The Miami Heat need to forget about their free agency pipe dreams and take care of Dwyane Wade
The idea of signing Kevin Durant and Hassan Whiteside was fun. Heck, even electing against Whiteside and bringing in Al Horford was enticing. However, in the end, they were pipe dreams at best.
Pat Riley has a certain aura when it comes to his legend. When even just a meeting with any high profile big name free agent would turn heads of incumbents with concern. Just ask the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.
Just six short years ago, it was the Miami Heat – and Riley – that were stealing the summer show as they inked LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. He got them all.
This summer, he might not get any.
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With the salary cap exploding some $20 million this summer – and then probably the next – optimism was at an all-time high for the Heat. The plan after losing LeBron in 2014 revolved around the summer of 2016.
Well, it’s here.
After all, Riley was still at the helm and is motivated to put together one last championship team – perhaps one that would also take down the one man that made Riley look foolish for the first time in his nearly 50 years of professional basketball experience, LeBron James.
But, that too, appears to be a pipe dream.
Now, reality is setting in. And Dwyane Wade could be ready to move out.
According to ESPN, Wade will entertain outside offers after initial negotiations between the Heat and Wade’s representatives have broken down.
"Dwyane Wade’s initial contract discussions with the Miami Heat have not produced a common ground between the parties, and he is preparing to field outside offers when free agency opens Friday, according to league sources."
With free agency still a couple days away, I’m not sure if that’s true or not. Nevertheless, it does reveal something that has been forgotten in all this free agency nonsense.
The Miami Heat need to take care of Wade.
It’s the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do, especially for what the Heat likes to advertise themselves as.
Miami says they’re all about family, loyalty and winning. How can you run with that motto if they were to let the one man that has been the face of their franchise for the last decade walk?
Short answer: they can’t.
For as fun as a potential meeting with Durant, Horford and others may sound, perhaps it’s time for Miami to take care of the man that got them in this position in the first place.
Without Wade, do they have three NBA Championships?
Do they sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh?
We can’t really say, but I’d trend in the direction of no.
As much as we laughed at and mocked the Lakers for taking care of Kobe Bryant during the last few years of his career, it was the right thing to do. Miami needs to do the same thing with Dwyane Wade.
It’s time to forget about the free agency pipe dreams and pay Wade. If he wants to take less, cool. But if he wants big money, give it to him. With young players like Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson already in the mold, maybe it doesn’t work out as poorly as the big contract did for Kobe and the Lakers.
must read: Predicting Where The Top 30 Free Agents Will Land
Most of all, the Miami Heat won’t have to see Wade don another NBA jersey. If seeing LeBron James winning an NBA Title in Cleveland was tough to watch. Can you imagine Wade celebrating right next to him in a Cavs jersey?