A: Because he went through finishing school this past season with the Heat. And because teams will have to spend money on someone, with this hardly an overwhelming free-agent class. Look, no one is saying he's going to get max money, and he probably won't even get half-max (which would be around $15 million to start with next season). But he will get enough to create pause when it comes to making the Heat's salary-cap math work. You do, however, raise an interesting point as to whether a half season (because of the injury time missed) will be enough to create the type of market that has been speculated. The compromise could be a two-year deal, with a second year at Waiters' option. That would get him to full Bird Rights with the Heat, when salary-cap space won't be as much of a concern. So perhaps it's something as simple as two years, $20 million, which would allow the Heat to start below $10 million for next season's payroll, and therefore leave wiggle room for the rest of the offseason machinations. Soon enough we'll see whether Waiters' written words resonate when it comes to the Heat and sacrifice.