Miami Heat veteran forward Udonis Haslem said he would love to play alongside Dwyane Wade again in South Beach. Haslem told the Palm Beach Post that he would love to have Wade back with the Heat, where they played together for 13 years before the latter signed a two-year deal worth $47 million with the Chicago Bulls last summer. Wade exercised the $23.8 million player option for next season, but the two sides are working on a buyout that will allow the 32-year-old veteran to sign with any other team.
Haslem is hoping that he will choose the Heat.
“I would love to have him back, everybody knows that,” Haslem said, calling Wade a great competitor and a great teammate. “I learned a lot from him, but he's also a friend of mine, I consider him a brother,” said Haslem, who signed a one-year deal worth $2.3 million with the Heat. The Heat have a $4.3 million exception they can use to sign Wade, who led the team to NBA titles in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Heat center Hassan Whiteside also welcomed a possible Wade comeback, saying the veteran would be a great addition to the team.
Young teammates can’t stand Wade?
Nick Friedell of ESPN reported that the Bulls are pursuing a buyout with Wade because some young teammates can’t stand the veteran and are fed up with him.
Friedell said the Bulls signed Wade to provide veteran leadership and positive locker room influence, but he hasn’t given either one. Last season, Wade and then-teammate Jimmy Butler both criticized young players for their lack of desire to give their best during their slump. However, the Bulls still made it to the playoffs as the eighth seed with a 41-41 mark.
They almost pulled the rug from under the No. 1 Boston Celtics as they took a 2-0 lead. However, the Bulls lost point guard Rajon Rondo to injury, allowing the Celtics to take the next four games. Last season, Wade averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. During Draft Day, the Bulls traded Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and rookie Lauri Markkanen, leaving Wade as the only veteran leader in the team.
Wade planning to join Cavaliers?
Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reported that LeBron James is confident that Wade will join the Cavaliers after he receives his buyout from the Bulls. Vardon received word from people close to James that the Cavaliers superstar is confident that Wade will sign with Cleveland in the coming months. Earlier, the Bulls claimed that Wade is part of their plans for next season and assured that he will not be bought out.
