Lakers rumors: Three reasons to sign Dion Waiters this summer
By Keith Rivas
![Mar 8, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters (11) celebrates after defeating the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports Mar 8, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters (11) celebrates after defeating the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/685672812a8f31487a3ef39d48bdffb1e96124183ec8dba7e4cda076b767da84.jpg)
He’s fair competition for D’Angelo Russell
In 2015, the Los Angeles Lakers made a bold move by picking up then-prospect D’Angelo Russell out of Ohio State. Drafted as a point guard, the reality of it all is that after two seasons at the helm, playing as a two guard might be a better fit.
Russell isn’t terrible off the ball, and getting more scoring chances instead of trying to facilitate things and score might up his game even quicker.
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Where Dion Waiters comes into this is a matter of showing Russell that they might be fine without him. Sure, it might be a little harsh to try and put his feet to the fire, but it’s what the Lakers could do in order to contend quicker.
Looking at statistics, both guards are surprisingly nearly identical. For Russell, his stat line holds 15.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds.
Waiters, on the other hand, has a line of 15.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds.
The difference? Waiters has shown he can be truly clutch.
Instead of just in spurts, which is what we’ve tended to see from Russell, Waiters could prove himself as the better long term option.
Drafting in 2012, Waiters was the fourth overall pick by Cleveland and for good reason. It took time with the Heat to show that he can really make a difference, but this could be crucial for the Lakers.