Article was written by Ricky Hester
After spending 13 years with the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade has informed the Bulls that he has chosen to sign with them. The deal is not official yet and won’t be until Wade puts the pen to paper. However, the Bulls are clearing cap space by looking to trade Jose Calderon to the Lakers and Mike Dunleavy to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
There is a two-year, $40 million offer on the table with the Miami Heat, and Wade has publicly shot that down by saying he will sign with the Bulls. Wade is reported to receive a two-year, $47 million deal, and feels he deserves that money from the Miami Heat after winning three NBA Championships over his 13 year career while playing there. Over the last two days, Wade has felt disrespected that the Heat chose to prioritize Durant and Whiteside over him.
The highest offer was the Denver Nuggets at two-years, $52 million, but with today’s announcement, it seems the Bulls have home field advantage. If Wade does decide to bolt for Chicago, it will be the end of a historic era for the Heat. He led the Heat in all-time points, steals and assists.
With the health of Chris Bosh declining, missing the large part of the last two years, this could also be the end of the famed Big Three. Things look so much different in Miami after only six short years with most of the Three intact.
After failing to land Durant and with Wade leaving, Whiteside is the new face of the Heat, the team has to build around him now to achieve any kind of success.
Wade is going back home and a person has to wonder if LeBron James leaving two years ago for his hometown team has anything to do with Wade’s decision Wednesday night.
No one knows but Wade, the only thing a person can do now is watch this story unfold day by day. Wade said “ this was an extremely emotional and tough decision to leave Miami and head home to Chicago.”
The city of Chicago has not seen a Championship since the days of “His Airness” Michael Jordan. Can the hometown kid bring a championship back to the Windy City?