Waiters chasing Wade's legacy in Miami: 'I just want to be here'

Along with the pejorative "Waiters Island," one of Dion Waiters' old nicknames is "Kobe Wade" (that's a fact, you can look it up).

Beyond trying to wrap one's head around that sort of combined shot volume, it should then come as no surprise that Waiters - who's found his career renaissance with the Miami Heat this season - is chasing Dwyane Wade, literally and figuratively.

"We've got the same initials, our games are similar," Waiters told the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson. "Difference is, he's got them three rings. He's a Finals MVP. Top three best shooting guards all time. I'm chasing that. He's one of my favorite players, one of the players I idolized my game after. When he's playing against me, I'm checking things he's doing."

As a result, he wants Wade to give him some guidance.

"Hopefully, one of these summers, we can get together and he can teach me some of the tricks of the trade of getting fouled more," Waiters continued. "I am definitely going to reach out to him to see if I can propel my game to a new level. It's always been little brother, big brother from afar. I want to pick his brain."

While Wade decamped Miami for the Chicago Bulls last summer, he'll forever be linked with the Heat as perhaps the greatest player in franchise history. Waiters, who stands to cash in big time by opting out of his contract this summer, wants to stay in South Florida and build his own legacy with the team.

"Whatever it takes, I just want to be here," Waiters said. "I want to get it done as quick as possible. Let's keep this thing rolling by any means. I don't want to go into free agency with a couple days and make a decision. I don't want that. I know where I want to be. Let's just get it done. My mom loves it here ... my son loves it. My family loves it."

Related: Dion Waiters says 'I'd rather go 0-for-30 than 0-for-9'

The long-maligned Syracuse product has been as responsible as anyone for the Heat's near-historic 21-4 run over their last 25 games. A career 41 percent shooter coming into the season, he's hit 47 percent of his shots since Jan. 17 - including a near-46 percent clip from deep.

Based on the new collective bargaining agreement, Waiters will likely be paid in the neighborhood of $15 million per year after playing at a bargain price of $3 million this season. He hopes to make that happen in Miami.

"What we're building here, we have a chance to do something special," he said.