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The Cleveland Cavaliers had a fourth year team option on Dion Waiters' rookie scale contract that they needed to exercise by the end of the month. They didn't wait, and according to Tom Withers of the AP, Waiters is now under contract in Cleveland through 2015-16. He is set to make $5.1 million in the fourth year of his deal. He is set to make just over $4 million this season.
This was an easy decision for the Cavaliers to make. Waiters still hasn't turned 23 years old, and likely has a long career ahead of him in the NBA. He has started both of his seasons in the league as a starting shooting guard before settling into a bench role. There has been consternation over Waiters' shot selection and attitude, and his fit with the team has been called into question. Early last season there were reports that he was open to being traded and he admitted that he had been worried about how many shots he was getting. Still, it's difficult to ask a top five pick who has been an effective scorer all his life to just accept taking a backseat. It hasn't been fair to Dion. That being said, the skills he has showcased, spot up shooting and the capability to defend, fit right in with this Cavs team, and really any team all around the league.
He has time to figure it out, and the Cavaliers have potentially just bought themselves another year.