The Cleveland Cavaliers are shopping Dion Waiters and the team has spoken with the Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks about a deal and names that have been brought up include Iman Shumpert, Evan Turner as well as Luol Deng, meaning a deal could be on the horizon for one of those teams and the Cavs, as the young star has been having issues with the team and his playing time and now could be dealt.
The Cavaliers are looking to move Waiters and they have spoken with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers and discussed players Luol Deng, Iman Shumpert and Evan Turner as possible deal options. According to ESPN.com, Waiters has been shopped by the Cavaliers and while he has not asked for a trade, he is open to one after discussing things with coach Mike Brown and general manager Chris Grant after having problems with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. The report says that Waiters has had issues with Irving and Thompson and made some of those problems known at a team meeting that was called for after a bad loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Waiters was previously the number four pick in the draft back in 2012 and the team has now gone 4-11 after losing to the Miami Heat and it is a disappointing start, as the franchise felt it could compete for the playoffs this season. The problems stem from what Waiters calls "buddy ball", as sources said that he aired in that players only meeting after the game that Thompson and Irving at times pass only to each other and won't pass to him even when he is open and a source reported that Thompson went at Waiters, but that the issue did not get physical and teammates stepped in before that happened.
One issue that Waiters has problems with is the feeling that Irving gets a "double standard" because he is a star and that he gets taken out of games and criticized for issues that Irving doesn't, including when the point guard makes turnovers, takes bad shots and also "loafs" defensively. The report says that Waiters spoke with Brown and Grant about the issues and now it's likely that he will be moved.
From ESPN.com: "Sources described the following account:
Irving called the meeting after the game, and every player spoke. When Waiters was given the floor, he criticized Thompson and Irving, accusing them of playing "buddy ball'' and often refusing to pass to him. Thompson took umbrage with Waiters' words and went back at him verbally. The two confronted each other, but teammates intervened before it could escalate into a fight."