When will Dion Waiters get any respect?
A year ago, the young guard sought refuge in Miami, committed to the team’s rigorous system and, in his words, bet on himself and doubled down. The reward? A four-year, $52 million contract to stay with the Heat.
While Waiters may be earning the money he wants, it appears he’s still a long way from earning the respect he’s worked tirelessly for.
As the season approaches, both Sports Illustrated and ESPN have rolled out their top-100 players for the upcoming year. Among those Heat players to make the lists: James Johnson (91, 93), Goran Dragic (43 on SI, 47 on ESPN) and Hassan Whiteside (34 on SI, 41 on ESPN).