The Lakers had an open roster spot following the release of Troy Daniels last Sunday and they were seeking for the right player to replace him and fill their final roster spot.
The Lakers put their trust on Dion Waiters. The team is expected to make a long playoff run and they need all the help they can.
Dion Waiters and JR Smith were among the players with a chance to join the team. Waiters and Smith both visited the Lakers and reportedly looked impressive in their workouts. Many expected Waiters and Smith to have a leg up over the competition but the Lakers were in no hurry to end the selection process.
A report by the L.A. Times last Monday said that “The team might bring in other players and is in no rush to fill the spot, according to people familiar with their plans.”
This was good news for other potential free agent signees. The Lakers wanted and needed depth and shooting in the backcourt. This gave hope to xperienced guards like former Laker Isaiah Thomas and veteran Jamal Crawford but in the end they signed Dion Waiters for the rest of the season.
Waiters played briefly with LeBron James in Cleveland in 2014-15. Ironically, he would be traded for JR Smith, who was with the Cavs for four years and helped them win the NBA Championship in 2016.
Dion Waiters averaged 9.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.0 minutes over just three games with the Heat this season. It will be interesting to see how the Lakers use Waiters. He can be a major spark off the bench for them.
As for Troy Daniels, it looks like he won’t be out of a job for very long. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the veteran guard is currently finalizing a deal with the Nuggets.
