Miami Heat suspend Dion Waiters before zero tolerance season

“I let the culture slip.”

With those words — spoken after last season by Miami Heat president Pat Riley — you knew the next season would be different. Riley felt burned after he gave much-criticized lucrative long-term contracts to non-stars in 2016 and 2017 and then those players returned the reward by slacking on their conditioning.

And before it even begins, this season is different.

First, Riley banished James Johnson from training camp not for failing the conditioning test — he passed — but for failing to meet Riley’s special weight requirement.

Now, Dion Waiters, who had weight issues last season but got himself in better shape this offseason, has been told he isn’t “in Heat shape” by Erik Spoelstra (we posted that video), and has been steered toward a bench role as Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro have gotten preseason starts.

And he’s been openly unhappy about it.

So now he’s been suspended for one game.

Heat announce Dion Waiters has been suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team.

Riley: “There were a number of unacceptable incidents this week, culminating with his unprofessional conduct on the bench last night. As a consequence, I feel we had to suspend him.”

— Will Manso (@WillManso) October 20, 2019

Notice the language.

“Number of unacceptable incidents.”

Remember Waiters telling Ira Winderman that he wasn’t cool with coming off the bench, even after he flourished in that role against Charlotte in the third preseason game?

Remember this from Spoelstra about what he wants from Waiters, which Waiters then somewhat contradicted right after?

Good stuff here from Erik Spoelstra on what he wants from @dionwaiters3 pic.twitter.com/104IkwgvQQ

— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) October 5, 2019

Here was Waiters:

Here is @dionwaiters3 on his approach…

“As long as you put something in the bank.” @5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/NRWgMssBu6

— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) October 5, 2019

There was some speculation that Waiters was away from the team for three days this week after Charlotte game because of a disciplinary action, though my sources did confirm an actual personal issue unrelated to his unhappiness.

Even so, it doesn’t seem to be stopping.

Here are some tweets that tell the story:

This is no-bleeping-around season for Riley, Spoelstra and the Heat. They have viewed this as a fresh start and like Riley said, he’s no longer “letting the culture slip.”

Get in or get gone.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 20, 2019

Here’s the problem: how many teams will Waiters definitely start on, right now? So he won’t be happy there either? This is a really good opportunity for a sizable role for a good team that can use his skill set.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 20, 2019

Dwyane Wade willingly came off the bench. Dwyane Wade. For the Miami Heat. His house. His team.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 20, 2019

Instagram always remembers, and this doesn’t appear that it is going away anytime soon. Unless Waiters ends up elsewhere:

Dion Waiters is going AWF on IG, dissing teammates and Erik Spoelstra. Meek Mill definitely gonna take the Dreamchaser chain byke. pic.twitter.com/98J0spfeRD

— Blacktop (@Bballilluminous) October 20, 2019

We know how this goes.

Just ask Hassan Whiteside. In Portland.