The Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, and the OKC Thunder have emerged as the front-runners to acquire Dwyane Wade after the former NBA champ and the Chicago Bulls agreed to a buyout. While one of those teams is likely to win the Wade sweepstakes, other teams, such as the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, also have the chance to acquire the All-Star guard, albeit a slim chance.
‘The Decision’ – D-Wade edition
Dwyane Wade entered his 14th NBA season in an unfamiliar situation but in a familiar neighborhood. Wade agreed to join the Chicago Bulls with hopes of winning an NBA title for his hometown team.
And doing it alongside two other Alphas, Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo seemed like the way to do it. If Wade and company had pulled it off, it would have been the best fairytale ending for Wade's illustrious.
But it wasn’t meant to be. The Chicago Bulls barely made the playoffs, Jimmy Butler was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Rajon Rondo was waived. Now, the once-proud franchise is in full rebuilding mode. Wade joined the Bulls for a chance to make a run at another NBA title not to babysit and mentor budding superstars, this much is clear. No one was surprised when Wade was bought out of his contract.
Basketball pundits are seemingly in agreement that the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, and OKC Thunder are the best fit for Wade.
NBA fans, however, will know soon enough where Dwyane Wade will end up playing. Speaking with the AP, Wade revealed that he wants to make a decision as quickly as possible.
Wade added that his decision is a “pure basketball decision” and will be based on which team fits him best at this point of his career. Meaning that he wants to play for a team where he can contribute.
And if Wade’s statements sounded like he has already made up his mind to play for one out of the four teams mentioned above, it’s because those teams are the right fit for DWade at this point. The Cavaliers and the Spurs, to be more specific, can use Wade’s experience.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are the defending NBA champions, they have a stacked roster, and they have their core back.
The Dubs also added a couple of solid players in the offseason and look primed to make another title run. So why would they be interested in Dwyane Wade?
There are a number of reasons – least among them is to rob their opponents an All-Star that could play 20 or so impactful minutes. Also, the Dubs would give Wade the easiest path to another NBA title, a swan song if there ever was one. On the other hand, the Warriors could use DWade’s experience, his on-court savvy, and his voice in the locker-room. Also, Wade could provide the spark if Golden State falls through one of their shooting slumps.
Imagine a second unit headed by Wade, Nick Young, Omri Caspi, JaVale McGee, and one of the Warriors’ All-Stars.
That second unit lineup could probably hang with the top teams in the NBA.
So why were the Warriors not considered as one of the favorites to acquire Wade? The Dubs have no cap-space. The Warriors used their remaining cap to sign their free-agents and bring back their core group. But then again, the Warriors front office has proven that they are adept in moving key pieces quickly and decisively to pull off a seemingly impossible task. So don’t count the Warriors out!
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are in the same boat as the Warriors, as they also have no cap space. But they have another boat that could be their ace-in-the-hole. Fellow Banana Boat rider Chris Paul is now a Houston Rocket.
While the Rockets tried and subsequently failed to acquire Carmelo Anthony (another Banana Boat rider) via trade, that failure may have been a blessing in disguise which could allow them to sign Dwyane Wade.
Assuming that the Rockets’ front office do the heavy lifting and managed to land Wade, a new super team would launch in the Western Conference with Paul, Wade, and James Harden leading the way. By joining the Rockets, Wade will not only be able to play with one of his best buddies while also having the chance to win an NBA title, but he will also have the opportunity to expand his business enterprise.
Wade, the businessman, could be thinking this: Wade’s brand “Way of Wade” is manufactured by the Chinese company Li Ning.
Li Ning has just become an official partner of the Houston Rockets. The Rockets has in its roster the Chinese superstar Zhou Qi. And everyone knows how big a market China is. So this is going to be a win-win scenario for Wade-the-basketball-player and Wade-the-businessman: a chance at an NBA title and an opportunity to further expand his business.
Bottomline
Dwyane Wade wants to win a championship. Well, not just simply win a title. He wants to be a factor in winning that NBA title. At age 35, Wade is entering the twilight of his career and being the proud champion that he is, he would want to go out with a bang. A few hours from now, his decision will reverberate throughout the basketball community. After all, his decision can transform a very good NBA team to a super team, so naturally, the NBA world is watching.
