Wade's call from Beijing--discusses Team USA and outlook on upcoming Heat season

Dwyane Wade spoke with South Florida reporters via conference call late Wednesday night and the full transcript is below, but first a few highlights and observations.

• He believes that if this team wins gold and continues dominating it could be worth mentioning in the same breath as the Dream Team.
• He said winning a gold medal would probably feel more special than winning the NBA title, only because he said he has never experienced anything like the tribulations of the last two years. You can tell just be listening to Dwyane's voice that he is having a ton of fun and this experience has re-energized him. Two games left--Friday's game against Argentina and with a win a matchup with either Spain or Lithuania for the gold medal.
• Yes, he has been paying attention to all the gushing over his play--just as he took note of all the negative things people said as he has been hampered by injures--but he is still angry. That's a good thing for the Heat because when he feels like he has a point to prove he seems to be at his best.
• He is excited about rookie Mario Chalmers, and the way he talked about the Kansas product made you think Wade sees him as the team's point guard of the future, and even present. The way referred to him he made it sound like Chalmers would be the starter.

There's lots of good stuff from Wade...

*(On whether Team USA expected to be this dominant): "We expected to be playing well, we expected to defensively be probably one of the best defensive teams that Team USA has seen. You never know how it is going to come out, because these teams are very good over here. I can't say we expected it, but can't say we didn't expect it either."

*(On whether making it to the medal round has seemed like a long time coming since Athens Games and 2006 World Championships): "It's been a long time. It seems like all the hard work we've put in over last three summers have all been for this. All the games we played this summer have been for this moment--these two games right here. We all got we wanted, and the four teams left are the four best teams in the tournament. We've got to go through all the tough teams to do it, so it's good."

*(A lot made about this team being more dedicated, is that the case or is this team just more talented): "Of course the team is way more talented. This is one of the best teams you can put together in the world. It's a very deep team. Not only do we have the best starting five, but we have the best bench. The main is we know if we play the way we can defensively, everything else will take care of itself--free throws and making threes.

*(Dough Collins kidded you about your defense and this will make you have to be a year-round defender with the Heat. How much will this translate to the NBA and how important is it to you show people yeah I can do this): "I told him for one thing, I play only 17 minutes. With the Heat I play 40 (minutes), two totally different things. Being healthy I'm a very good defender. My job with the heat is totally different...It's about being smart and getting the right guys on your team that can help. I wouldn't be a good defender on this team if I didn't have anybody to come in. I can go hard for 15-17 minutes and know that Kobe (Bryant) is going to come in, Deron Williams is going to come in and those guys are going to keep the pressure up."

*(If you pull this off and be as convincing as you all have been, comparisons to '92 Dream Team are going to be inevitable. What do you think of those comparisons, and what are your memories of that team): "It was phenomenal. When I was a kid I just remember I had all of my favorite players on one team. To see them go out there and way they played together, it looked like they didn't have any egos, it looked like they just had fun playing the game. They were of course very dominant. It was amazing. For this team if we keep our dominance up and win the gold the way we can I think it will be special for us because the world has caught up, the game of basketball is a lot better internationally than it was in 92. I think we'll take a sense of pride from that but that team is the Dream Team. There will never be another Dream Team. This team is special as well, I think we said a couple years ago we can be in the same breath as those guys if we do what we're supposed to do."

*(On how winning a gold medal would compare to winning the NBA title): "I have never won a gold before so it's going to be very special. Winning the NBA title was unbelievable, something I always dreamed of, but this gold is going to be something beyond my dreams. I think from losing in '04 and 06 and all of the things we've been through is going to make this even that much more special. I'm going to enjoy it more especially because now I've been through the trials and tribulations as an adult, as an athlete. That's going to make me enjoy it more and appreciate it more. When I won a championship, I didn't have anything in adulthood that was like I've had over the last two years."

(The coolest thing you've done away from the court and athlete you've most enjoyed meeting): "The swimmers really have been the people we've been going to their meets and and talking to. The first night we came here we went to the village and were in the swimmers' part. We all took pictures and talked to them, the boxers as well. Of course Mike Phelps, he's a guy when we went there we all knew him. I knew him from the ESPYS and Carmelo (Anthony) knew him from Baltimore. We all know him from diff places, he came in the lockerroom after (Monday's game). That guy is young but is writing the history books as one of the best athletes of all-time. Also I got an opportunity to go to the Great Wall. I think it's something I'll always remember, something I can always tell kids when I go talk and speak to them about my experiences in life and where I've been. It's one of the seven wonders of the world, and one of the seven to dos and I did one of them, so I feel good about it."

*(On whether playing in the Olympics has been fatiguing, and does it leave you enough time to come back to training camp fresh): I'm only playing 17 minutes a game. Even though I'm playing hard and of course you get tired, I'm fine. I talked to coach (Erik Spoelstra) yesterday about it, and I just found out camp starts early this year! I am going to come into camp smart and not kill myself on the first day trying to prove anything. I'm going to continue to build my body, continue to build the strength back up, of course be there with my guys. We're going to get this going. We have some young guys on the team that need to have leadership in front of them. I'm looking forward to it but at the same time being smart and not killing myself and have my body break down at the end of September."

