Since January of this year, Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters has been rehabilitating an injured ankle that required surgery, a process that was estimated to take as long as 10 months. Eight months into that rehab, visual evidence makes it apparent that he came to training camp out of shape.
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The 26-year-old Waiters had a more sculpted figure during last year’s camp, which came at a time in which he was attempting to play through the pain of that ankle injury that originally took place in March 2017. That effort came to an end after just 30 games, when he was shut down for the year after averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds .
During the summer of 2017, Waiters signed a new four-year contract with the Heat. His uncertain health status at the time of that signing resulted in the inclusion of a bonus of $1.1 million for each season Waiters played in 70 games, something that obviously didn’t occur last year.
Waiters is still in the process of getting into game shape, a demanding effort that began in July and something that’s required to withstand the rigors of both an 82-game regular season and potential playoff action.
That’s especially true when it comes to playing for the Heat. However, reports that the team is looking to deal him away seem to indicate that his future with the Heat could be up in the air.
The Heat’s first regular season takes place on Oct. 17 when they travel to Orlando to take on the Magic.
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