Wade: Will He Stay in Miami

[willie warrior]

After watching the debacle against Boston, I am wondering if he will stay. Obviously the Heat will pay him what he wants, but there are not enough players around him.

There was an article a while ago that said Miami may have as many as 5 to 8 new players next year, and that Riley has enough cap room to go after one of the top free agents ( Bosh, and yes, even LeBron). I guess we will have to wait to see how that pans out, but I am wondering what others think that follow the Pro game. Will Miami be able to get one of the premier free agents (Bosh, James or somebody else) to keep Wade? I do not think that securing Boozer will be enough to keep wade to compete with the elite.

What do others thing of the Heat keeping Wade?

[MU B2002]

The Heat MUST get him some help if they want him to stay.  Their current roster is horrible.  Last night was embarrassing.  The Celtics should double Wade all game giving JO as many free looks as he wants and I bet the Heat would lose by 30...  Oh wait, they already did that.

[Lacrosse218]

I understand Wade has it made in terms of being the #1 sports star in South Florida and South Beach is an awesome place to play, but I think he would be dumb not to get out of there.  He is surrounded by complete garbage and that team has no shot at being competitive in the near future.  They may have the money, but they won't bring in Lebron or Bosh and like you said, Boozer or some other 2nd tier player isn't going to cut it.

I know I am bias, but if I am Wade I get the hell outta there and go somewhere like Chicago (Bulls fans) who has young stars like Rose and Noah.  The Heat franchise is nothing without Wade, get outta there while you can DWade!

[brewcity77]

I'm a Bulls fan, so I'd love to see him come home to Chicago (though third choice after Lebron and Bosh) but honestly, I think he stays in Miami. There's just no incentive for him to leave. Financially, he is in a major market city where he will be paid more than anywhere else, and he has the bonus that Florida does not take out state income taxes.

If he goes to Chicago, he faces the doubly crushing weight of hometown expectations and the shadow of Jordan. He could go to either the Knicks or Nets, but neither has any semblance of players around him. At least in Miami he has a team that is good enough to get the 5 seed already. And with their cap space, he could be an attractive enough player to lure Chris Bosh, which gives them one of the best one-two player punches in the league and also is a player he wouldn't have to defer to, since the guard is always more the face of the franchise than the big man is (unlike if he teamed up with Lebron in New York).

Of the big three free agents, my guess is Wade stays, Bosh leaves, most likely to Miami or Chicago, possibly to the Knicks, and Lebron either stays in Cleveland (if they win) or heads to either New York or Chicago to conquer a bigger market.

As a Bulls fan, I want one of those three, but my gut tells me we're more likely to get Amare or Joe Johnson than any of them.

[4everwarriors]

Depends if Star Jones wants to live elsewhere. Read somewhere that the Pacers will put on a big rush for him so that Wade can be closer to Too Tan Tommy, the dude who made him all that he is today.

[Ready2Fly]

My dream scenario is Bosh and Amare running alongside Wade in Miami.  If they can all subvert their egos and take a million or two less per year, it could happen.  They would make a ton more on the back end on endorsements to make up for it, and they would be annual title contenders for the next 5-7 years.  It would never happen though, but in theory it would be awesome.

[brewcity77]

My dream scenario is Bosh and Amare running alongside Wade in Miami.  If they can all subvert their egos and take a million or two less per year, it could happen.  They would make a ton more on the back end on endorsements to make up for it, and they would be annual title contenders for the next 5-7 years.  It would never happen though, but in theory it would be awesome.

But they are NBA players 

None of the big names will take less than a max deal, and I don't think Miami has that kind of cap space.

[nyg]

He will wait and see who else they sign.  They don't get a Bosh, Boozer or Amare, then I believe he will not return. One of them should go to Miami, but who knows.  The Heat really need a point guard also and maybe they can get that through the draft, but without one of the above three signing with the Heat, he goes elsewhere.

[4everwarriors]

He will wait and see who else they sign.  They don't get a Bosh, Boozer or Amare, then I believe he will not return. One of them should go to Miami, but who knows.  The Heat really need a point guard also and maybe they can get that through the draft, but without one of the above three signing with the Heat, he goes elsewhere.

