When Dwyane Wade signed with the Cavaliers before the beginning to the 2017/18 season, he wasn’t expecting his eventual trade back to the Heat. But, he also didn’t think he’d spend any more than one season in Cleveland, primarily because he didn’t think his best friend LeBron James would be in Cleveland for the 2018/19 season either, reports Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
“LeBron, first of all, he’s a guy who always plays his cards close to the vest, but I knew his ultimate goal was to be in Los Angeles,” Wade told Vardon. “He recruited me and he talked to me about signing there (Cleveland), and I said, ‘Listen, I know you might not be there long, you’re gonna be a free agent and there are some things that might happen, and we’ll have a conversation.’ I just thought I’d make it through the season first.”
Per Vardon, part of the reason why Wade knew LeBron was going to leave for the Lakers was because of his own free agency-related history with James, who left Miami for Cleveland in 2014 without telling Wade after Wade had already opted out of his own contract with the Heat. Wade ultimately came to the conclusion that LeBron would leave for L.A. the day after Wade was traded to Miami last season.
“It wasn’t like he came out said ‘Oh, you’re traded, I’m going to the Lakers,’ but like I said I knew where his heart was and what he was thinking big picture.”
Yeah, we all called it a year ago. Go back and look at our posts on this website. Dozens of us said LA LA LA.
But…, I was wrong about Kawhi…, maybe next summer….
What I’m saying is, Wade’s not telling us anything new.
You were slightly more emphatic though.
I think the different is that it’s potentially newsworthy that NBA star Dwayne Wade knew this would happen, which garners more interest than if Gary from the comments section guessed it correctly.
Gary and 128 others from the comments sections of sports blogs/websites.
If you look at LBJ’s career it’s all planned out. 2003-2010 was all about getting Cleveland a ring. 2011-2014 was getting himself rings and playing with his friends and enjoying basketball in Miami. 2015-2018 was about fulfilling a promise to his hometown after he originally didn’t in Cleveland. The next 4 years in LA will be all about LBJ growing his brand in the entertainment industry and helping his kids to reach their highest level in their own basketball careers. After his Laker contract is up if his son is eligible for the draft he will end his career playing with his son.
He’ll finish his career with a 1 year deal in Cleveland. The NBA will find a way to get both LeBron’s in Cleveland for at least on season
When are the Lakers getting rid of Ingram? We should’ve kept J Randle instead!
Yeah, LeBron going to the Lakers just blindsided everyone.
Never understood why nobody recognized Randle’s talent in LA.