Wade Cavs bound
Assuming Wade manages to subsume his ego, there’s no question that his presence will be a boon for the Cavaliers. He has proven playmaking skills, and his experience and utter fearlessness in the crunch should serve the wine and gold in good stead. At the
Based on news reaching pro hoops circles, Dwyane Wade is heading to the Cavaliers after clearing waivers. It’s not a surprise given his title aspirations, and with longtime pal LeBron James spreading the welcome mat for him, he looks to rekindle the partnership that brought the Heat two National Basketball Association championships off four straight Finals appearances. Certainly, he will be joining a stacked deck; apart from the four-time Most Valuable Player, he is slated to share locker rooms with such notables as Isaiah Thomas, Kevin Love, and Derrick Rose. How much was Wade angling to forge a reunion with James? Consider that he agreed to give back $8 million of his guaranteed $ 23.8- million salary in order to finalize a buyout with the Bulls. And then there was his decision to spurn the overtures of the Heat (who wanted to make up for the mistake they made in haggling with him while he tested free agency last year), the Thunder (who just nabbed banana-boat buddy Carmelo Anthony from the Knicks), and the Spurs (who boasted of unparalleled pedigree). With the hardware on his mind, he reasonably figured that latching on to the King would offer him the best odds.
To be sure, it’s one thing for Wade to join a talent-laden franchise, and quite another for him to contribute meaningful numbers. Based on advanced metrics, his game has slipped significantly since he headlined the Heat; as serviceable as he appeared to be on offense for the Bulls through the 2016-2017 season, he exposed himself as a major liability on defense. And precisely because the Cavaliers can count on a variety of weapons, he may well wind up on the bench more often than on the court.
Simply put, the value of Wade’s time with the Cavaliers will be determined by his willingness to appreciate his status as a supersub at best. Agreeing to affix his Hancock on a $2.3-million veterans-minimum contract is a necessary first step, especially since the tender (plus luxury taxes) is estimated to bring his effective price up to eight figures. Accepting a vastly reduced role — and exactly what is needed of him — is imperative as well.
Assuming Wade manages to subsume his ego, there’s no question that his presence will be a boon for the Cavaliers. He has proven playmaking skills, and his experience and utter fearlessness in the crunch should serve the wine and gold in good stead. At the very least, it will be interesting to see him try to fit along with other newbies on the roster; like them, he’ll be keeping his feet on the ground while, like
James, reaching for the stars.