Dion Waiters will not play basketball the rest of this season, the Miami Heat say, following surgery Monday at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, Calif. to "repair instability" in his troublesome left ankle.
The Heat released a statement Tuesday evening sharing the details of Waiters' surgery and a pre-existing navicular bone fracture was also repaired. The Heat claims it was aware of Waiters' pre-existing navicular bone fracture before it signed him to a four-year, $52 million deal last summer and says the only reason he had it repaired Monday was because doctors were already repairing instability elsewhere.
Monday's procedure was performed by Dr. Richard Ferkel, an independent doctor, but observed by team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick and Heat Assistant Athletic Trainer & Director of Rehabilitation Brandon Gilliam.
Waiters, 25, made 30 starts for the Heat and averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 30.6 minutes of action this past season.
Although the Heat's statement did not specify when Waiters could return to action, Waiters said back in September ankle surgery would require eight to 10 months of recovery.
The Heat is seeking a $5.5 disabled player exception for Waiters and will not receive it until Waiters is deemed out through June 15 by an independent league doctor.
