-- Has the Heat blown its chance to re-sign Dwyane Wade? Theconventional thinking long has been given South Florida’s climate, thelack of state taxes and Wade’s sporting dominance in the region, he wasa lock to stay. But who knows now as the Heat has fallen to eighth inthe Eastern Conference, percentage points behind the Bulls, and perhapsin danger of missing the playoffs.
In effect, the Heat may have wasted two years in the prime of Wade’scareer with its effort to reach 2010 free agency without developing anytalent of its own to support Wade. The No. 2 draft pick from 2008,Michael Beasley, still doesn’t finish games. And in emptying itsroster, even if the Heat were to sign a major free agent, say ChrisBosh, they wouldn’t have a mid-level exception and likely would have tofill out its roster with minimum salaried players. Which hardly wouldmake them favorites.
I’ve heard some talk about this, and it was pointed out mostdramatically last week in an intriguing piece written by perspicaciousCavs writer Brian Windhorst in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Of course,there’s been talk the Heat is trying to land LeBron James to team withWade. And Windhorst is close with James and has a book out about him.Still, Windhorst made some interesting points about how the Cavs havetried to improve to accommodate James compared with how the Heatseemingly has cut corners and truly hasn’t committed to Wade.
Last summer, Heat president Pat Riley said he couldn’t make anycommitments to upgrade the roster if Wade didn’t commit to anextension. Wade said he couldn’t. The Cavs made trades to add Shaq fora playoff run aimed at Orlando and Boston and signed a Heat free agent,Jamario Moon. The Heat stayed basically the same and even cut staffsalaries and did some layoffs. Of course, Miami can say it has thechance to attract a free agent and the Cavs cannot as they’ll be overthe cap this summer. But the Cavs are expected to make a major movethis month with Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ expiring deal, and lately have beentrying to acquire players to then move on to Washington for AntawnJamison. So the Cavs are going for the title and the Heat hopes to makethe playoffs. Wade is 28, and many question the length of his careergiven how many injuries he has and how much physical abuse he takes,especially with few other options on his team. And here’s potentiallytwo of his best years of his basketball life effectively gone to wastewhile peers like James, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony talk aboutchampionships. Will he forgive the Heat?
The Windhorst column effectively makes the point to James to stay whereyou are because even with Miami having an owner much wealthier than theCavs owner, look how frugal the Heat is? But turn around and look atthe Bulls. With Derrick Rose, now an All-Star, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng,Taj Gibson and Kirk Hinrich it’s questionable if either the Cavs orHeat now have a player—other than James and Wade, of course—who couldstart for the Bulls. And when the Bulls were winning championships,they did have the biggest payroll in the NBA. The Bulls see the Heatand Wade Saturday for the first time in Chicago, and perhaps Wade willtake a good, hard look again at Chicago and the Bulls.
-Sam Smith
My thoughts,
For the last two years I have wanted Miami to suck. Specifically, sothat Wade would re-consider his future. Yes Miami has great weather andplayers don’t have to play taxes. Oh, and the girls are pretty in theirteeny bikinis, but you can’t tell me that Dwyane isn’t thinking aboutcoming coming home. He’s looking at the standing and sees the ChicagoBulls a place ahead of his Heat. Derrick Rose is now an All Star, andthe Bulls’ seem to have a young talented, and hard working core tobuild around. Add a superstar like Wade, and well, like Lil Flip says,“Game Over.
