About two months ago on my FOX Sports blog, I suggested that the Miami Heat should entertain a trade scenario with the Bulls that would send Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion to Chicago. Of course, I was ripped to shreds by many readers for even insinuating such blasphemy.
Now, several news outlets have reported that the Bulls are not only open to trading their No. 1 draft pick to the Heat for Wade, but they have already made the proposal public knowledge (unofficially, of course).
Wade's response to the rumors: "This is a business, anything can happen and we as players have no control over that type of thing".
Hmmmm.
Couple that with the fact that the Heat superstar has already given his stamp of approval to new Bulls skipper Doug Collins, and I say the writing is already on the wall.
Many casual NBA fans can't seem to fathom the Heat trading the guard who many thought would be the cornerstone of Miami's franchise for years to come.
However, not only does the trade make sense to me, but it should help both teams reclaim their respectability and move back into the realm of playoff contenders.
The trade scenario I proposed was as follows:
Chicago gets: Wade, Marion and the Heat's No. 2 pick.
Miami gets: Gordon, Deng, Duhon, Thebolosha, Gooden and Chicago's No. 1 pick.
Don't get it?
Let me explain.
The Bulls are faced with the fact that both Gordon and Deng decided not to sign contract extensions last season, and the team eventually tuned out former coach Scott Skiles.
When Wade and LeBron James signed their extensions two seasons ago, both made it a point to not include the extra year that fellow 2003 draftee Carmelo Anthony signed. This allowed them to be in a position to test the free agent market in five years instead of six.
Most people in the know are already resigned to the fact that in two seasons King James will be joining his pal Jay Z in the new Brooklyn arena (sporting the new Rocawear uniforms no less). So where would Wade be trying to get to? Why, home to Chicago, of course.
Why should the Heat wait for two uneventful seasons to begin shopping Wade and lose leverage in any trade discussions?
Wade is scheduled to be playing for his third coach in four seasons with the Heat, who mortgaged their immediate future with the Shaquille O'Neal trade.
Now that Shaq has bailed out on them, there are no titles in sight, especially with Boston vaulting to the top of the pecking order in the Eastern Conference.
Much like the Pau Gasol trade spurred a flurry of trades by the Lakers' Western Conference rivals, teams in the East must now figure out a way to join the Celtics and Pistons in the hunt for a trip the NBA Finals.
Even if the Heat stood pat, drafted Beasley and re-signed Marion, the rest of their roster doesn't have enough parts to challenge the top dogs in their conference.
if Chicago were to sign Gordon and Deng with the intent of trading them to Miami, both teams would then have enough pieces to crack the upper tier of the Eastern Conference.
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