Wade makes it official, signs with Cleveland
Dwyane Wade signed a one-year, $2.3 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday to reunite with Lebron James, with whom he went to four NBA Finals and won two championships in Miami.
Wade’s deal was finalized quickly after he cleared waivers, which he had to do after getting a buyout from the Chicago Bulls over the weekend.
“I’m all about the challenge,” Wade told The Associated Press. “If I didn’t want the challenge, I would have stayed in Chicago. But I wanted the challenge of being back on that big stage and playing in those moments and seeing what I’ve got.”
He took a hard look at going back to Miami, listened to sales pitches from Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in Oklahoma City, even considered San Antonio and got a call from Golden State.
But in the end, he wanted to play again with James — someone Wade calls his brother.
Beasley said college athletes should be paid
New Knicks forward Michael Beasley said he’s been paying close attention to the FBI investigation of bribery and fraud in college basketball recruiting, and he didn’t pass when asked about the process being corrupt.
“Man, you guys are just catching on,” Beasley said Wednesday.
The former star forward at Kansas State, was involved in a civil lawsuit against his former agent alleging that his AAU coach funneled money and gifts to him and his family in return for him signing with the agent.
Beasley, who is from Maryland, said there would be no scandals like the one rocking college basketball and put Rick Pitino on administrative leave at Louisville if college athletes were paid.
“The NCAA is making billions.” Beasley said. “Not just off basketball, but off football and soccer.”
Waiters skipped surgery
Former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters revealed Wednesday at Miami Heat training camp that he was offered the option of ankle surgery last March that would have sidelined him for eight to 10 months.
Waiters said he continues to push through discomfort.
“Some days you’re going to feel great, some days it might be just one of them days,” he said after practice at Florida Atlantic University. “You have to push through it and be smart about the whole situation.”