6 free agents the Miami Heat can replace Dion Waiters with

Dwyane Wade

We close with the the possibility everyone wants to talk about: Dwyane Wade returning to South Florida.

Wade’s first year with the Chicago Bulls ended with a fracture in his elbow forcing him to miss the last month of the season. And things weren’t exactly peachy when he was playing.

The Bulls were one of the most unstable teams in the league this year, with the 10th-worst offense to boot (per NBA.com). Wade wasn’t totally to blame, but his career-worst 43.4 percent shooting from the floor didn’t help.

The former Heat lifer does deserve some credit, though. His overall numbers are still solid: 18.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.

Some may argue he’s had a better year than Waiters.

(At his healthiest this season, Waiters averaged 19.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists, on 46.3 percent shooting overall and 44.7 from three, over a 22-game span. So they’d be wrong.)

This writer is of the opinion that it’s time Miami lets Wade go. The times we shared with him were unforgettable, the highs, incredible. But he’s not that guy anymore, as painful it is to admit. Waiters is the cheaper option, with much higher upside.

Moreover, the Heat’s recent success is built around starting four three-point shooters around Hassan Whiteside. Wade would make that impossible.

Let’s just face it, it’s his time now.

Next: What will the Heat do about current free agents?

Waiters wants to stay in South Florida (he’s gone out and said as much himself). Additionally, the Heat were No. 2 in net rating over the two month span when he was healthy.

Sometimes it’s best not to overthink things. Re-signing Waiters is the most plausible — and most logical — of any we listed.