DWYANE WADE ERA WITH MIAMI HEAT HAD ZERO CHOICE BUT TO END NOW

(Disclaimer; yes this is a Miami Hurricanes-themed site—but this story, the subjects being discussed, the championships and history are straight-up 305 and deserve mention here. It’s been dubbed Miami Wade-County for a reason.) 

Once the dust settles and the emotions are back in check, two things will come into focus.

First and foremost, this was the ideal time for the Miami Heat and three-time champion Dwyane Wade to part ways. As that is eventually accepted, the genius and process of Pat Riley will be revalidated and appreciated; a firm reminding that the coaching legend and masterful general manager knows exactly what the fuck he’s doing.

For the average adult-baby who still wears a No. 3 jersey to games and posts rants on message boards—expect knee-jerk reactions about paying Wade “anything he wants” and “rewarding his loyalty”. Those and other typical throwaway sentiments forever spewed by folks who aren’t in a position of power and haven’t achieved next-level success by making gut-wrenching decisions that legends are faced with.

The more-evolved individual will take a step back and realize there’s no room in the business of professional sports for pointless nostalgia or hanging on to the glory years.

Appreciate what was accomplished. Give thanks for the journey. Accept what lies ahead. Don’t overcomplicate things.

The news of Wade heading back home to Chicago and ultimately ending a Hall of Fame career in the house that MJ built. momentarily came off as a gut-punch. Soon after, the realization washed over that it was the best-case scenario for all parties involved—especially Miami.

The NBA is currently a two-team race for the NBA title in 2017—Golden State having the leg-up with the addition of Kevin Durant, while LeBron James and Cleveland look to defend a title. The same could be said for 2018, based on where things go with free agency next summer.

Translation; the Miami Heat would be playing for second-best even in a perfect world. Survive the Eastern Conference and it’s James and the Cavaliers waiting wings. Miraculously negotiate that rugged terrain and it’s a cross-country best-of-seven with the Warriors. MVPs and loaded squads at every turn. Good luck with all that noise.

QUOTING JOE DIRT; “IT’S A BUSINESS, IT AIN’T UNICEF”

“What better place than here, what better time than now?” The chorus of “Guerrilla Radio” by Rage Against The Machine continues coming into focus.

Riley and Heat owner Mickey Arison knew good-and-hell-well what they were doing this off-season; locking down Hassan Whiteside as the ultimate priority, while chasing Durant like everyone else in the league. From there, it’s all about the health of Chris Bosh—who Riley and Miami are obviously looking to unload or force into medical retirement; made clear by shutting down the forward’s season in 2016.

Unfortunately, this is where the business side of sports hurts and while it’s hard to admit, fact is Wade was never a priority this off-season. Every decision being made is in the best interest of the franchise and putting the Heat in position to contend in 2018.

Riley didn’t lowball Wade as a sign of disrespect; it was a clear-cut message that it was in everyones best interest to move on. Miami needs flexibility a year from now; something it wouldn’t have if giving it’s biggest, aging name a max deal for minimum play and an eventual farewell tour.

Any who might disagree, look no further than the end of the regular season and the Kobe Bryant long-winded retirement run as a blueprint for how not to handle a relationship an over-the-hill superstar and one-time franchise cornerstone.

BLACK MAMBA RE-UP SET LAKERS BACK A DECADE

Los Angeles signed Bryant to a two-year extension in November 2013—paying the hobbled, then-35-year old $48.5M for his swan song in the purple and gold.

For those caught up in the emotion and paying attention to the facts, the Lakers went 27-55 the year the extension was signed, 21-61 in year one of the new contract and 17-65 this season as the Bryant era came to a close. Regardless of that lack of success and internal turmoil, in-over-his-head executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss defended the boneheaded decision.

“You give Kobe Bryant $50 million for two years,” Buss told USA TODAY Sports in 2013. “Are you kidding me? What did he bring us? In this day and age, what did he bring us, for 20 years? And if that isn’t what you’re supposed to do, then I have no idea what life is all about.

“You pay the guy. You believe in the guy. If he ends up (staying healthy), that’s fantastic. Well everybody (in the media) cut me up for that, but I’d say over 200 fans have come up to me and said, ‘Thank you so much for letting my kid see Kobe Bryant for two more years.’ And I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m glad I can see him for two more years.’ ”

Welcome to what happens when one chooses short-term pleasure in lieu of making tough decisions that ensure long-term success. As feel-good as that may sound, the play couldn’t have been a worse business move.

