Dwyane Wade is officially back where he belongs: with the Miami Heat. So naturally, the AllUCanHeat staff have a lot to discuss.
All is right again in the world of NBA basketball, because Dwyane Wade has finally returned to the Miami Heat. Having spent a year with the Chicago Bulls and the start of 2017-18 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the superstar headed home on Thursday, February 8, via a trade.
Wade never wanted to leave South Florida. A member of the Miami Mafia for over a decade, the guard became the face of the franchise almost immediately. He grew to be synonymous with the organization’s identity. A true Heat lifer. But after taking paycuts to allow The Big Three to form and thereafter, he felt he deserved more. And unfortunately, the front office wasn’t in the position to meet his demands. So as it often goes with financial matters, things got ugly, fast.
Resulting in the veteran seeking greener pastures, and management letting him do so.
However, in the end, both sides knew what had to be done. Wade belongs with the Miami Heat. Always has, always will. No amount of money or the possibility of playing alongside a friend will change that.
And now, he’s here to stay, until the day he hangs his jersey up for good. Sending fans into a frenzy, of the very best kind.
It’s true that the majority of Heat Nation hoped their hero would one day come back to them. But no one ever expected it would be so soon. Or that all it would take was a future second round pick.
Including the AllUCanHeat staff, who recently gathered their thoughts on the topic. Read on, to find out more.
What was your reaction when you heard the Miami Heat traded for Dwyane Wade?
Allana Tachauer (@AllanaTachauer): Complete and utter shock. Followed by screaming at the top of my lungs, and tears streaming down my cheeks. Never in a million years did I think we’d end the day calling Wade ours once more. I didn’t think it was possible for my love for president Pat Riley to grow, but here we are.
Lauren Gewirtz (@laurengewirtz): When I heard the Heat were getting Wade back, I was excited for fans and the city of Miami. His return just felt like he went on a long trip and came back. Even in his comments, Wade said his heart was always in Miami, so the trade really just felt right for the Heat.
Chase Eyrich (@Ceyrich): I was thrilled! Unfortunately I was also in class when I heard the news, so I had to contain my emotions. But it just felt right. I didn’t know what the Heat had to give up right away and honestly it didn’t matter. All I could think about is that Wade was back home.
Ivan Mora (@moraivan): I honestly can’t describe it in words. So many emotions. I was at work, refreshing Twitter every second to see what other trades the Cavaliers were going to do, and that’s when I saw the Woj bomb. I literally jumped up and down with excitement, to the point that my coworkers thought something bad had happened. D-Wade is the main reason I’m a Heat fan. I’ve been following him since college and immediately became a Heat fan when he got drafted. I am ecstatic and beyond words that he is now back with Miami to finish his career. How it should be.
Rob Slater (@RobSlater10): In a word: relief. The Wade/Heat divorce was ultimately unnecessary, with both sides making emotional decisions after some tense years following LeBron James’ departure. And Wade’s tenures in Chicago and Cleveland proved pointless when compared to his legacy in Miami. I was also excited to get him back in the locker room with the Heat’s young players like Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow and Bam Adebayo. Richardson and Winslow were hit particularly hard by Wade’s exit, so I expect their play to be raised for the rest of the year with Wade back. All in all, this is what is right for both sides and thankfully it was only two years apart. If Wade can foster the Heat’s youth movement into the future before retiring, he’ll make one final impact on the organization for the better.
How did you feel watching him play on Friday night, against the Milwaukee Bucks?
Tachauer: All I could focus on was that he was back. I didn’t care how well he would do. I didn’t even care if we’d win. It felt amazing to see him standing in the AmericanAirlines Arena, even more so in a Vice jersey. I’d be lying if I said more tears weren’t shed. And that block at the end of the game? My goodness. The perfect way to end the evening.
Gewirtz: Watching Wade play Friday against the Bucks felt complete. After the Heat dropped five straight games, it was great to see him lead the huddle and get the team pumped up before the game. I think his return and the excitement of it all will fuel this team to reach their ceiling in the second half of the season.
Eyrich: I actually was calling a college basketball game and had to miss the beginning of the R3TURN. As soon as my game was over I pulled up league pass on my phone, saw No. 3 on the court and it felt how it should, normal. Just as it should be, seeing Wade back in Miami canceled out how awkward the last 1.5 years have been. I think Wade brings back more than just stats or veteran status, he brings this team’s identity. It could be the push the Heat need at this point in the season.
Mora: It was amazing. When his name was called and he entered the game, just hearing the cheers and the immediate standing ovation for his entrance was something beyond incredible. It felt great seeing him lead the floor and even though he didn’t post a great stat line, his presence was felt as a leader on and off the court. That is something Miami missed and will definitely need moving forward. His block at the end was also amazing. The closer we needed is back and hopefully is a great sign of more wins to come. Miami now has a chance to compete and hopefully, we can still see vintage Wade tear it up from time to time.
Slater: I was expecting it to feel weird, but it felt like nothing had ever changed. Even from the first possession where he nearly hit Hassan Whiteside with a lob, you could sense that the chemistry was already there. As for how he played, it was great to see Wade filling the role of veteran leader and facilitator, as opposed to primary ballhandler and scorer. To me, key plays like the assists and the late block, were far more indicative of where I believe Wade will most help the Heat moving forward. Many likened his current role with the team to the one that Manu Ginobili plays with the San Antonio Spurs. If Wade can continue to give the Heat quality minutes and lead them in crunch time, then his second act in Miami will be incredibly valuable.
Next: Miami Heat's Wayne Ellington: Then, now and what's to come
He’s back baby.