The Countdown to Wade
By: Pedro Heizer
The countdown is on… We are basically a month away from the biggest free agent extravaganza in the history of the NBA. Miami has already started its We Want Wade campaign with an interactive website, fan kits, and posters all over Dade County. And here’s the catch, not many other teams are doing such a thing. They are doing it for LeBron James but not Wade.
Wade is being overlooked in this free agency because most, if not all, teams are looking to splash the big fish in LeBron, and if they can’t get Lebron, the will go for the second best in Dwyane. Well, I’m here to tell you, Dwyane is not second best to LeBron. Wade should be getting as much of publicity as “king” James is. People tend to forget that just because Wade doesn’t have the numbers; it doesn’t mean he’s not better than James. Sure, James has two MVP awards (Personal Awards), but who has the championship, the ring, and the finals MVP?
Wade is not only in the same level as LeBron James, but one day will surpass him. LeBron has his arrogance and pride that work against him. Those are two things Wade doesn’t publicly show in his emotions. Wade doesn’t give up on his team when they are losing, he does something only the greats do, and he brings his team back up from the ashes of defeat and turns the game around. Anyone remember Game 3 of the NBA Finals? What an amazing comeback by Dwyane Wade that was capitalized by a Gary Payton jumper.
Tell me, when it was that LeBron led such a great comeback in the playoffs or Finals? Don’t worry, I’ll wait.
Dwyane Wade is team oriented and cares about winning that’s it. He doesn’t care about personal achievements as much as he cares about winning. Wade would be better off with a Stoudamire/Bosh combination rather than a Lebron/Wade combo. The reason for this is simple, even if Lebron decided to sign with the HEAT; they would still need more pieces to the puzzle. This team has some serious holes to fill. We need to upgrade the PG position we need a good low post scorer, we need rebounders and shooters. What would happen if we get LeBron James? Miami would have 2 of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game, but at what cost? If you seriously think a LeBron/Wade duo will win a title alone, you are sadly mistaken and naïve.
Miami needs Stoudamire and Bosh to bring a championship at the very least. We would have an inside presence that we have been lacking since the days Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal patrolled the court. Both Bosh and Stoudamire have a great inside presence. Have you been watching the NBA playoffs?
In all, at the very least, the dream of a LeBron/Wade duo in Miami should not happen and I’ll be the first one to go against it. Having LeBron James playing Dwyane Wade is the real treat, not having them play together.
