The Chicago Bulls signed Dwyane Wade to a two-year deal worth $47.5 million to provide veteran leadership to the squad. Instead of providing leadership, Wade has rubbed his teammates the wrong way as some of the Bulls youngsters were said to be fed up with the All-Star. According to Nick Friedell of ESPN, the young players on the Bulls squad really can’t stand Wade. He added that some of his teammates’ dislike for Wade is no secret in Chicago, adding that the youngsters “have had enough.” As a 12-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion, Wade should be a good mentor to his younger teammates, but according to Friedell, he hasn’t garnered respect in the locker room.
With the situation, Friedell said that the parting of ways between Wade and the Bulls is inevitable.
Bulls plan to buy out Wade’s contract
This NBA offseason, Dwyane Wade exercised the $23.8 million player option in his contract to remain with the Bulls. However, according to previous reports, the Bulls plan to buy out Wade’s contract in the coming months. During their slump, last season, Wade and his then-teammate Jimmy Butler both criticized their younger teammates for not playing their best. However, the Bulls bounced back and made it to the playoffs as the eighth seed with a 41-41 record. The Bulls raced to a 2-0 lead over the top seed Boston Celtics but lost in six games. Last season, Wade finished with an average of 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Wade exercised his option before the Bulls traded Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and a first-round pick that was used to select Lauri Markkanen.
Wade expected to join Cavaliers
If he reaches a buyout with the Bulls, Dwyane Wade is expected to join the Cleveland Cavaliers where he will be reunited with former Miami Heat teammate LeBron James.
LeBron recently lost a dependable sidekick after Cleveland traded Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick. Wade, James and Chris Bosh led the Heat to two NBA titles in 2012 and 2013. The San Antonio Spurs could be an option for Wade, who can step up as the starting playmaker in place of the injured Tony Parker.
The Spurs have young Dejounte Murray and Patty Mills as playmakers, but Wade can assume the role if he joins Gregg Popovich’s squad. In 915 career games with the Miami Heat and the Bulls, the 35-year-old Wade averaged 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. The Heat could also be an option for Wade.