DJ, Jerel, Acker, or Cubillan are available for cheap.

[Aughnanure]

The most interesting news lately I've heard is that with the new salary cap, if the Heat can trade Beasley and Daequan Cook the Heat could conceivably move into that triple-max possibility. As it happens now the Heat can sign two-max players and one player above the mid-level exception. I don't know why people think Bosh wouldn't come to Miami with Wade (he has said before he would be very interested in it) and I'm not sure too many other teams can sign 2 max players, much less 3.

So the biggest rumor that will probably never happen but has some friction to it is the Heat packaging and trading Beasley and Cook and then signing Lebron, Bosh and Wade (Team USA teammates). Now that would be just ridiculous, and if James can't get his ring this year he might be more willing to share the spotlight in order to ensure he gets one.

If Heat can't sign Bosh or a bunch of other good players, I do agree with everyone else that he should get the hell out of there. Being the only good player on the Heat is just going to wear him down too much and too fast.

[Hards Alumni]

What you guys are missing is that guys love to have the ball.

Lebron and Wade would not work together in the NBA format.

Lebron will not be in Chicago next year.  Bank on it... He is either Cleveland or NY area bound.

Playing under the shadow of Jordan?  seriously?  They guy retired a long time ago already, and I doubt anyone with realistic expectations expects Dwyane Wade to be the next Jordan.  Wade belongs back in the Windy City.  As much as I'd hate it as a Bucks fan.

That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Wade ends up in NYC, LA, CHI, or stays in Miami.  Remember, he has won it all before so now this time it is about getting a max contract with the most potential for 'other' business.

[MUCrew]

What you guys are missing is that guys love to have the ball.

Lebron and Wade would not work together in the NBA format.

Lebron will not be in Chicago next year.  Bank on it... He is either Cleveland or NY area bound.

Playing under the shadow of Jordan?  seriously?  They guy retired a long time ago already, and I doubt anyone with realistic expectations expects Dwyane Wade to be the next Jordan.  Wade belongs back in the Windy City.  As much as I'd hate it as a Bucks fan.

That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Wade ends up in NYC, LA, CHI, or stays in Miami.  Remember, he has won it all before so now this time it is about getting a max contract with the most potential for 'other' business.

Totally agree. +1 on LBJ not going anywhere.  I honestly don't think he'll be going to NY either, though if he does, it's definitely not a basketball move.  That team's a mess. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, big name elite FAs hardly move unless they are traded.  I read that in the past decade, the only players that moved via free agency while in their prime were Shaq and T-Mac.  Not S&T...just pure FA signing. 

[brewcity77]

What you guys are missing is that guys love to have the ball.

Lebron and Wade would not work together in the NBA format.

I agree with that. While the Knicks or Heat could afford both of them, and while the two of them together would make them perennial title favorites, I can't see either of them sucking up their egos to play on the same team. Bosh with one of them, yes, but the two together wouldn't work.

Lebron will not be in Chicago next year.  Bank on it... He is either Cleveland or NY area bound.

I'm guessing you're right about this, but if he does leave Cleveland, it's a better title oppotunity. Rose and Noah are better than anything New York has to offer. I don't think it would happen, but I do think it's possible that him changing his number after this season is to keep the option of Chicago open. Still, they'd probably be a distant 3rd.

Playing under the shadow of Jordan?  seriously?  They guy retired a long time ago already, and I doubt anyone with realistic expectations expects Dwyane Wade to be the next Jordan.  Wade belongs back in the Windy City.  As much as I'd hate it as a Bucks fan.

That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Wade ends up in NYC, LA, CHI, or stays in Miami.  Remember, he has won it all before so now this time it is about getting a max contract with the most potential for 'other' business.

