Dion Waiters Traded

[CavsFan87]

I loved Dion...and I really wanted it to work. But sadly, these three GIFs are representative of why we had to get rid of him : He only played well when Kyrie was off the court, and Kyrie isn't going anywhere any time soon. I don't think they were ever going to coexist. Best of luck to him in OKC though.

 

[Cashius X]

Cashius, how you holding up with this news?

I know you're one of the biggest Dion fans out there and I think you know that while I didn't see him quite as highly as you did, I was a fan, defended him, and think he still can do great things.

But how do you feel about the actual deal, what we got in return, and how it might fit for the team going forward?

I was excited at first. I thought a change of scenery was exactly what Dion needed. Once I found out that Reggie wasn't included in the deal though my excitement tempered. OKC has a glut of guards and I think Dion's playing time will be erratic over there. Dion's the type of player where he needs consistent, big minutes to be effective. He's a rhythm player, not a spark plug, and as such he needs extended playing time to find his rhythm and produce. I don't like the fit in OKC and I have no idea how it'll work out. I wish him the best though...he went to a great team. I just hope he fits in there better than he did here.

In terms of how it affects the Cavs, or what we got in return...I don't think it was a bad haul at all. We flipped Dion and addressed 2 of our top 3 biggest needs in perimeter defense and bench scoring while also getting a 1st rounder from OKC. The fact that Dion brought us this much in return at a time when his trade value was at its lowest really shows you how he's viewed around the league.

In all, I'm not mad @ the trade, but I'm also not ecstatic. Dion played himself out of Cleveland. He said all the right things to the media but it was clear from his on court demeanor and how he interacted with his teammates on the court that he didn't want to be here. He showed up to play and had a good game every once in a while, but I even pointed out a couple weeks ago that he wasn't really trying during games. It was more than him not giving consistent effort....the way he was playing and loafing around on the court gave the impression that he had already checked out. He had to go...this split was good for both parties.

I think Dion could've worked here long-term had he not been jerked around and scapegoated as he has been the entire season. Shit happens though. I'm content with getting Iman to be our starting SG and JR to be our spark plug off the bench. I really like the athleticism both bring to our team. Neither are as good or have the ceiling of Dion but both they both fit in nicely to the conventional roles we have in mind for them. Whether or not they perform up to expectations in anyone's guess.

Don't think this trade moves the needle either way for us, but not a bad deal with all things being considered.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

View: https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/552532100604526595


I get to tell my grandkids the story of the 2014-2015 Cavaliers....

Now THAT'S funny, right there...

 

[Rookie]

I want to thank the Cleveland Cavaliers organization for making my dreams come true especially @cavsdan and all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career. Through the UPS & DOWNS Cleveland will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks for the memories #TheLand ..... But now it's time to start a new chapter in my life..... THANK YU AGAIN...

http://instagram.com/p/xhts-ut8PT/?modal=true


Still gonna miss this guy. One of my fav Cavs players.

 

[DatDudeZ3]

Good class by Dion, I'll miss that guy even though he was the most frustrating player. Still thanked the organization/fans even after the FO bad mouthed him through The Bullshit Whisperer.

 

[Snarly]

I want to thank the Cleveland Cavaliers organization for making my dreams come true especially @cavsdan and all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career. Through the UPS & DOWNS Cleveland will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks for the memories #TheLand ..... But now it's time to start a new chapter in my life..... THANK YU AGAIN...

http://instagram.com/p/xhts-ut8PT/?modal=true


Still gonna miss this guy. One of my fav Cavs players.

Wow. Very nice Dion. Very nice.

 

[godfather]

I never got the impression Dion is a bad guy, just young and dumb. But hey, a lot of us were that way too when we were younger. You can't help but root for him personally though.

I always liked the 'edge' he had, but I just don't think he knows how to channel it yet.

 

[Dinner Bell Mel]

I never got the impression Dion is a bad guy, just young and dumb. But hey, a lot of us were that way too when we were younger. You can't help but root for him personally though.

I always liked the 'edge' he had, but I just don't think he knows how to channel it yet.

I can help rooting for him. I've been able to help rooting for him for quite some time now.

 

[Omar The Horse]

He's going to get a huge ovation when he returns later this year.

He not only was tough but he embraced the city of Cleveland.

I think thats why so many of us wanted to see him figure it out here.

 

[Just Checkin]

Dion has been the most fun Cavs player to just watch how polarizing he was among the fans.

Hopefully our new chapter is better.

 

[Soar]

Kyrie and Dion never meshed. Whether it was basketball skills or personalities or roles on a team, the two of them never seemed to gel.

Going around the league, you see very few dynamic PGs and SGs that are able to play together that both like the ball to be in their hands.

It is even tougher when both players are young and are trying to make a name for themselves in the league.

I hope Shump and Smith are more willing to embrace the role that the Cavs wanted Dion to fill.

 

[CavsHomer]

I grew so tired of talking about Waiters potential a while back. He could be a really, really good role player. He doesn't want to accept his role, though. It's almost like a guy who could be a really, really good back to the basket player, but only wants to shoot 3s. Eventually it doesn't really matter what he could be but instead what he is and what he wants to be. If he's never willing to buy in to a lessened role and instead wants to be treated like a star player, he's not going to be a positive for any team he's on. And when he's getting 20-25 minutes a night in OKC and the team doesn't let him run the offense, he'll start hurting them too. It's all on him to change his game, start doing the little things all the time, start playing defense all the time, and start playing without the ball better. But so far he just hasn't shown any willingness to be that player.

In other words: Josh Smith.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

I want to thank the Cleveland Cavaliers organization for making my dreams come true especially @cavsdan and all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career. Through the UPS & DOWNS Cleveland will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks for the memories #TheLand ..... But now it's time to start a new chapter in my life..... THANK YU AGAIN...

http://instagram.com/p/xhts-ut8PT/?modal=true


Still gonna miss this guy. One of my fav Cavs players.

Oh damn I'm tearing up. Dion come back!! What have we done?!

In all seriousness though the trade was the right move and I wish Dion the best in OKC.

 

[Cavatt]

I like rooting for young players with upside. We don't really have any young talented payers now that can develop and make it to an all-star game or really be more than they are now. TT will get incrementally better, and kyrie will get better mentally.

There is no figuring anything out, now it is just chemistry. We will know our ultimate upside next year. How boring.

Hoping for JR to behave is not as fun as hoping Dion Put's it together.

I'm seeing another Danny Green here that we will wish we had in 3 years when Shumpert is hurt and JR is long gone.

 

[jlegg21]

Liked his toughness, and as many have said, he has talent and swagger. I just never felt he would become more than the go-to scoring guard on mediocre teams. I fear that's most likely his ceiling.

Probably a rich man's Ben Gordon, thinks he's a better version of Dwayne Wade.

The Cavs had no choice. Cash him in now or wait for his inevitable and comical extension demands. Griff made the right move, and probably got more than he expected to get.