Lakers Free Agency Rumors: Dion Waiters close to decision between Lakers, Heat, Knicks

The Los Angeles Lakers are still in a holding pattern while the front office tries to sign the right player, for the right price, for the right amount of time. The Lakers’ options have begun seriously dwindling, coming down to making a run at Dion Waiters.

Waiters, a former client of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka while he was an agent, met with the Lakers Sunday afternoon and has yet to make a formal decision on where he plans to sign. Dion is “inching closer” to making a choice between the Lakers, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Gordon Hayward was one of the dominoes that needed to fall, and with the Boston Celtics landing their star free agent, the ball is back in Waiters’ court.

Miami was in the mix for Hayward, one of the three teams that met with him in hopes of signing the ultra-talented forward. No Hayward means there may be more money and incentive to retain Waiters, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Knicks have also been flying under the free agent radar, and Waiters would definitely bring some much-needed help to their team. Miami doesn’t want to take a step back without Waiters after going .500 and missing the postseason because of the tiebreaker with the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers want to add Waiters as the missing three-point marksman they planned on splurging on this summer.

We’ll see if Pelinka’s ties as a former agent help sway Dion to the purple and gold soon enough.