NBA free agency: Sacramento Kings offering $14 million to Dion Waiters

The Sacramento Kings’ first free agent splash could very well be Dion Waiters.

The Sacramento Kings are hoping to add a veteran presence to their backcourt, which is why they’re looking in the direction of Dion Waiters.

Bobby Marks of The Vertical was the first to report that the Kings are offering $14 million in the general direction of Waiters, giving the Oklahoma City Thunder the option to match it.

Dion Waiters was a reliable bench scorer for the Thunder, especially in the playoffs when he averaged 8.4 points per game. However now that Victor Oladipo has arrived, the Thunder have basically no use for him, since they can roll him and Andre Roberson at the two spot.

Even though Waiters played well last year, there’s no way you can justify paying $14 million for someone who’s been a sixth man practically his whole career. He’s only two years removed from being unceremoniously shipped out from Cleveland, and it looks like he will get the bum’s rush again. The Thunder are very glad that the Kings came knocking on Waiters’ door and offered him $14 million to take him off their books.

The primary motivation behind this deal could be a mentorship between another Syracuse Orange alum in newly drafted Malachi Richardson. However, for a role like that, Waiters is a guy that should be taken on a cheap one-year flyer, not someone you pay eight figures. Free agency is a period where teams throw money around like Oprah, and there’s a good chance he won’t be remotely close to being the worst signing on the day.

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