Anthony Chiang is the Miami Heat beat writer for the Palm Beach Post, and he has been tracking the possibility of Dwyane Wade returning home to Miami to possibly finish his career back with the Heat. Chiang spoke with Heat superstar and team captain Udonis Haslem and revealed on Twitter than Haslem has doubts that Wade will leave the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18. According to Chiang, Udonis said that Wade "has a decision to make. There's a lot of money out there in Chicago."
The Dwyane Wade decision
There are three things that Dwyane Wade could do with his career at this point.
The first is to go back to the Miami Heat, and that isn't likely to happen until closer to the date that Wade plans to retire. The second option is to chase a ring and sign with a team at a discount that already has stars. However, the most likely option is to remain with the Chicago Bulls because of the money.
When Udonis Haslem said there is a lot of money in Chicago, he isn't kidding. When Wade signed with the Chicago Bulls, he did it to return home, but he also did it for a huge contract. That contract included an option for 2017-18 that was all up to Dwyane Wade to accept or decline. That contract will pay him almost $24 million.
There is little chance that any other team in the NBA will pay Dwyane Wade $24 million after his regression with the Chicago Bulls in 2016-17.
Wade is still a great basketball player, but he averaged only 18.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds a game this past season. Dwyane is no longer a maximum contract player although the Bulls are paying him like one for one more season.
The future of Dwyane Wade
The truth is that Dwyane Wade needs to start looking at his future and realize that he is a different player than he was when he was teaming with LeBron James and Chris Bosh to win championships with the Miami Heat. Wade is no longer the focal point of a team and, even when, and if he opts into his contract with the Chicago Bulls next season, he might be no more than a sixth man for the Bulls.
Udonis Haslem told the Palm Beach Post that the number one goal for the Miami Heat this summer is to keep the team together.
This is a huge change from the last offseason where Pat Riley was looking to throw the season to rebuild practically. Instead, Erik Spoelstra has created a contender out of the parts, and they were a tiebreaker away from the playoffs this year.
Udonis Haslem has a reason to be excited about the Miami Heat's future. Dwyane Wade is in an interesting position with the Chicago Bulls as well. If the Cleveland Cavaliers fall to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, LeBron James could demand changes in Cleveland. If he does that, Chicago could slip right back in but it won't be on Wade's shoulders. He will just play a role player in their rise.
