Brooklyn Nets Free Agency Target: Dion Waiters

The Brooklyn Nets will look to use their $21 million in free cap space to improve the team’s scoring and depth. Is a scorer like Dion Waiters in their future?

With D’Angelo Russell joining the Brooklyn Nets, the team’s question at starting shooting guard has been solved for now. But, the Nets have yet to address their need for a go-to scorer. They will need someone who can take over in late game scenarios when Russell is cold. For that, the team will need Dion Waiters.

The Philadelphia-born guard would be a great pickup for the Nets if they can sign him to a reasonable contract. He’s a scorer with a chip on his shoulder, willing to take command of an offense.

Waiters Island was a dominant force on the Miami Heat last season, averaging 15.8 ppg while shooting 42.4 percent from the field. He displayed a knack for getting to basket, as 34.5 percent of all his field goals came at the rim last season. Waiters shot a career-high 39.5 percent from 3-point range and was very proficient off of pick-and-pop situations and creating his own shot.

Even though Russell and Jeremy Lin both had assist rates over 25 percent, having a player that can create his own shot consistently would take the pressure off of Russell and Lin to constantly facilitate the offense.

As one of the primary ball handlers for the Heat, Waiters had the second-most used player on Miami. His usage percent of 26.3 percent was right behind starting point guard Goran Dragic. He was used more than Chris Paul, Klay Thompson and Kyle Lowry last season.

Signing Waiters could very well make Lin expendable and allow the Nets to explore his trade value. It would also make Sean Kilpatrick a trade asset as well.

But there are some downsides to signing Waiters. There are serious questions as to whether or not he would be content with coming off of the bench. With a starting backcourt in Russell and Lin, Waiters would likely be the first man off of the bench. Waiters proved himself as a starter last season despite being a bench option for most of his career.

Also, Waiters will be an expensive contract. Last season, he was on a $2.9 million contract for a single season. Even though he only played 46 games last season due to injury, Waiters will likely earn a bigger payday.

Next: Nets will not pick up McDaniels' team option

The Nets will have to ask themselves if a contract that would likely be $15 million plus a year is worth it for a player to come off of the bench.