Factory Of Sadness
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Cleveland Cavaliers: Starting Five From LeBron-less Era

By Evan Hablitzel

Sep 26, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0), forward LeBron James (23) and guard Kyrie Irving (2) laugh during a photo session during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0), forward LeBron James (23) and guard Kyrie Irving (2) laugh during a photo session during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Apr 12, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters (3) reacts in the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Shooting Guard- #3 Dion Waiters

What a beautiful, disastrous-mess Dion Waiters is on the basketball floor. The Syracuse product plays more out-of-control than Johnny Manziel at a Future concert.

At times, the 2012 fourth-overall selection appeared to be a raw, poor-man’s version of Dwayne Wade. I mean that as a compliment. On other occasions, Waiters seemed to forget he was in an NBA arena; reverting to a reckless, streetball-esque style of play.

The latter version of Waiters is what led to him being traded away by Cleveland Cavaliers “general manager” LeBron James during the 2014-15 season. The epic stare downs an agitated James would shoot Waiters’ way remain unforgettable.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported James “couldn’t believe” how much of a ball hog both Waiters and Kyrie Irving were at the beginning of the 2014-15 season.

The latter, Irving, despite my admittedly harsh rants against the All-Star point guard, is/was irreplaceable. Waiters? A very expendable asset on a Cavaliers team that lacked chemistry 33 games into the season.

The Cavs traded Waiters to the Thunder as a result. Cleveland got shooting guards Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith in return.

Could the deal have worked out any better?

It may go down as general manager David Griffin’s best move of his career. While Shumpert was the main cog in the deal, Smith was considered a “throw in” and team officials had to consult with James (obviously) before pulling the trigger.

Smith ended up being a vital piece to the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Shumpert contributed, but not to the level of the always amusing “Swish.”

In two-plus seasons with the Cavaliers, Waiters averaged 14.3 points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds. His style of play is yet to change. Just ask Kevin Durant.

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