and then leading the second unit for much of the second quarter. I think it's harder to craft the right rotation starting Miller. Miller is just better suited off the bench. Some games will see him play limited minutes like tonight. Other games will see him getting 16-20 minutes.

 

[Kizzle]

I wish there was a waiters and Kyrie thread cause this is directed at both. This year is gonna challenge everything we've been saying about these 2 players. Because there are gonna be games where these 2 will be playing horrible team ball but they will get their points because they're so good. And the only reason the board won't get mad is because our team is so good we still won despite it. Like Kyrie today. He was making shots but for all intents and purposes he started playing hero ball. The board is gonna be extremely confused trying to gauge these types of games because last year they'd had been losses but now they'll be wins. Idk if I articulated what I'm trying to say correctly but it's gonna be ironic seeing the board gush over games like this imo

 

[All4One1ForAll]

Who are you going to start over Dion that spaces the floor while at the same time provides good defense? Delly? Mike Miller? Joe Harris? Marion? Dion is our best perimeter defender outside of LeBron and Marion and he's also one of our best perimeter threats in terms of shooting the ball. You're saying a whole bunch of nothing right now.

I'm just going to stop engaging you because I feel like your sole purpose is to try and rile people up and incite a reaction.

Yes you got me. I obviously hate Dion. Can you actually put aside your bias and give me some facts. Why do you think Dion is a great perimeter defender? Harris has impressed me a ton on the defensive side of the ball and I don't see enough of a difference in defense between Miller and Dion to not start the better complement to Kyrie and Lebron (Miller). so I think either of those two would be possible candidates for the starting 2.

 

[Cashius X]

The problem is that he'd rather scoring one on one than move without the ball and take spot up threes. And don't ignore that Miller shot 46% from 3 point land last year and is still excellent and moving without the ball.

So you want Miller as our starting SG...am I understanding you correctly? The same Mike Miller who could barely crack the rotation tonight?

Just stop.

Yes you got me. I obviously hate Dion. Can you actually put aside your bias and give me some facts. Why do you think Dion is a great perimeter defender? Harris has impressed me a ton on the defensive side of the ball and I don't see enough of a difference in defense between Miller and Dion to not start the better complement to Kyrie and Lebron (Miller). so I think either of those two would be possible candidates for the starting 2.

If you feel as though Joe Harris or Mike Miller should be starting over Dion then there is nothing to talk about...

 

[All4One1ForAll]

So you want Miller as our starting SG...am I understanding you correctly? The same Mike Miller who could barely crack the rotation tonight?

Just stop.

The same Mike Miller who shot 48% from the field and 46% from three last year? I'm not saying Mike Miller is the better player; he's the better fit. Jamal Crawford comes off the bench because Reddick is the better fit. Why can;t Dion accept that role.

 

[bobcat22]

For all of you worried about the team offensively, let me put the team's performances in a little perspective for you guys from what they've done so far in the preseason.

LeBron's best game(vs IND): 26 points, 9-12 shooting
Kyrie's best game(vs CHI): 28 points, 10-19 shooting, 7 assists
Kevin Love's best game(vs MIA): 25 points, 9-12 shooting, 7 rebounds
Dion Waiters' best game(vs MIL): 23 points, 8-13 shooting
Anderson Varejao's best game(vs CHI): 22 points, 10-13 shooting, 8 rebounds
Tristan Thompson's best game(vs DAL): 17 points, 6-8 shooting, 11 rebounds

Just look at this efficiency. In 5 preseason games against NBA competition, we have had 5 different 20 point scorers who all shot better than 50 percent from the field, with four of them shooting better than 60% in those 20 point games. Then you have Tristan off the bench who has had an 18 and 17 point game with great efficiency. Look at the versatility on this team. Chicago is the best defensive team in the league, Kevin Love and Dion Waiters shot a combined 6-21 from the field and we still won by 9 and scored 107. This is scary.

 

[MirORich]

Yes you got me. I obviously hate Dion. Can you actually put aside your bias and give me some facts. Why do you think Dion is a great perimeter defender? Harris has impressed me a ton on the defensive side of the ball and I don't see enough of a difference in defense between Miller and Dion to not start the better complement to Kyrie and Lebron (Miller). so I think either of those two would be possible candidates for the starting 2.

Harris, who I think will absolutely impact for this team by his 2-3 year, is a rookie. The minutes you've seen him play decent defense have been against scrubs. And most importantly, LeBron is not going to be down with starting a rookie. The goal is win championships. LeBron already knows how it will be a tough task for him to help meld Kyrie, Dion and Tristan(3rd and 4th year players) into having winning habits for 48 minutes a game. Harris will see blowout minutes or get minutes if there are injuries. If Ray Allen joins, Harris will watch and learn in practice and most likely only get the end of game blow out minutes.

I just wouldn't feel right with Miller starting. I worry about his defense and durability. I think he is far better served coming off the bench for 10-20 minutes per game

The same Mike Miller who shot 48% from the field and 46% from three last year? I'm not saying Mike Miller is the better player; he's the better fit. Jamal Crawford comes off the bench because Reddick is the better fit. Why can;t Dion accept that role.

JJ Redick is far quicker, straight line and laterally, then Mike Miller is at this point in his career. That allows him to be a better defender than Miller can be. Redick is also a better handler and penetrator than Mike Miller. I love Mike Miller, but do not want this vintage Mike Miller as our starting SG.