That is probably the most blatant statement of "I'm not a Chicago sports fan" I've ever heard. The shadow of Jordan will extend through all of Derrick Rose's career and beyond. You have to remember, Chicago considers itself to be a major city, yet doesn't have major championships. The Bulls had never won a title before MJ. The Bears have one in the Super Bowl era, and that was 25 years ago. The Cubs and Sox had two of the longest droughts in baseball before the Sox finally got the WS win, which has done nothing to help North Side confidence. The Blackhawks have the longest championship drought in the NHL, and are looking to extend it with their underwhelming play against the Preds.

Chicago is a town that embraces their icons full-bore, and hangs on to Championships long after the dust has settled. Jordan winning 6 in 8 years was the greatest run since those old Celtic teams, and is remembered fondly by anyone over the age of 30, which translates to pretty much everyone that buys tickets. There is a monster statue of Jordan outside the UC. And if a superstar signs with Chicago, the immediate expectation, considering the core of Rose and Noah, will be delivering an NBA title and winning the MVP in the process. Because when it comes to success and winning, the Jordan memories are all we know, and Wade or Lebron would instantly make Chicagoans feel like the glory days were back.

It doesn't matter how unrealistic it is, it would be that way for either of them. Lebron, because he's the best player since Jordan, and because he's already getting into that all-time great category in his mid-20s. Wade, because he'd be the hometown hero coming back to reclaim the legacy that Mike built. If he joined Chicago, anything less than an NBA title in 3 years would be considered a colossal failure. I hate to say it, because it's unfair, but if you know Chicago sports at all, you know it's true.

[MerrittsMustache]

If I had to bet (which I don't), I'd say that LeBron stays in Cleveland and Bosh joins D-Wade in Miami. The Heat could also bring in Ray Allen to help open the floor and seemingly make them a contender in the East. I see the Bulls ending up with Joe Johnson and Carlos Boozer - not the biggest names out there, but two guys who definitely fill needs. I also see Amare and/or Rudy Gay heading to the Knicks because, IMO, they don't seem like guys who are all that concerned with winning championships and would be fine being the face of a big name franchise even if the team is a perennial 7-seed.

[TallTitan34]

If Wade were to go to the Bulls, would his revenue from endorsements increase being in a larger market?

[brewcity77]

MerrritsMustache, I agree about Lebron, Bosh, and D-Wade, but the Bulls can only sign one max guy based on the money they have available. I think it will be probably be Boozer, with Joe Johnson going to New York.

Wade's marketability would be aided by going to Chicago, but I'm not sure if it would overcome Florida not having state income tax. Chicago's media market is about double the size of Miami, but with already having a national profile, I really think only New York and Los Angeles would be a significant enough step up.

[Hards Alumni]

no one goes to games in Miami!

[flash]

I doubt that playing in the "shadow of Michael Jordan" will have any effect on a big time star like Lebron, Wade, or Bosh coming to the Bulls.  If the situation is right and they feel like their best opportunity to win is in Chicago then i think that that is where they will play.  I would bet that one of the three (Wade, Bosh, Lebron) will end up in Chicago next year.  They can afford a max contract and they have a very good team with a solid nucleus of Rose, Noah and Deng.  Their two biggest holes are at shooting guard and power foreward.  I think the most likeley player the bulls will sign is Bosh, followed by Wade, then Lebron.  I think Lebron will most likeley stay in Cleveland.   

[MerrittsMustache]

MerrritsMustache, I agree about Lebron, Bosh, and D-Wade, but the Bulls can only sign one max guy based on the money they have available. I think it will be probably be Boozer, with Joe Johnson going to New York.

Wade's marketability would be aided by going to Chicago, but I'm not sure if it would overcome Florida not having state income tax. Chicago's media market is about double the size of Miami, but with already having a national profile, I really think only New York and Los Angeles would be a significant enough step up.

I was basing that comment on the assumption that Boozer wasn't going to be a "max" guy. Maybe I'm wrong on that.

Whether he's in Chicago, Miami or NYC, Wade's marketability would be best aided by winning. The biggest boost he got was obviously winning a Championship and being the Finals MVP. He became a household name after that. If an athlete gets mentioned in a Jay-Z song and on an NBC sitcom (Parks & Recreation), chances are he doesn't need to move to a bigger market to increase his appeal.

