Dwyane Wade Enters Another Offseason Of Uncertainty
Could There Be A Miami Heat — Dwyane Wade Reunion In The Works This Summer?
The Miami Heat without Dwyane Wade as part of the organization? What kind of an alternate universe would that world exist in?
Oh, just 2016–17 NBA basketball.
Yes, July of 2016 marked the end of an era in South Beach. As the 13-year veteran announced that he would be leaving the only team he has ever played for, to return to his hometown via the Chicago Bulls, hoop fans from around the league were left in shock.
How could Flash abandon a franchise he had long been the face of?
Now almost a year later, the explanation to that has become a little clearer.
For one, Wade felt as though he had been disrespected by President Pat Riley. First and foremost, because management didn’t make re-signing Wade their top priority.
Perhaps taking for granted the fact that the guard had stayed in Miami year after year, the front office went to work on getting Hassan Whiteside to stick around. Followed by (unsuccessfully), trying to lure in the likes of Kevin Durant.
However, Wade also vocalized feeling frustrated by Riley reaching out to his agent over him directly, when it came down to negotiating a fair deal.
All petty reasons?
Yes and no.
On the one hand, Wade has certainly established himself as one of the NBA’s top players of all time. And thus, deserves to be treated like the star that he is. At a minimum this should include perks such as having a team’s full attention and receiving a worthy contract.
But on the other, Wade can thank his good friends LeBron James and Chris Bosh for having to take numerous pay cuts over the years. This ultimately led to the organization’s funds being drained well after the fact.
Riley should have secured Wade a new deal before locking in Whiteside and done so before trying to “go after a whale”. Additionally, Riley should have made a better attempt at communicating with Wade personally, and the superstar could have been a little more understanding of management’s position.
Nevertheless what’s done is done.
And, as fate would have it, both the Heat and the Bulls finished the year at 41–41. The resulting effect was Chicago crept into the postseason by virtue of holding a tie-breaker over Miami. All for nothing, as it turns out, falling 4–2 against the Boston Celtics in the first round.
As it tends to do however, history is now attempting to repeat itself. Having signed a two-year, $47 million deal with the Bulls, Wade has a player option on the books for next season. This means he has to decide whether or not he’s going to keep rocking with Chitown in 2017–18.
Upon first thought, the only right answer here would be heck no. After a turbulent year filled with no clear direction from management, terrible coaching and a confusing roster at best, why would Wade want to re-sign with the Bulls? After all, he’s not getting any younger and his days left in this league are dwindling.
But there’s a significant amount of money to consider; about $24 million worth of it, in fact.
Still, for now, Wade claims he’s weighing all the pros and cons.
“There’s so many different variables that come into play, especially for me at this point in my career. Like I said, I have a great luxury. I don’t need to ring-chase, but I can. It’s a great luxury to have if I want to do. Or I can be a part of passing down my knowledge to younger players. It’s either way.”
Well, he won’t be ring-chasing in Chicago. That’s for sure. Not until the entire front office and coaching staff is re-evaluated, anyway.
So what, besides being a mentor, would keep him around? Apparently, what direction management sees the team heading.
“Myself, Gar, Pax, once they get all their information together, in the sense of direction of where they see the organization going, and who they see as a part of it, etcetera… At some point we will sit down and talk, and I’ll see what direction they’re going in, and then we’ll make a decision.”
Good luck with that one.
Unfortunately for the organization, neither general manager Gar Forman nor vice president John Paxson seem to have a clue as to what they’re doing. Having started off last summer wanting to go “younger and more athletic,” they not only signed Wade and Rajon Rondo, but acquired Anthony Morrow during a trade. Three guys who are definitely talented, but not exactly spring chickens. Nevermind that according to Rondo, the front office was trying to tank, having changed their minds when they were on the brink of securing that eight spot in the Eastern Conference.
So where else could Wade land?
How about back in good ol’ Wade County?
After all, he did seem open minded in regards to taking on a reduced role.
“Whatever I decide, I’m going to embrace whatever role I have on a team. That’s sometimes being the second option. Sometimes I’m going to be the first. And sometimes this season, I had to be the third or fourth. It all changes, and you want to be the best at whatever role is presented to you. I’ve always been that way. It won’t change. That will always be me.”
The problem is, Wade doesn’t really fit the Heat’s system anymore. Between Goran Dragic playing phenomenal basketball once he came out from underneath Wade’s shadow, Dion Waiters finally finding the right home for his offense, Tyler Johnson emerging as the star of Miami’s Youth Movement and even Josh Richardson figuring things out towards the end of the year — there isn’t much room for the 35-year-old to even play Sixth Man.
Not to mention Riley has made it clear he has every intention of re-signing both Waiters and James Johnson, each undoubtedly walking away with a decent-sized contract. This doesn’t leave much in the coffers for Wade.
Womp.
Of course, there is the possibility that Wade would want to finish out his career with the Heat, $24 million be damned. Robbins, Illinois may be his hometown but South Beach has served as his home for over a decade. Coming back to the Miami would be a storybook ending to a near-perfect tale.
Plus how touching would a Riley/Wade reunion be? Fences mended and all.
Or, he could really stick it to both fan bases and join LeBron James.
At 6-foot-4, a shooting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers…
Hey, crazier things have happened.
