Dwyane Wade: Where should he go after LeBron split?

Miami Heat

Now to the Miami Heat. The Heat still have the best to offer for Wade both off and on the court. Wade has played his entire career in Miami. I don’t see him leaving now, especially after LeBron left. Riley and Miami will way overpay to make sure the face of the franchise doesn’t leave. Yes, Bosh will be making more than Wade, but don’t get it twisted: this is Wade’s team. He surrendered control to LeBron a few years back, but Miami is back in Wade’s hands, at least on the court.

Behind the scenes, Riley and Arison are making calls like crazy, trying to draw free agents into the circle of trust. (I imagine Pat Riley a lot like Robert DeNiro’s character from Meet the Parents for some reason.) They’ll need someone good to sign this season if they want to stay playing at a high level and make the playoffs. Riley is, apparently, looking into players like Trevor Ariza and Luol Deng to help fill the MVP-sized void left in the lineup by LeBron. Depending on how much of a pay cut Wade is willing to take, the Heat could have a really good chance at snagging a few second- or third-tier free agent, and that at least makes the Heat a playoff team, if they stay healthy. They’re in the East, so it’s probably not going to be too hard, but you never know! The Heat could be right in the Finals mix next season.

As far as I’m concerned, Wade would be foolish to leave Miami. He SHOULD stay and play for the Heat his entire career. He had everything he could have wanted with LeBron there. Wherever Wade goes, it’s going to be a vastly different experience than the last four years. That also means a lot less of the spotlight and less pressure on an aging veteran with bad knees. If Wade has half of a brain, he’ll ride out his career in Miami and be labeled as the best Heat player of all-time… not named LeBron James, of course.