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ESPN Staff Writer- Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
- Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
The Lakers are planning to conduct a workout for free-agent guard Dion Waiters in Los Angeles on Monday, league sources told ESPN.
The Lakers had been planning to meet with Waiters to gather an understanding of his preparedness to contribute to a championship contender.
The Lakers waived guard Troy Daniels on Sunday, clearing a roster spot that the organization is in no rush to fill. There is expected to be a significant vetting process with Waiters, whose career took a downturn in the past year with the Miami Heat.
He played only three games this season -- the last on Jan. 28 -- because of suspensions and poor conditioning. Still, Waiters has shown himself to be a talented scorer and playmaker in past seasons with the Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers have been interested in acquiring another scoring playmaker for their second unit.
Waiters was a client of Lakers GM Rob Pelinka in Pelinka's previous incarnation as a player agent, and now he is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who also represents the Lakers' LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
In the case of Daniels, the Lakers worked with his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, to give the team that roster flexibility, and possibly find Daniels another team where he can play a more prominent role for the rest of the season.
"Rob [Pelinka] and Kurt [Rambis] were fantastic in giving Troy optionality based upon all the scenarios that could play out in the coming weeks," Bartelstein told ESPN.
Absolutely one of the hardest decisions of my life. But it was best for ME..! I've been tested in my life before and I have came out the storm on my feet every time. What a pleasure it was to be apart of such a unbelievable organization of the @Lakers pic.twitter.com/FA5ldRiDF1
— Troy Daniels (@troydaniels) March 2, 2020
Sunday is the NBA's deadline for players to be waived and become eligible to be added onto postseason rosters.
Daniels, 28, averaged 4 points in 11 minutes this season.