The Miami Heat will not be falling all over themselves to make a feel-good Dwyane Wade reunion story happen.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported on Friday that the Heat are interested in bringing back Wade if he agrees to a bench role and is willing to play for the team’s $4.3 million room exception.
Money will likely not be an issue with Wade looking like a lock to be bought out of the $23.8 million he’s owed by the Chicago Bulls next season, and a sixth man role probably makes the most sense for the soon-to-be 36-year-old at this point. The interest in a return to Miami is also mutual on Wade’s part, and his former Heat teammates would like to see him back as well.
However, signing with, say, the Cleveland Cavaliers would offer Wade a better chance to compete for another title if that’s his priority. The Heat also proved last season that they can be cohesive and somewhat competitive without him.
In any case, Wade, who spent his first 13 seasons with the Heat and brought them three championships and countless memories, would be given nothing short of a hero’s welcome if he returned (even if the unintentional hilarity of Wade backing up Dion Waiters in Miami would be utterly priceless).
