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Dion Waiters missed the last two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was back to work at the team's Monday practice. Whether he will keep his role as the team's starting shooting guard was left up in the air.
After reports surfaced over the weekend about a players only meeting confrontation between players that occurred after the Cavaliers blowout road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, several (many) observers wondered aloud whether Dion's absence from the team was related. Some even speculated that perhaps Kyrie Irving's nasal fracture was the result of a physical altercation from the team meeting.
The last bit of speculation would appear to be silly. From Fox Sports Ohio's Sam Amico:
Dion Waiters says there was no major confrontation at #Cavs players-only meeting. "No one put their hands on anyone. It was productive."
— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) November 18, 2013
More Dion Waiters on #Cavs' players-only meeting. "I know what happened. It's some people's job to think stuff happened that didn't."
— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) November 18, 2013
Still, it isn't all roses for Waiters.
Mike Brown said he's still tinkering with lineup and doesn't know yet if Dion Waiters will start for #Cavs vs. #Wizards Wednesday. #nba
— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) November 18, 2013
Scott Sargent of Waiting For Next Year got some good comments from Waiters:
Waiters says his "mysterious" absence was just a matter of timing. Says he feels better, ready to play.
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) November 18, 2013
Regarding the team meeting, Waiters says it was good, productive and needed to happen.
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) November 18, 2013
So there we have it. Some players on the team had some things to get off their chest, it happened, and people appear to be in better spirits because of it. While I feel a bit better, remember that Waiters probably wasn't going to answer these questions in any other way. He wasn't going to be vocal (with the media) about being upset with his role, or about what went on in a closed-door player's meeting. We still know very little about what is going on.