Former Heat legend Dwyane Wade spoke at length with Sopan Deb of The New York Times on the eve of his Hall of Fame induction. The shooting guard was a 13-time All-Star and won three titles while in Miami.
Wade discussed a variety of topics with Deb, including a potential political career, his relationships with fellow Hall of Famers and longtime rivals Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce, watching old game tape of himself in his prime, and why he’s having his hero Allen Iverson induct him.
“I think a lot of people know I wear No. 3, but a lot of people don’t know why I wear No. 3,” Wade said. Iverson’s jersey during his playing career was also No. 3. “And so I just wanted to take this moment as an opportunity that is supposed to be about me, and I wanted to be able to shine light and give flowers to individuals that allow me and help me get here.”
In 1054 career regular season bouts, the 6’4″ superstar out of Marquette had career averages of 22.0 PPG, 5.4 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG and 0.8 BPG.
There’s more out of South Beach:
- Free agent big man Christian Wood is reportedly eyeing the reigning Eastern Conference champs. In a conversation with Trevor Lane of Laker Nation (YouTube video link), The Athletic’s Jovan Buha indicated that Wood is contemplating latching on with the Heat. “Christian Wood, from my understanding, is interested in a potential role in Miami — depending on what players are involved in that [Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard] trade,” Buha said. “If they add [Portland center Jusuf Nurkic] I think that frontcourt is set. If they don’t and get rid of [second-year power forward Nikola Jovic], can Wood come in and outplay [power forward Kevin Love] and [reserve center Thomas Bryant]?”
- In a new mailbag, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel writes that the Heat’s rush of roster moves Friday doesn’t impact their vision for the 15-man standard roster. He cautions that the club may not opt to fill its two open standard spots with any current free agents, at least not prior to a Lillard trade.
- The Heat made several fringe roster moves on Friday, which Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald unpack in a thorough piece. Miami inked forward Jamal Cain to a two-way deal, while signing Caleb Daniels, Alondes Williams, Cole Swider and Justin Champagnie to Exhibit 10 contracts. The duo notes that 13 players are currently signed to standard deals, all three of the Heat’s two-way slots are occupied, and the club now has five players inked to Exhibit 10 agreements.
Heat all in on Dame but no cigar!
Dame will not be traded to the heat much like what happened with the cheap Knicks.
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Come to think of it. Probably not Herro holding up the Dame trade. It’s Heat having to take on Nurkic. I think he helps Bam. Now he can play more 4. I do it …….. please
Jovic and Jaquez are solid prospects. Plus another 2 picks. Herro can be moved. Let’s get this done. Blazers will have solid young talent. Another lottery pick next yr (top 6). This team is on its way to building.
Great point Al. The heat don’t want nurkic. Maybe if he was on expiring but probably has a couple more years left on that deal he signed recently. The guy’s a load, gets dinged up and won’t play, and skill wise he’s just pretty good at everything.
He can score a little, can rebound, can block a couple shots, willing passer. But when you see him you want so much more and the disappointment outweighs his attractiveness.
No one wants Lowery either.