All U Can Heat
Fansided

Miami Heat 1-on-1: Is it still Dwyane Wade’s team?

By Allana Tachauer

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 09: Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat looks on during NBA Off-season training with Remy Workouts on August 8, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 09: Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat looks on during NBA Off-season training with Remy Workouts on August 8, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 21: Dwyane Wade #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during game against Chicago Bulls on December 21, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 21: Dwyane Wade #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during game against Chicago Bulls on December 21, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Talk a little about how you felt when he left for the Chicago Bulls (and then the Cleveland Cavaliers), and what THE R3TURN meant to you…

Tachauer: Even though I’m from (and still live in) Chicago, I was both absolutely devastated and in total shock when Wade announced he was leaving Miami. It didn’t feel real. I was mad at both him and Riley for not being able to work things out. I was confused as to how Wade possibly saw his career advancing from that point on. It was just a very emotional time for me. I called that he would eventually end up with LeBron James in Cleveland though, so that buyout neither surprised nor upset me. In fact, it was sort of nice seeing them back together again. As for Wade’s return? It was truly unique. I’ll probably never forget how I felt when the trade was announced. Let’s just say you better believe I started crying.

Gewirtz: When he left for the Chicago Bulls, it was difficult because of how much he meant not only to the Heat, but the entire City of Miami. It was more sadness than anger, especially because of all teams he was going to his hometown. Going to the Cleveland Cavaliers was definitely more difficult because I was expecting him to return to Miami after a season or two with the Bulls. Given the place that Cleveland was in at the time — at the top of the Eastern Conference — it just did not feel right to see Wade play there. He was kind of forgotten. When he returned to Miami, it just felt right. I think a lot of people expected him to return to the Heat at some point to finish his career, but I was not expecting it in the middle of the season. It completely changed the dynamic of the team and it just felt like he took a long vacation to return back home.

Home/Heat News