As Expected, Dwyane Wade Goes Running To Lebron
(ESPN) – Twelve-time NBA All-Star guard Dwyane Wade is nearing a commitment to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers and could finalize his decision as soon as Wednesday, league sources told ESPN.
Wade, who agreed to a contract buyout with Chicago, will clear waivers on Wednesday and become an unrestricted free agent. Wade has been intrigued by the idea of rejoining LeBron James on the Cavaliers. Wade and James are longtime friends, and were teammates on two NBA championship teams with the Miami Heat.
Wade, 35, is eligible to sign a one-year, $2.3 million veterans minimum contract with the Cavaliers.
Is there any person who pays attention to the NBA that is even remotely surprised? As soon as word got out that Wade and the Bulls were reaching a buyout, everybody with a brain knew he was going to go back to Lebron. I mean look at this type of shit Lebron was putting on Instagram just two weeks ago
The banana boat connection is real, and if you don’t think this pairing was the same exact thing as the Miami pairing where Wade and Lebron had this all worked out for months, you’re a fool. Think about this for a second. Wade had $23M salary in Chicago. Instead, he took an $8M buyout and $2.3M vet minimum to go join CLE. That’s a $13M pay cut. Wade knows he’s 35 right? Probably no more paydays on the horizon, so if you don’t think Lebron cut him a check to cover the difference you aren’t paying attention. When Lebron wants something, he gets it. Especially when it comes to his roster. Demand they resign JR and Tristan Thompson and boom that’s what happened. Demand they bring him in playmakers and boom they get Korver and Deron Williams (OK that didn’t work out), but the point remains.
Now, will this actually help? I’m sure Cavs fans are reaching saying they only need Wade for crunch time, maybe give them 15 points a night. Ignore the fact that Father Time is clearly on his doorstep, and ignore how poor on both ends he was LAST YEAR in the playoffs, because he is joining the Cavs we are to believe he is no longer washed? No thanks. Think of crunch time against GS, who exactly is Wade guarding? Klay Thompson? And Cavs fans think that will go well?
Not to mention, CLE backcourt is going to be crowded as hell once Isaiah gets back. Rose, Isaiah, Calderon, Wade, Shumpert, Korver etc. With the roster now at 20 players, the Cavs need to CUT a guaranteed deal in order to bring Wade in. This whole thing is so confusing because I’m not sure how this brings them closer to beating GS. The Cavs problem last year wasn’t offense, it was defense. They just brought in a 35 year old who is not interested (or maybe not capable) of playing defense.
Say what you want about that Bulls team, but that was a crucial Game 5 after blowing the previous two at home. Bad job, bad effort.
We also got to see a little bit of the heirarchy of that banana boat crew. I’m sure you saw Melo talk about how Wade should go to OKC as if he stood a chance. That was cute. It is kinda fucked up that instead of bringing in players that will make them better and close the gap with GS, Lebron is instead bringing in his friends for one final season before he leaves this franchise for the second time. What an asshole.