Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade's Departure Is Best For Both Parties

It may not make much sense now, especially emotionally, but the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade needed a divorce

Endings are difficult. Especially when we don’t expect them.

That’s exactly what the Miami Heat and its fans are having to deal with at the moment. Somewhat surprisingly – even though the signs leading up to this day grew louder and louder with every passing day since the start of free agency – Dwyane Wade has elected to sign with his “hometown” Chicago Bulls.

In the end, it came down to dollars. Even though it was pretty clear that it was never about that. It was about something that currency couldn’t fix. Respect. Ego. Hierarchy.

Wade didn’t feel that he was being respected enough by the organization when Pat Riley publicly acknowledged that Hassan Whiteside – not Dwyane Wade – was the team’s top priority this summer in free agency.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

Perhaps that was his biggest mistake.

Or maybe it was the fact that Riley was camping out for Kevin Durant – his whale – for the first few days of free agency instead of trying to workout a respectable deal for the face of his franchise.

Either way, it angered Dwyane.

At least, that’s how it’ll be remembered.

Ego won out. Shame.

Riley was not going to cave. Neither was Wade. Who can blame them?

In the end, Wade went to Chicago. He got his money – a two-year, $47 million deal, $7 more million than the Heat’s offer – and is back home. That’ll be the spin by his PR, even though Miami always felt like his home.

No matter how you chop it up, even in the most optimistic of tones, it’s still a sad day for both Wade and Miami

The question that will be asked, many times too, over the course of the next few months will be whether or not it was the “right move” – for the Miami Heat and Wade.

Short answer: Yes.

Wade was nearing the end of his career, while Pat Riley and the Heat were looking to build their next championship team. With Chris Bosh‘s health still uncertain – even though multiple reports have him pushing forward to a comeback – and the team being gutted by this year’s free agent cap explosion – the team lost Luol Deng and Joe Johnson in the first couple days of the free agent frenzy – Wade was kind of stuck in the middle.

He had two options.

First, he could’ve forced the Heat to give him the Kobe Bryant deal, which he was reportedly seeking. Or, he could’ve gotten his big money elsewhere on a team that may or may not be in a better position talent-wise. He chose the latter, with the help of Miami Heat management.

Dwyane Wade now moves on to Chicago, where he’ll team up with Rajon Rondo and Jimmy Butler. For the Miami Heat, they move into rebuild – or retool – mode. With a talented group of young players – in Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson (assuming the Heat can retain him) and Josh Richardson – their first-round draft pick in what is being called one of the strongest drafts in quite a while and the expectation of a ton of cap space next summer, the Heat could have a bright future too.

No matter how you chop it up, even in the most optimistic of tones, it’s still a sad day for both Wade and Miami.

I’m sure both will look back in a few years at what transpired over the last few weeks and wish it ended differently. That won’t change, though. Neither will the memories. Or the three NBA Championships.

must read: Predicting This Year's NBA Rookie Of The Year Award Rankings

Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat needed a divorce. Even an ugly one. It may hurt now – especially for Heat fans – but both parties are in a better position today than they were yesterday.

Home/Miami Heat

Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade’s Departure Is Best For Both Parties

By Michael Saenz | Jul 7, 2016

It may not make much sense now, especially emotionally, but the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade needed a divorce

More from Sir Charles In Charge