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NBA Rumors: 5 free agency destinations for Dwyane Wade

By John Buhler

Feb 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) dribbles the ball as Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 115-102. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) dribbles the ball as Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 115-102. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 22, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) tries to dribble the ball around Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) tries to dribble the ball around Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

81. . East. Atlantic. Toronto Raptors. 3. player

With All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan hitting free agency this summer, should he leave the Toronto Raptors, one player that general manager Masai Ujiri could target to replace the talented DeRozan is veteran two-guard from the Miami Heat in Dwyane Wade.

Toronto is an emerging basketball market with an already strong roster that should be good in the Eastern Conference for the next several years. However, potentially losing DeRozan in free agency to someone like his hometown Los Angeles Lakers has to mean that Ujiri would need to find a high-end replacement to pair alongside All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry in the Toronto backcourt.

While Toronto can definitely make some noise in the Eastern Conference Playoffs this spring, should they fall short of their lofty goals this upcoming postseason, perhaps the veteran presence of a three-time NBA Champion in Wade could help the Raptors get over the hump in 2016-17 should he sign with Canada’s team in free agency this summer.

It’s unlikely that DeRozan will want to leave a great situation he has now with the Raptors, as the Lakers aren’t going to contend for several more years. However if he does choose to leave Toronto, Wade has to be on the short list of players Ujiri needs to court to fill the void left at shooting guard by DeRozan’s hypothetical departure.

Next: 2. Washington Wizards

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