Miami suspended Dion Waiters for the first game of the season due to conduct detrimental to the team (to which he responded by taking a shot at Erik Spoelstra on Instagram).
The second time was for “conduct detrimental to the team” for his behavior, and not too coincidentally right after first responders had to be called to the Celtics’ team plane because Waiters took too many “edible” gummy bears and had a panic attack.
For the third time this season, the Miami Heat have suspended Waiters, the team announced. This time it is for “failure to adhere to team policies, violation of team rules and continued insubordination.” He can return to the team after the game against Utah on Dec. 23 (six games).
All these suspensions are hitting Waiter hard in the pocketbook.
Suspension amounts for Dion Waiters this season:
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 13, 2019
6 games: $500,690
10 games: $834,483
1 game: $83,448
Total= $1,418,621
This doesn't include the $1.2M games played bonus that he missed.
Waiters has yet to set foot on the court for the Heat this season — they haven’t needed him. With the emergence of Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson, Miami’s guard rotation has been impressive. That allows Miami to take a hard line with Waiters and not pay a price on the court.
Waiters is making $12.1 million this season and $12.65 million next season. Miami would love to trade Waiters but no team is going to take him and that contract on without some serious sweeteners (which Pat Riley and company are not about to do).