The Chicago Bulls’ season has not gone according to plan. After an offseason with much fanfare (and obvious flaws to just about everyone outside the organization), the Bulls are sitting at only 23-23.
Chicago is just barely holding on to the eighth seed. They are struggling to find consistent success and it appears as though Rajon Rondo, one of their three alphas, will be playing limited minutes for the rest of the year if he is not traded or bought out before that.
What kind of impact will this disappointing season have on the team? Well, for one, it could mean that Dwyane Wade will only be in Chicago for one season.
Asked about whether the Bulls’ success or lack thereof would impact his decision on a player option this summer, Wade had the following to say, via Nick Friedell of ESPN:
“I wouldn’t lie to you and say no,” Wade said. “Of course. I can’t play this game forever. I just turned 35 and I have a number in my head how long I want to play. At the end of the day you want to be in a situation where it’s a competitor situation, whatever the case may be. It’s tough in this league as well because a lot of that also depends on how much money you’re willing to make. It depends on what city you’re willing to be in. So it’s a lot of variables to that, but no question about it, what happens throughout this year, as I go into my summer, I’ll definitely take a look at it. I take my career seriously and where I am and where I want to be. And I will do the same thing this summer.”
Wade went on to say that while he is not actively “ring-chasing,” he is looking for the right situation in which he can be a part of a good team while still making money near the twilight of his career.
This seems like a really honest response from Dwyane Wade. There has been speculation about whether he could join LeBron James in Cleveland but that seems highly unlikely considering Wade wants to earn some money. (He mentioned as much later in Friedell’s story, saying that he is not necessarily willing to give up so much money to chase a ring as he already has three of them.) He has previously spoken about Jimmy Butler’s future in Chicago and how that could impact his own decision, as well.
It will be interesting to see if Wade leaves his hometown team after just one year and where he would be able to go. Despite being older and not as explosive as years past, Wade still has a lot to offer to a team. He will have suitors this summer.
