The Miami Heat have been without shooting guard Dion Waiters for the last nine games of the NBA season after he came down with a left ankle sprain back in mid-December. X-rays came back negative for any fractures, but Waiters had been exploring multiple opinions including offseason ankle surgery after the discomfort did not subside. In recent the days, news surfaced that Waiters could potentially have season-ending ankle surgery immediately.

According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, Waiters has come to a decision and will undergo season-ending ankle surgery.

Waiters had been dealing with discomfort in his ankle for some time now, dating back to a left ankle sprain he suffered back on March 17, 2016 in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the possibility of surgery was ruled out, he did not return for the remaining 13 games of the season, but said he could've played if the Heat advanced into the postseason. Over the summer, Waiters mentioned his ankle again, but this time said that Tylenol would be all he needed before he was ready to go again.

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Waiters has appeared in 30 games for the Heat, averaging 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on just under 40 percent shooting. The six-year guard out of Syracuse was also slated to earn a potential $1.1 million in bonuses this season should he play at least 70 games. Unfortunately, his 30 games and season-ending surgery will disqualify him from receiving that bonus.

The Heat will now continue their chase for a return to the postseason with Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside leading the way offensively while Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson, and sharpshooting Wayne Ellington are all expected to pick up the slack at the guard spots.