One year ago, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were suiting up in their fourth straight NBA finals appearance in hopes of a possible three-peat, and little did we know this was all possible because of LeBron James.
According to the Miami Herald’s Dan Le Batard:
It was LeBron James, not Wade, who first made real the possible paradigm shift with three superstars playing together in Miami. James broached the subject during free agency in 2010, at a secret meeting he called in Cleveland with Bosh and Wade. To that point, Wade had been relaying to Heat management that there was no way James would go for the idea of playing in Miami
The story was always told that the three superstars came together in the 2008 olympics with the thought of the three players merging to one team, and they make the championship run of a lifetime.
Apparently Wade wasn’t sold at first that it could be done, and rightfully so 2010 was a one of a kind ordeal which we may never see again. Three players in the prime of their careers coming together to chase a title?
Wade was not sold that James would jump ship he like many others probably thought his north east Ohio ties would keep him there or Wade thought James would want to be THE guy or the face of a franchise wherever he went in free agency.
Le Batard also had the juicy details about Wade taking the real pay cut that LeBron James being the shrewd businessman he is refused to accept anything less than a max contract. Dwayne Wade is the guy who took the pay cut to keep Udonis Haslem in a Miami Heat uniform.
More from Le Batard.
It was Wade, not James, who by himself kept Udonis Haslem in Miami. Wade went to James with the idea of taking less money to include Haslem. James refused. The Heat couldn’t figure out a way to make a competitive offer to Haslem within salary-cap constraints until Wade volunteered to take that salary hit alone. It is why Wade was paid millions less than Bosh and James — one of the sacrifices Wade would make on behalf of team that he evidently would now like reimbursed.
Which might be the reason why Wade and Miami are butting heads on his contract situation for next season. Riley convinced Wade to take the pay cut to keep Haslem since James wouldn’t and Wade thought he may be compensated or was told he would be compensated, and now the Heat are thinking otherwise.
If Wade doesn’t take a paycut the Heat may not have the depth that was needed to win a championship even if Haslem’s playing time and role with the team decreased each season in Miami. The fact of it is, LeBron James was the driving force in both scenarios. It was LeBron that wanted the Big 3 and it was LeBron that didn’t want to keep Haslem but Wade instead saw Haslem’s value to the Heat.
Now Wade sits at home as LeBron goes to another NBA Finals and he’s at odds with an organization he made sacrifices for. When he was asked to, by the team or LeBron James, Wade did it. LeBron was the orchestrator for the Heat when it was Wade who was expected to sit back and just do what’s best for the team. To just allow an outsider to come in and command all the respect.
Dwyane Wade’s situation could get ugly and at this point I can see Riley sticking to his guns and hoping Wade opts in to his contract for next season to go after a star player to pair with Wade and Bosh once again.
This just shows you the business side of the NBA can damage even some of the better player and front office relationships between Wade and Riley.
