NBA Free Agent Rumors: Not So Fast! Why Dwyane Wade Will Stay With Miami Heat
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Dwyane Wade's pre-game ritual - The Rim Pullup -isn't leaving the triple A anytime soon.
The Bulls Were Played
Friday afternoon there was a report that Dwyane Wade would be meeting with the Chicago Bulls for the second time.
You could have heard my stomach turning over.
That night there was a much scarier “report” thrown into the wild by ESPN, claiming Wade was now leaning towards signing with the Chicago Bulls.
Every Miami Heat fan proceeded to flip out in an uncontrollable rage and scream random obscenities to anyone that would listen, finished off by a projectile vomit of the night’s dinner on the kitchen wall.
In the name of Larry David, somebody get a sponge .
Step back from the ledge, my friend, because everything is gonna be all right.
As each day passes without significant movement from Wade’s camp, Miami’s case strengthens.
As I’ve always said, the Bulls are not getting rid of Deng’s $50 million contract, meaning they can’t sign two max free agents without two sign-and-trades, a very far fetched idea.
That, to me, is the only way Wade even considers going to Chicago because he alone is not going to make the Bulls an instant title favorite.
If Wade can contend in Miami, the only NBA team he has ever known, he will be playing for the Heat next year.
Drama Makes TV Better
If Wade and Chris Bosh were going to the Bulls it would have happened by now.
What would the point of waiting this long be?
Keep in mind Wade and Bosh are filming documentaries over this wild experience. They are going to want as much drama as possible, hence the double Chicago meeting, and the acting put on by Wade and his agent.
Chicago Will Always Be Home
Shaquille O’Neal’s home is in Orlando, and he hasn’t played for the Magic in years.
So what if Wade happens to have his hometown Bulls as one of his main suitors. Chicago will always be home no matter where he plays ball.
These guys are so rich that traveling across the US isn’t as big a deal to them as it is to most.
One private flight and one drink later and you can touch down in a matter of a few hours. Multi-million dollar athletes have more than one home.
He Can Finally Win In Miami, Again
It’s no coincidence that Miami happens to have just two players under contract for next season.
Riley has been moving pieces around for the last three years anticipating the frenzy of NBA Free Agency 2010. He can legitimately wipe the floor clean and build around his franchise player (Wade) and another superstar or two.
When Wade returns, the Heat are going to get somebody. They are not going to get shut out. Not this summer.
My gut says Chris Bosh joins Wade in Miami for two reasons:
1. Miami is one of the few teams that Toronto would be interested in doing a sign and trade with, giving Bosh an extra year worth approximately $30 million.
2. He can play with one of the best players of his era, making Miami a contender regardless of who joins them.
He can join LeBron, but where? Chicago and Cleveland can’t currently afford them both. New Jersey? Ha.
Even if Miami doesn’t get Bosh, they can still get Carlos Boozer—a heck of a player—and still build a strong team around that core.
Wade doesn’t need another elite player to win a ring, just a few pretty good ones.
Shaq wasn't elite when he won his first ring. It was Wade surrounded by a bunch of very good role players and a solid, but aging former superstar.
Money Is King
Most of the big time free agents said that money wasn’t the main factor—that winning a championship was the only goal.
I don’t buy it for one second!
When it comes down to it, basketball is a job for these guys and money is the biggest factor. Would taking four to five million less a year put a damper on any of these guys financially?
Absolutely not, but it would bring down that God-sized ego of theirs.
If James, Bosh, or Wade sign for less than the max, unless it's all three on the same team, I will be shocked.
You really think any one of these guys are going to let Joe Johnson, all $121 million of him, earn more money them?
Dream on. Money matters, don’t let these smooth talkers fool you.
Take a quick breather and enjoy the following Wade tattoo-ing of Anderson Varejao.
Wade Returns
Wade’s custody issue is also what many NBA analysts have been talking about lately.
He currently has full custody of his children. Unless his ex-wife wins back custody (she lives in Illinois and her appeal is in a few weeks), how is this going to affect him? He can take his kids wherever he wants. His wife isn’t likely to win anyway, because from what I’ve read, she hasn’t exactly played the role of model parent.
Then you take into account his divorce settlement and it further strengthens Miami’s case with that extra $30 million he can get.
Today, Wade was seen entering American Airlines Arena in Miami with team owner Mickey Arison. No deal was done, but I think it will happen in the next couple of days.
Heat fans should relax and kick back because Dwyane Wade isn’t done with the city of Miami just yet. I'd be willing to bet a lot that Wade stays put.
If he doesn't, I will shave my great head of hair.
That’s how confident I am in Wade’s return. Just wait, you’ll see.
