A trade involving Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters now appears unlikely to happen. Waiters' relationship with Kyrie Irving is improving and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert wants to keep the 2-guard in Cleveland, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard.
"Hearing relationship improving (between) Kyrie & D Waiters," Broussard tweeted on Monday. "Even more importantly, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert likes/wants to keep Waiters."
Broussard's latest report indicates Waiters' situation in Cleveland is becoming more tenable. Waiters was reportedly shopped around to teams at the end of November because of his "contentious" relationship with his teammates.
Cleveland had contacted the Chicago Bulls about Luol Deng, the Philadelphia 76ers about Evan Turner and the New York Knicks about Iman Shumpert, according to Broussard.
Waiters' rocky relationship with his teammates appeared to stem from friction with Irving.
Waiters reportedly almost came to blows with teammate Tristan Thompson during a players-only meeting on Nov. 13 after Waiters accused Thompson and Irving of playing "buddy ball."
While Waiters never asked to be traded, he did share with team officials his discontent with what he perceived to be a double standard given to Irving.
"Waiters feels that while Irving is allowed to get away with loafing defensively, making turnovers and taking bad shots, he is taken out of games for such things," Broussard wrote on Nov. 27. "Waiters has shared his views with (Cavaliers coach Mike) Brown and (general manager Chris) Grant."
Waiters, the No. 4 pick of the 2012 NBA draft, had a promising rookie campaign but has seen his role seemingly dwindle this season. He's averaging 13.9 points per game, although his field goal percentage has slightly improved.
Cleveland (5-15) visits the Orlando Magic on Friday.
