Dwyane Wade would still bring plenty of value to the Miami Heat.
Dwyane Wade may be 36-years-old.
And he may have just finished his fifteenth season in the league.
But the NBA superstar would continue to be extremely valuable to the Miami Heat.
While Wade has yet to commit to re-signing to the Heat for another season (or more), some have started speculating that perhaps the Heat wouldn’t have much use for him anyways.
After all, the organization has obviously entered a new era, relying heavily on the development of young guys like Bam Adebayo, Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow. A movement that the veteran doesn’t exactly fit into.
There’s also a roster logjam taking place.
Between the likes of Wayne Ellington, Tyler Johnson and Dion Waiters, keeping the shooting guard around seems like it would only make matters worse.
And oh yeah, for anyone not keeping up with Miami’s financials, the franchise is currently locked into $127 million worth of salaries for the 2018-19 roster. Which doesn’t bode kindly to striking a plentiful deal with a player like Wade, who already took off for greener pastures once before.
Yet, bringing No.3 back would still be in the team’s best interest.
Although the Heat’s offensive identity has definitely changed since the Big Three fully dissipated, with Goran Dragic running the floor at a high speed and most everyone else following suit, there’s certainly a place left for Wade.
For instance, while Waiters may love himself a buzzer-beater, no one comes more in handy during clutch minutes than the three-time champion.
"“It’s not just about Dwyane shooting the shots at the end — although that is a big part of it,” said head coach Erik Spoelstra. “But it’s his playmaking ability, his experience in those moments. Most importantly, it’s the confidence that he gives everybody. The history of this league has always shown that true star players make other players better, make role players better. But what does that mean? It also means guys feel more confident and feel they can step up and take on the challenge in a different way without having a guy like that.”"
This is especially critical with a team trending on the younger side, whose inexperience can quickly become a downfall.
As for the shooting guard overload, it’s safe to say Wade brings a completely different set of skills to the table. Just like Ellington is known for his 3-stroke and Waiters for his confidence, the Illinois-native has an unparalleled knowledge of the game.
And while he may not see as much time on the court as he once did, that high basketball IQ still very much proves itself beneficial to the team, even during limited minutes. Even just sitting on the bench.
Now when it comes to money, president Pat Riley and company can only do so much. And although a Chinese team reportedly offered up a contract, playing overseas is complicated. It requires moving his entire family. And ultimately takes him away from other lucrative business ventures.
Which leaves retirement as the other option.
Perhaps Wade is ready to hang it up. 15 years in the league is already a feat. But if he still has some fuel left in his tank, if that passion still burns bright, then it seems like being able to return to the game at any cost would be worth it.
Especially since this time, Riley is catering to the star, something that was missing during the summer of 2016.
"“I think it’s best that we give him some more time. I want him back as a player. I want him back as a competitor. I want him back as a guy who wants to have the greatest year he ever had as a player”"
Would the team be okay if Wade calls it a day? Sure.
But the Miami Heat will always be better off with the face of the franchise on their side.