Dwayne Wade wanted to feel he was needed whenever he went. After the Miami Heat failed to offer him what he wanted in terms of money, Wade began to explore different alternatives. It was clear he wasn’t returning to the franchise that drafted him fourth overall back in 2004.
The Denver Nuggets offered him two years and a deal north of $50 million. The Milwaukee Bucks wanted him, but they didn’t have enough cap space. The Chicago Bulls offered three years. Wade needed to make a decision quick, knowing the offers weren’t going to be available forever. He needed to do what was best for his future.
The result? Wade will team up with Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo to form a Big Three in Chicago. It’s far from a perfect scenario for him, but the veteran shooting guard will certainly have a bigger chance of winning something with the Bulls instead of Denver and Miami. The Nuggets are clearly on a rebuilding mode, and it’s clear Wade didn’t want to be part of that. He isn’t getting any younger.
A case could’ve been made to keep him in Miami, but the roster lacks upside around him. Only Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic are above-average players, and Miami lacks several pieces to pose a threat in the Eastern Conference. The same could be said for Chicago, but the roster looks better overall.
Wade will have Rondo in the backcourt, and the former Boston Celtics star remains one of the best passers in the league. He doesn’t have a lot of offense, but he can facilitate pretty well, and that should be enough. He knows how to run an offense effectively.
Butler, on the other hand, is the star of the franchise, and he’d likely be the go-to guy on offense. Wade would be the second option just like he did in Miami during the Big Three era, but he’s talented enough to takeover the game on every single night. Having two scorers who can be the first option is something not many teams have in the league.
The interior presence will be pretty good, too. Nikola Mirotic can go hard on the paint, but he’s able to stretch the floor effectively and shoot the three if given enough space. Robin Lopez will be the primary rim protector, but he can finish in the pick-and-roll with ease. Wade has excelled as the ball handler in P&R schemes throughout his career. Both should fit nicely on the offensive side of the ball.
As things stand now, Chicago should have a starting five consisting of Rondo, Wade, Butler, Mirotic and Lopez. It might not be enough to upset the Cavaliers at the top of the Eastern Conference. But there’s no doubt the Bulls will be a much-better unit with Wade’s addition.