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NBA Rumors: Are the Lakers interested in Dwyane Wade?

By Jonathan Bass

Mar 4, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) dribbles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) dribbles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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It appears that there’s mutual interest between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwyane Wade.

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Would the Los Angeles Lakers actually entertain the idea of signing Dwyane Wade, should he opt out of his contract with the Heat this summer? According to SI’s Chris Mannix, there is mutual interest from both parties.

Even though Mannix considers this a smokescreen, Wade is shaking the right limbs of the money tree. If we assume that this isn’t posturing then it would be a savvy move for the aging superstar.

Wade is already in a sizable market, so it’s difficult to foresee him going anywhere smaller than Miami. With his wife being a Hollywood actress, a relocation to L.A. would allow both Wade and Gabrielle Union to further their personal brands under larger lights (and if this is just “saber rattling,” Wade’s camp is using Union’s career as perfect leverage). Beyond that, if Los Angeles is willing to pay, why not chase the money. This is likely Wade’s final big deal. As for the winning part … well he does already have three rings.

On the Lakers’ side of things, it’s hard to see the team staking a ton of money on another superstar who is past his prime. Fans, and you’d have to believe some folks inside the organization, still have PTSD from the failed Steve Nash experiment. Bringing in Wade, though he plays a different position, screams all the same warning signs: backend of career, injury prone, high mileage, big contract. Toss in memories of Dwight Howard’s brief but turbulent time in L.A. and this has potential to be the third high-profile signing to blow up in the Lakers’ face. GM Mitch Kupchak, despite all of his successes, would likely be staking his job on Wade.

Moreover, it’s tough to see where Wade would fit in with the team. He could handle the point and pair with Kobe Bryant in the backcourt, but that would stifle the growth of promising second-year guard Jordan Clarkson. Would the Lakers put Wade at the two, move Kobe to small forward and play small ball? It’s difficult to see Kobe and Wade co-existing on the court – two guards who like to dominate the ball don’t make for fluid offense. On paper having two of this generation’s best players sounds great, but the execution might be a different story.

Wade’s posturing is likely enough to spark a little fire under the Heat and help push contract negotiations along. It’s also enough to give most Lakers fans a coronary. If nothing else, it’s fun fodder for debate during the offseason.

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