The Los Angeles Lakers cleared a batch of names off their books on Wednesday, officially renouncing the free agent rights to a long list of former players as they worked to create more cap space.
One of the more notable names in the group was Dion Waiters, the 6-foot-3 former Cleveland Cavaliers guard who was once an All-Rookie selection and later became an NBA champion with Los Angeles. Waiters hasn’t suited up for the Lakers since 2020, but he was included in the team’s mid-week move all the same.
“The Los Angeles Lakers have officially renounced the free agent rights to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, and Wayne Ellington,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on X/Twitter.
Waiters arrived in Los Angeles after a winding 2019-20 season. He opened that year with the Miami Heat, then was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies in a midseason three-team trade before Memphis waived him and the Lakers brought him in.
His stint with the Lakers was brief - just seven games - but it ended with a ring. Waiters was part of the bubble title team after the shortened regular season caused by COVID-19, and he averaged 11.9 points per game during that stretch.
The Syracuse product’s career took a downturn after that, but the championship remains a bright spot from one of the most difficult and stressful periods in NBA history.
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