PORTLAND, Ore. _ Suspended three times this season by the Miami Heat, Dion Waiters now stands unemployed, waived Sunday by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dealt to the Grizzlies in the machinations when the Heat sent out Justise Winslow and James Johnson to acquire Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from Memphis, Waiters will receive the balance of the $12.1 million he is due this season, as well as the $12.7 million he is due next season from the four-year, $52 million contract he signed with the Heat in the 2017 offseason.
That full salary-cap hit will go to the Grizzlies, with Waiters, once he clears the NBA's 48-hour waiver period then eligible to sign with the team of his choice. He is ineligible to return to the Heat.
Because of the timing of the release, Waiters, 28, would be eligible for a playoff roster, no matter the date he signs elsewhere, provided it is before the final day of the regular season.
Waiters has appeared in only three games this season, all with the Heat in a three-game run starting Jan. 24, seeing 42 total minutes of 2019-20 action.
The move was anticipated from the Grizzlies, who prioritized Winslow in the trade, with Johnson rerouted by Memphis to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Johnson had a solid debut with the Timberwolves, closing with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, five assists and two steals in 20:16 of action in Minnesota's 142-115 Saturday night blowout victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Of parting with Waiters and Johnson at last Thursday's NBA trading deadline, Heat president Pat Riley said, "I wish JJ and Dion the very best, and I had a lot of conversations with those guys in my office, on the court. They're good people."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was aware of this possible outcome for Waiters when he addressed the three players dealt by the Heat.
"We do wish all of them the best: JJ in Minnesota; Justise, it'll be a good opportunity for him in Memphis; and we'll see where Dion ends up," he said.
