If the decision is between a chance to sign Kevin Durant next offseason or keeping Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat should keep Wade.
I get it, this is what Pat Riley does. He’s got a fetish for cap flexibility when a star is available. 2016 offers the possibility of signing Durant aka the LeBron James heir apparent. Just like he so famously went out on a limb to clear the books in a successful heist that netted LeBron and Chris Bosh, Riley is trying to recreate the magic.
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But in 2010, he didn’t sell off any Hall-of-Famers to do it. He didn’t let one of the top 3 shooting guards of all time–and that’s precisely who Wade is–walk, just to have a shot at a shot maker.
D-Wade is, without a doubt, the greatest sports figure the Sunshine State has ever seen. There have been some great ones, but no single person compares to Wade.
What’s that? “It’s a business?”
Sure, but a lot of times–more than we give it credit for–sports isn’t a business. Sports are very different. No one cheers you on as you hit send on that last email of the day. Fans don’t line up to buy a button down shirt with your last name on the back of it.
Emotions and business don’t mix well, and the emotions of sports very often trump the business side of things. When Ray Allen is drifting to the corner and Bosh is fighting for a rebound, no one is thinking about how much money they are making when Allen’s 3 sinks in and saves the Heat’s season.
After winning the NBA Finals, Draymond Green screams “They told me I can’t play in this league” not “I’m gonna get a raise!”
Wade, likewise, would be making an emotional decision if he leaves. It makes business sense to stay in Miami, where they can and probably will offer him the most money. However, if he’s insulted by the offer, he could leave out of spite.
And why wouldn’t he?
If you were Wade, and you busted your ass for more than a decade for an organization with mostly the same bosses the entire time, wouldn’t you be insulted if they said “Nah, we need to make sure we’re prepared for the possibility of signing Durant”? Hell yeah you would be pissed.
As John Matuszak famously says in North Dallas Forty, “Every time I call it a game, you call it a business. And every time I call it a business, you call it a game.”
But let me humor you, Mr. Miser, who still swears that it’s just a business.
Who makes these NBA teams money?
The fans.
If the fans are mad, you won’t be making much money off of them. Just ask the Marlins. You’ve got to give them what they want.
So let’s talk about the best case scenario if Wade leaves. The Heat go through another tough year without their No. 1 playmaker and face of the franchise just a year after losing LeBron. They have enough cap room in 2016 to sign Durant and they do just that. Then they win a championship.
Now, picture Durant–not Wade–hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy … How does that make you feel?
Now, picture Durant–not Wade–hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. He’s got a big grin on his face, finally winning that championship.
How does that make you feel? Don’t you miss Wade? Does it feel as special as 2006, 2012 or 2013?
Now, the Heat have enough with Wade, Bosh, Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside and whatever Justise Winslow turns out to be to be competitive. We will be entertained. We will be heart broken. It’ll be a struggle, and we may not win another championship, but we will enjoy every second of it.
It’s time the Heat stop playing with Wade and give him what he wants, because if the decision is between chasing championships with Wade, or chasing Durant, give me D-Wade every damn day.