Close your eyes, Mavs fans.
Think of all the different players you’ve absolutely despised over the years of your fandom… Who’s the one who still makes your blood boil?
Lamar Odom? Come on, it might be best for MFFL’s to cut Lam-Lam some slack after how the last few years of his life have gone.
Rajon Rondo? Okay, he essentially quit on Dallas in the 2015 playoffs but he was trying hard during the regular season. It just wasn’t a good fit.
DeAndre Jordan? At the end of the day, he never put pen to paper on his deal with the Mavs and we had a lot of fun watching Zaza Pachulia hustle all season anyway.
The correct answer is Dwyane Wade. The future Hall of Famer is the catalyst and face of the most painful memory in Dallas Mavericks history: the 2006 NBA Finals. After the Mavs went up 2-0 in the series, the Heat won four straight games behind Wade’s Finals MVP performance to end Dallas’ hopes of its first title in franchise history.
Fast forward to 2011 when the two franchises met in the NBA Finals for a second time with the added zest of Miami having LeBron James and Chris Bosh along with Wade. Before game five of the series, with the series tied at 2, Wade and James played to a couple cameramen and mocked Dirk Nowitzki’s illness he faced during game 4.
What a jerk, right?
What if that jerk wore a Mavs uniform next season?
According to reports from ESPN on Wednesday, Wade’s negotiations on a new contract with the Heat have stalled and his representatives have reached out to several teams, including the Mavs and San Antonio Spurs, to let them know that Wade will be available for meetings and fielding offers when free agency opens at midnight Eastern time Thursday night.
This is the second consecutive offseason where the Heat legend has had trouble securing a long-term deal with the only team he’s ever played for since being drafted fifth overall in the legendary 2003 NBA Draft. The Heat were uncomfortable committing to Wade both because of his health and because of their desire to stay flexible with the NBA’s growing salary cap. The two sides agreed on a one year, $20 million deal.
The Marquette alum had a strong season, averaging 19 points, and played his most games in a single season (74) since the 2010-2011 campaign. With his health seemingly in a better place, the 34 year-old Wade is again out to find one last mega payday before it’s time to retire.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported later Wednesday that his sources indicated that this was merely a move to create leverage in negotiations with the stingy Heat.
That being said, it’d likely be a price too steep to really pry Wade away from the Heat. If he’s not happy with the Heat trying to pay him less than he wants, why would he take that from the Mavs? Surely Dallas wouldn’t offer this 34 year-old the max, right? Right?!?
However unlikely this probably is, it’s possibly the sexiest storyline in Mavericks history. Maybe even DFW sports history. The biggest villain in this franchise’s 36 year history joins forces with its most beloved hero, Dirk Nowitzki, to try and return an organization stuck in mediocrity to glory again before they both close the book on their legendary careers.
Mavs fans can hate Dwyane Wade all they want, but he’d be a great addition to this team that is desperate for talent and a clear direction.
What do you feel about the possible move?
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