Wade's Future in Miami
After the Heat were obliterated by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA finals, questions arose about where LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh would reside next season. The Heat appeared in four straight finals, tied for second all time for most consecutive final appearances in the NBA record books. Miami’s record in the finals during the Big three stands equal at 2-2. James ignited a fire of doubts a week ago when he opted out of his contract to test free agency. Wade and Bosh soon followed and opted out of their contracts today. With so much uncertainty surrounding the Miami Heat and D-Wade's future, one question precedes them all; ‘‘What’s going to happen next?’’
The idea of forming the Big Three transpired during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Dreams turned into reality once James’ contract in Cleveland expired, bestowing on him the powers to choose his next NBA home. Wade and James already had a solid relationship; both men were selected in the 2003 NBA draft. During their tenure together in Miami, Wade and James accomplished many things. The Heat reached the NBA Finals an impressive four times. Miami also reached the promise land twice and won two NBA championships. Wade sacrificed much for all of this to be possible. A two headed snake cannot last. Conflict is sure to rise with a pair of future Hall of Famers on the same NBA roster. Wade took a team first mentality and relinquished his role as leader to LeBron. That decision worked out great for the most part, but in the 2014 NBA finals, even LeBron had no answer for the massacre the San Antonio Spurs handed the Heat. The average margin of victory in the five game series was 14.5. That’s simply embarrassing and inexcusable. With the tables turning as they did, Wade now has three options at his disposal:
· Re-sign with the Miami Heat
o Wade, along with the rest of the roster, will have to take a pay cut in order to create cap space. The Heat’s bench had no answer for the depth the Spurs displayed. The potential money saved has the power to pay for more pieces to be added to the roster. This money can also pay Carmelo Anthony, Wade’s draft classmate and a superstar who said he would love to play along side LeBron and is willing to come to Miami.
· Test Free Agency
o Wade has proven he is a champ. He won a championship in 2006 prior to James’ arrival in South Beach. He has also been the staple of the franchise since he was drafted. A desperate team could use his services to possibly spark a championship run.
· Retire
o Wade’s age has shown throughout the year. Experts are unsure exactly how much more his body can take. His knees have given out on him and caused him to miss 28 games this season. His time in the NBA almost over and his play shadow of his former self. He could call it quits and retire. He has done incredible things in this league and will be remembered as one of the greatest shooting guards of all time.
In my opinion, I think Wade should re-sign with the Heat. He has some more basketball in him, and if he is healthy, he can do some damage. Wade will ultimately hurt his legacy if he goes to a different team. A salary cut could give the Heat enough cap space to gather the assets needed for another Larry O’Brien trophy. The Heat had the talent to do it last year, the Spurs were simply on a mission and failure was not an option. If Wade stays in Miami, he can add another ring to his already prestigious collection.
Emmanuel Morgan
