5. Dion Waiters
Ugh, it pains me to put Dion this low. Love Dion as a person, but his basketball performance/tenure just wasn’t enough to pass some of the great Thunder shooting guards.
Waiters saw his numbers decrease after being traded to Oklahoma City, but he matured as a basketball player. Yeah, Dion’s decision making was still poor and he still thought he was the best player in the NBA. But watch him in these past playoffs. HE PLAYED DEFENSE. Dion never played defense.
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The Thunder succeeded in the postseason in large part due to Dion’s growth as a man. He learned that basketball is played on two sides of the court. He learned that passing to the open man works. His bench play was CRUCIAL.
But most importantly, he learned this offseason that the NBA doesn’t really want him.
Dion is going to kill it in Miami this year. For the first time in his life, he’s out for blood. The Thunder picked Alex Abrines over him; you know that doesn’t sit well with him. Dion has Oklahoma City to thank for both his maturation and the newfound chip on his shoulder.
Good luck Dion.