This is also why a once-proud Los Angeles franchise is no longer the biggest draw in California. Hell, the Lakers are even playing second-fiddle in their own backyard as the once-lowly Clippers have stolen the show.

But hey, fans and parents are thanking Buss for keeping a broken down legend on the roster a few extra years—at a hefty price tag—so their kids can see a watered-down No. 8; injured and usually holding down the bench.

Buss—proudly and brashly—defended overpaying Bryant an admitted $50M gold watch for 20 years of service. Faulty logic in an emotional moment for someone paid to make tough decisions for a franchise.

While the “Black Mamba” farewell was punctuated with an epic final night at the Staples Center, it didn’t erase the 94-181 run the three years prior to that comeback victory and 60-point closeout.

The Lakers are six years removed from a championship, have a roster full of scrubs, missed the Playoffs three seasons in a row and are banking on a former player and assistant from Golden State to lead them back to the promised land—with virtually zero to sell outside of nostalgia.

Bryant retired with over $680M in career earnings from Los Angeles. Who really needed that extra $48M two years back—Bryant, in the form of a “lifetime achievement” award, or a Lakers’ franchise in need of a full-blown overhaul?

YOU. PLAY. THE. GAME. TO. WIN.

Professional sports is a cutthroat business in the modern era—and Miami severing ties with Wade is nothing more than a line item. That takes nothing away from a stellar career in South Florida, three championships and a decorated career—but in the end, it’s the past. It’s in the rear-view. It’s over. Where to the Heat go from here? How do Riley and Arison rebuild a contender?

It starts with a move like this; low-balling Wade, striking an emotional chord—the immediate feeling of being disrespected setting the tone. By the time Miami upped the offer from $10M-per-year to $20M, No. 3 was already rattled; his representatives reaching out to Denver, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Chicago to see what was available.

In the end, a two-team race—home and second home—despite the Nuggets rolling in the fattest offer. Wade chose home, leaving second home for what will equate to roughly $1M annually, due to no state income tax in Florida. Seems like a pretty big life and career move for pennies when one’s net worth topples the $100M mark.

As the dust settles, it’s clear that Miami made a decision with its head and Wade’s was a mix of heart and ego.

Fans will get caught up in the false narratives being pushed—a direct result of watching the talking heads on four-letter networks or listening to sports talk radio, instead of doing something more productive.

Riley, Arison and the Heat organization didn’t do Wade “wrong”, anymore than the superstar “sacrificed” for the franchise and took less the last two times his contracts were being negotiated. Call it what it is. Wade took less money so the team he played for could land a few big fish, putting him in position to add a few more rings to his collection.

Guess what? It worked. Four straight NBA Finals appearances and two victories made him a three-time champ instead of a one-and-done.

Beyond that, Wade was an integral part of The Big Three; revolutionary and shit-on at the time—but becoming the new norm, as seen with the talent the Cavaliers brought in to surround James, or Durant’s recent departure for Northern California.

Wade played alongside James for years—which upped his personal brand; as did those all those Finals’ appearances and championships. According to Forbes, Wade earned $12M in endorsements last year. Why? Because being a part of a winning franchise immediately makes you a household name. Gatorade. Naked. Nike, before moving on to Li-Ning, where Wade has an equity stake.

Wade taking less money on two occasions years back wasn’t some altruistic move, or was it for the good of the franchise. They were calculated and in the best interest of a star becoming a legend and shooting his brand value through the roof. All those Christmas Day nationally televised showdowns and deep runs in The Playoffs—the direct result of Miami’s success and a Riley-built dynasty.

Athletes have every right to look out for their best interest—but attempting to turn that act into something out of the comic book with some superhero narrative attached—stop it already.

D-Wade was Miami Heat basketball. The face of a franchise and city’s most-beloved sports figure. That title won’t be taken away anytime soon, considering Dan Marino owned it for decades before the torch was passed.  That said, this was the time to put that era to bed—as much as it hurts.

Three years removed from its last championship and nowhere near the hunt for another three, the Miami Heat need to resume their chase for greatness.

Living in the past, getting caught up in nostalgia or prolonging the inevitable—it’s simply not what champions do. Not players and not franchises.

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