Waiters: Thunder 'played with my life and with my family' last offseason
Dion Waiters believes the Oklahoma City Thunder did him dirty.
The 25-year-old shooting guard, who was a restricted free agent last summer before being cut loose by the Thunder, recently opened up about feeling like he got screwed over by the team.
Waiters indicated that while OKC hinted at re-signing him, it kept him in limbo while waiting on superstar Kevin Durant to make a decision. When KD joined the Golden State Warriors, the Thunder rescinded Waiters' $6.8-million qualifying offer and signed Russell Westbrook to an extension.
"It felt like they played with my life and with my family," the guard told SLAM's Malcolm Burnley. "I had offers - stuff you can't pass up - and for them to hold out that long? It's messed up."
Thinking he was sticking around in Oklahoma City, he passed those offers up. The market, though originally flush with cash as the salary cap soared by more than $24 million after the new TV money kicked in, had dried up by the time he was eventually forced to test it. Waiters settled for a short deal with the Miami Heat worth $2.9 million per year.
His poor timing saw him fetch a smaller deal than those given to less-talented players.
"After the year I had in the playoffs in OKC and everybody out here getting money, and I know I'm better than these dudes," Waiters said.
The Philadelphia native averaged 15.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds for the Heat, who just missed out on a playoff berth in 2016-17.
Now Waiters, who declined the $3.2-million player option on his contract for next season, returns to free agency and looks to make up for some lost time - and dough.
He's reportedly in talks with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, and Sacramento Kings. He could potentially re-sign in Miami, but the Heat are currently focusing on luring free agent Gordon Hayward.
Chances are, Waiters won't wait around.