The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Andrew Wiggins with the intentions of starting him, not trading him. However, pushing Wiggins into the rotation immediately means someone from last season gets bumped out. As the team continues to search for a deal that will land them Kevin Love, one of those former starters could be included in the deal. Fully aware of the rumors surrounding him, Dion Waiters says he would rather start than be traded.
Waiters did not expect to have an offseason filled with trade rumors. The point guard was one of the lone standouts of last season for Cleveland, exceling alongside Kyrie Irving and he planned getting rewarded for those efforts, not getting traded. Waiters has already announced his intentions to start for Cleveland in 2014 on Twitter, but while working out for Team USA, he told the media the same thing.
"I want to start and I believe that I should at the two," Waiters said, via CSNNW.com. "I just say how I feel," he said. "I'm going to do whatever is best for the team, of course, but at the end of the day, I'm a man and I'm confident in myself. I've always been a guy that gives it right to you. I've never been a guy that plays that political stuff. I was brought up that way. I'm straightforward. I give my honest opinion. I'm not going to sit here and hide. They asked a question and I tell you."
Newly hired head coach David Blatt voiced his confident in the point guard starting at the two spot, but having Wiggins certainly complicated that idea. Cleveland intends for the rookie to play shooting guard which would knock Waiters to the sixth man role, something he has no intentions of taking part in.
Waiters' future is up in the air. He is currently being tossed around in trade rumors as the Cavaliers attempt to get Love. The team does not want to give up Wiggins in a deal so they are hoping a third team can get involved to help out. Waiters could easily be sent to a team like the Philadelphia 76ers who are eying the point guard.
Meanwhile, Irving told media that he and newly signed teammate LeBron James are not focusing on a trade for Love, but instead starting to talk strategy for the upcoming season. Irving is certainly having a good summer after he signed a nice long-term extension and getting James as his new teammate. He intends on making good on the Cavaliers' commitment to him. James on the other hand likes what he seeing out of the young point guard.
"Kyrie's special," James said, via USA Today Sports. "It's just that simple. Very special basketball player, very smart basketball player - his ability to shoot the ball, get into the lane, make shots around the rim. He has the total package. I've always known that, always witnessed that ever since he was in high school."