Jasmine Casimir // Contributing Writer
Dwyane Wade, a 12-time All-Star and the face of the Miami Heat franchise, made his decision on July 6 to sign a two-year, $47.5 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, roughly $7 million more than the Heat could offer. It was a complete nightmare for Heat fans, but nonetheless a reality check for the Miami Heat.
“Although I am upset about Wade leaving the Heat, all great empires come to an end eventually,” FIU Junior Darryl Singleton said. “It’s been real.”
Wade was originally offered a two-year, $40 million deal from the Heat, but that wasn’t enough for him. He was seeking a $50 million deal over two years, and the only team able to offer that were the Denver Nuggets, with a two-year, $52 million deal. However, the Bulls, who did not get to meet with Wade due to a missed flight to New York, were able to convince Wade to come back home to Chicago.
In the event Wade agreed to their offer, the Bulls traded Jose Calderon to the Los Angeles Lakers and Mike Dunleavy to the Cleveland Cavaliers to make additional cap space to pay him. The new deal will make him, for the first time in Wade’s career, the highest paid player on the team.
Wade expressed how he felt making the choice to not sign with the Heat on the morning talk show, “Live with Kelly.”
Wade said: “It’s still surreal and I’m still numb. I mean, I’ve been in Miami for 13 years. I mean, 13 incredible years. And you get a week to decide, you know, what you’re going to do.”
Many would call this a messy breakup considering the fact that Wade deserved more than he was offered from the Heat, especially since he has dedicated 13 seasons and has brought three championships to the franchise. Wade has sacrificed financially for the Heat time and time again, often taking pay cuts just to accommodate other players.
Perfect example is in 2010; Wade took a cut so the Heat could sign Chris Bosh and former Miami Heat player Lebron James. In 2014, Wade took his second pay cut of his career to help free up money for Bosh and former Heat player Luol Deng. After signing that deal, he took to Twitter to explain his decision to stay: “Home is where the heart is. My home, my city, my house. #HeatLifer.”
Sports is also about business, and when business is involved, no one is guaranteed a stay on a team for their entire career. Wade did what was best for him and that meant parting ways with “Wade County.”
FIU senior Naika Mathieu said: “It’s pretty sad because it’s like a long time friend is moving away. But at the same time, you can’t be mad at him because he deserves it. We’re going to miss him but I’ll always be a Wade fan.”
Photo by Matthew K., retrieved via Flickr.
Great reporting Jas. He will be sorely missed, but this is a business.