[brewcity77]

I doubt that playing in the "shadow of Michael Jordan" will have any effect on a big time star like Lebron, Wade, or Bosh coming to the Bulls.

Again, I think you guys really underestimate what makes Chicago Chicago. Every sports city has its quirks. In Boston, it was the little big man syndrome, living in the shadow of the Yankees. In Philadelphia, it's abusing your own players and throwing batteries at your opponents. In Los Angeles, it's going to the game just to be seen on TV. And in Chicago, it's trying to relive past glories.

Listen to the Score or ESPN 1000 during football season and note how many times the 1985 Bears come up. For chrissake, not a week goes by when the Bears are struggling that some idiot doesn't call up and seriously suggest that the Bears go and hire Ditka to replace Lovie. A guy who took the Bears to one title 25 years ago is still the toast of the town, despite the fact that him taking the Bears to only one title, considering their talent, was massive underachievement.

Why do you all think Jerry Krause went for Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler? They were the exact opposite of Jordan and Pippen. The twin big men that would never draw those comparisons. Why did Blackhawk fans edge up to the cliff after losing game one? Because Chicago clings to the past, and is extremely wary of putting any faith in any semblance of present or future success. Trust me, just try being a Cubs fan when they are in the playoffs in October. It's like walking down a red carpet to the firing line. Sure, everything looks rosy, but you just know that when you get to the end, someone is putting a bullet in your head.

Chicago clings to the past and has been through so much sports heartache that they balk at the future. So anyone who comes in that remotely resembles Jordan, like Lebron or Wade, will instantly be compared to him and required to replicate his feats. If that person failed to live up to that, natural Chicago fears would lead them to vilify their presumed savior in an attempt to protect themselves from the inevitable letdown.

I've been a fan of Chicago sports for the past 26 years, ever since I was old enough to pick my own teams, and I still struggle to explain it. But believe me, anyone who would actually be in a position to take the Jordan mantle would be very aware of it. Especially someone like Wade, who grew up in the area.

[JMcSteal]

Bosh is coming to Milwaukee

[flash]

Chicago clings to the past and has been through so much sports heartache that they balk at the future. So anyone who comes in that remotely resembles Jordan, like Lebron or Wade, will instantly be compared to him and required to replicate his feats. If that person failed to live up to that, natural Chicago fears would lead them to vilify their presumed savior in an attempt to protect themselves from the inevitable letdown.

I've been a fan of Chicago sports for the past 26 years, ever since I was old enough to pick my own teams, and I still struggle to explain it. But believe me, anyone who would actually be in a position to take the Jordan mantle would be very aware of it. Especially someone like Wade, who grew up in the area.

I think that Chicago fans, such as my self, are smart enough to know that having a player like Michael Jordan on your team is a once in a lifetime thing.  The guy won 6 championships in 8 years!! I honestly don't think that will ever happen again in today's NBA.  So saying that anything less than that for Chicago would be a let down is FLASE. If Wade, or Lebron came to Chi-town and won 1 or 2 championships, I highly doubt that people would be upset because they didn't live up to Jordan's standards.  No player will ever be as dominant as Michael was and I think that Wade or Lebron would be happy to come to the Bulls, even if it meant "playing in Michael Jordan's shadow"

[wadesworld]

Brewcity, consider writing a novel about the life of a Chicago sports fan. Lol.

My predictions are as such:
Wade stays in Miami
Bosh joins Wade
Lebron goes to the...Clippers (probably stays with the Cavs, but it would be fun to see him and Blake Griffin together)
Amare and Johnson to the Knicks
Boozer to the Bulls

2011 Durant to the Bucks. Lol that's my dream. In reality I'm just hoping Bogut can get -and stay - healthy and they can resign Salmons. Draft a PF this year

[wyzgy]

why not wade to chicago-north.  playing on his old court where we saw him grow up      hey is he still married-last i heard, his wife at that time was accusing him of giving her aids or something crazy.  just goes to show ya, you need to wear a helmit when you go to battle and stay away from the dirt roads

[flash]

Brewcity, consider writing a novel about the life of a Chicago sports fan. Lol.

haha +1