The Cleveland Cavaliers are once again denying the availability of Dion Waiters. The speculation over the shooting guard's future has been ongoing since last season. Many believed Waiters was being sent to the New York Knicks last season. Then it was thought he would be gone in the Kevin Love deal. Now, after having his option exercised, the Cavaliers are stressing that Waiters is not going anywhere.
Waiters will not be a restricted free agent until the 2016 season. Cleveland intends to keep him through the duration of his contract despite the amount of speculation surrounding the young player. According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, Waiters is not and will not be available for trading. Amico believes that none of the trade buzz surrounding Waiters is coming from the Cavaliers themselves as the team remains committed to the No. 4 overall pick.
The play of Waiters is not helping his case. The shooting guard is struggling, plain and simple. In the win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Waiters took just one shot. He did not play the second half. He is shooting 37 percent from the field and no longer in the mix for the starting lineup. That is a far cry from what he was expecting this season. Waiters made it clear that he had no interest in being a bench player and even started every game in the preseason. The Cavaliers are trying to build chemistry 16 games into the season which seems to include Waiters coming off with the reserves, but LeBron James stresses that he must be ready when his number is called.
"We know he's a very good basketball player. When your number is called, come in with great energy and effort. One thing you can control is how hard you play," James said, via FOX Sports.
If the Cavaliers are going to make any trades, Tristan Thompson will be the player moved. The power forward is preparing to be a restricted free agent next offseason and is currently the best asset the team has. The Cavaliers have been eyeing certain trades as the deadline gets closer and may or may not act on them. If Waiters is not available than Thompson will have to be as the Cavaliers continue to get linked to trades for players like Norris Cole, Brook Lopez and Timofey Mozgov.
