Von Wafer

Vakeaton Quamar "Von" Wafer(born July 21, 1985) is an American former professionalbasketballplayer. He playedcollege basketballfor theFlorida State Seminoles.
Wafer has previously played in theNational Basketball Association(NBA) with theLos Angeles Lakers,Los Angeles Clippers,Denver Nuggets,Portland Trail Blazers,Houston Rockets,Boston CelticsandOrlando Magic. He was the 39th overall selection (ninth pick of the second round) in the2005 NBA draftby the Lakers. His nickname is "The Dutch Cookie".
Wafer attended Pineview High School inLisbon, Louisianaduring his freshman, sophomore and junior years of high school. He averaged 32 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists during his junior season. Up to that point, Wafer was a virtual unknown on the national recruiting scene. Tim Loring, the coach of the Arkansas WingsAAUteam, invited Wafer to play for them the summer before his senior year. This allowed Wafer to display his skills on a wider stage, and by the end of the summer, he was considered to be one of the top ten seniors on many recruiting lists. He was also briefly atR.L. Paschal High SchoolandLaurinburg Institutehis senior year before deciding to attend and play at Heritage Christian Academy inCleveland, Texas, where he averaged 26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 blocks per game.
Wafer was the seventhMcDonald's High School All-Americanto play atFlorida State University. During the game, he scored 8 points and finished second toLeBron Jamesin the McDonald's All-American slam-dunk contest.
During his freshman year atFlorida State Universityin the 2003–04 season, Wafer averaged 7.9 points in 17.5 minutes a game with theSeminoles. He ranked third among allACCfreshmen with 43 three-point field goals made and scored in double figures 12 times. As a sophomore during the 2004–05 season, he led the team in scoring (12.5 ppg) and three-point field goals made (65). He made more than one three-point field goal in 14 games and surpassed the 20-point mark on six occasions. Despite some success that year, he was suspended for two games early in the season and benched frequently later. TheTallahassee Democratreported that his family explained the suspensions were because of missed classes and study sessions.
Wafer declared himself as an early-entry candidate for the2005 NBA draftafter his sophomore year at FSU despite many draft experts predicting he would not be drafted. There were several hurdles he had to overcome to become a viable option for an NBA team to select him. Wafer was not invited to the annualChicagopre-draft camp, which provides players who are not viewed as first-round prospects a chance to display their abilities in front of NBA team personnel. During a workout with thePhoenix Suns, Wafer reportedly was frustrated by the physical play fromJan Jagla, and responded by laying an intentional elbow to Jagla's nose, then walked off the court and ended the workout at that point.Los Angeles Lakers scout Irving Thomas, who played two seasons at FSU, saw three Seminoles games during the 2004–05 season and helped arrange a workout for Wafer with the Lakers.Lakers general managerMitch Kupchaksaw enough of Wafer's ability that they used the second of their two second-round picks to select Wafer in the draft.
Wafer was placed on waivers by the Lakers on October 26, 2006. He played in only one pre-season game due to a bruised left heel.Wafer then played for theColorado 14ersof theNBA Development Leagueduring 2006–07, and was named Player of the Month in January 2007.He was signed to a ten-day contract by theLos Angeles Clipperson February 21.He played one minutewithout scoring before being waived a week later.On April 12, 2007, theDenver Nuggetssigned Wafer for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.
On February 21, 2008, the Denver Nuggets traded Wafer to thePortland Trail BlazersforTaurean Green. Wafer changed his number from 22 (which he wore with the Nuggets) to 24, as number 22 had beenretiredby the Trail Blazers to honorClyde Drexler.
Wafer was signed by the Houston Rockets and managed to keep a spot on the team due to his hot shooting in the preseason.  On January 13, 2009, Wafer scored a career-high 23 points on 10–14 shooting in 39 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers.  He found a regular place in the Rockets' starting lineup due to good performance as well as an injury to regular starter Tracy McGrady. He continued to impress by scoring 21 points versus the Jazz and hitting the game-winning three at a game in Boston that the Rockets won 89–85. In that month he averaged 14.3 points per game. After Wafer moved to a team in Greece, the Rockets offered him a contract midway through the next season. He signed the contract, but failed his physical, so he could not join the Rockets.
Wafer joined theGreekEuroleagueclubOlympiacos Piraeusin August 2009, signing a two-year $10 milliongross incomecontract.He was then waived by Olympiacos in December 2009.Wafer shot 36.4% from the field and averaged 3.0 points per game and 1.3 rebounds per game in theGreek A1 Leaguewith Olympiacos.In Euroleague play, he shot 50% from the field and averaged 7.7 points per game, 1.3 rebounds per game, and 1.0 assists per game.
On February 24, 2010, Wafer signed a ten-day contract with theDallas Mavericks.He was not expected to crack the rotation during his tenure and although he was eligible to play six games,Wafer finished his contract with Dallas without playing a single minute.
On July 3, 2010, Wafer signed a free agent deal with theBoston Celtics.On October 29, 2010, he was involved in a locker-room altercation with new teammateDelonte West.
In August 2011, during the2011 NBA lockout, he signed a one-year contract withVanoli-Braga Cremonain Italy.
Wafer was traded to the Magic on December 12, 2011, along withGlen DavisforBrandon Bass.He was waived by the Magic at the end of the 2011–12 season.
Wafer moved to China in 2012, signed a one-year contract with Xinjiang Flying Tigers worth $2 million. He played 34 games for Xinjiang, averaged 26.4 points with a shooting percentage of 55.4%. He also got 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
In October 2013, he signed with theShanghai Sharks, the team owned by his former teammateYao Mingat theRockets.In December 2013, he left the Sharks.
On January 10, 2014, he was acquired by theBakersfield Jamof theNBA Development League.On January 28, 2014, he was waived by the Jam.
On February 3, 2014, he signed withBC Krasny Oktyabrfor the rest of the 2013–2014 season.
On November 26, 2016, Wafer returned to the United States, signing with theDelaware 87ersof theNBA Development League.
On December 14, 2016, Wafer was traded to theWestchester Knicksin exchange forDevondrick Walker.
On August 27, 2017, Wafer returned to China, signing with theJilin Northeast Tigers.