*(On whether his getting a grasp of optimism from people in Miami and around the NBA about his play, and his initial reaction to that): "Of course I've heard all the things that people have said about me just like last year i heard all the negative things. I try to look at it as I'm angry. That's not going to change. I'm glad people are seeing that me being healthy, I'm still one of the top players in the game, Last year I wasn't healthy and maybe I wasn't one of the top players in the game and my team didn't win as well. Being healthy is very key. I hope the Miami fans are excited about it because I worked my tail off. We want everyone to support us like they have. We don't win without them. I hope the fans are getting excited in Miami about the opportunity to see a young team like my rookie year where guys played hard and we did things we probably shouldn't have done that season."

*(Whether he has thought about how to transfer positive energy etc to the Heat): I think they're all pumped. I talked to coach Spo, I talked to coach Riles. Of course I talk to teammates all the time. I talked to (rookie Michael) Beasley for a while the other night and he was pumped. He was on his way to work out, it was night here and I was on my way to work out. Everyone is excited and focused, knowing of course there are still question marks about our team and we have a rookie point guard and we haven't found a five-man but we're going to let coach Riley do his job. I think everyone is excited to play the underdog role again. With Shawn Marion and Beasley, myself and Udonis (Haslem) and hopefully (Dorell) Wright comes back stronger that we can do some things. I really believe in our point guard Mario Chalmers. I think he can be great for us, and surprise a lot of people."

*(On whether Riley will make a move before camp): Of course I do. I want to have our team be as good as can and be as stacked as we can. One thing i found out being in a lockerroom with 11 other Olympians, they feel their team can make a move. I told them yesterday, ya'll are being selfish. You've got teams like the Lakers and Kobe and they were in the championship and they feel they can make moves. Everybody wishes they could make a power move. It's no secret, I think coach (Riley) has been working his tail off. I've been staying informed with everything."

-Sarah

 

Comments

[heatstroked]

Props to SR for more good (exclusive) stuff.

Also good to hear Wade tell it straight, not try to dance around the obvious, i.e, "[W]e haven't found a five-man but we're going to let coach Riley do his job..."

Is Magloire already done at 30? How are his wheels? Where's his head?

An interested, rededicated Magloire would certainly help.

A disinterested, indifferent Magloire might as well miss his next flight.

And the next.

[heatstroked]

Otherwise, parlez vous Farsi?

Iran's Yao killer Hamed Ehadadi was recently cleared to negotiate with NBA teams. [ http://tinyurl.com/5tt698 ]

Raw, yes.

Gangly, yes.

Untested, yes.

But he didn't shrink at this summer's Rocky Mountain Revue [ http://tinyurl.com/6qb66v ] and still did his thing as Iran's essentially 1-man Olympic team.

[Magic_Marc]

I've said before that D Wade was one of the best in the league. He got hurt last year and suddenly everyone is yelling Kobe. But during the Heats championship run, Wade handlded Kobe in every match up. When healthy, I wouldn't take anyone over him. Beasley is going to be a beast as well.

This team is primed to get to the second round of the playoffs and who else know what can happen.

[Dom]

It feels good to hear D-Wade speak well on Chalmers and Beasley. I hope we can get Magloire for the vet's minimum 2 yrs. I can't wait to get the Olympics over with so we can get the season started. If Magloire's got at least half as much as Shaq got left in the tank, he'll still better than any center on the the current roster excluding Zo. If we sign him he'll be a servicable defensive minded, rebounding 5 we so desperately needs. If Zo return's we'll have a decent C by committee. With trade option's still in the progress.Magloire,Anthony,Mourning and the other guy........... Blount...aaahhhhh!!!!
GO HEAT!!!!!

[alexis]

I honestly think being with the players at the Olympics has fueled D-Wade and he will be making a run at the league MVP. Im glad to see him getting along with Kobe. Im sure they both have alot of crap to talk about Shaq! Fat ass!

[heatstroked]

So the Heat are still taking personnel cues from Ira freaking Winderman? Following the long and undistinguished path of Laker rejects (Smush, Slaughter, Richardson etc) recommended by Laker reject Chet Kammerer?

MBENGA? The same MBENGA the Lakers decided not to keep after losing Ronnie Turiaf? THAT Mbenga?

If Riley wants a project. Make that loooonng term project to hopefully, maybe develop, then yes, or again maybe, Mbenga.

Or is the grand plan to start a 5 with 4 x seasons of part-time play who projects to average 7.6 REBs + 7.6 PFs per 36 mins?

Wow. That'll make Wade happy. That's the missing piece. That's the coup de grace to reverse 15-67 seasons.

Not.

[black the trucker]

what's up guys, lets look at this from a different prospective. we need to make a trade, Wade will need help with what we have now and what other teams have done to sure up there teams. melo's not going to be happy in denver this year. go for him with all options. j.r. smith wants out there as well. harrington wants out of golden state. these are scorers who can make Wade a lot better and happier here. marbury might be available so why not.wait til they release him though. i think lorenzen wright is better then maglore give barron a serious shot with better players. we will be able to score with anyone, we will need to work on defense.

[heatstroked]

That's why Mbenga makes no sense unless *the plan* entails acquiring enough "partial" centers (read center parts or "projects") to eventually, hopefully trade for a whole. Right.

So if Joel Anthony is still a work-in-progress, what does that make Mbenga? The next Jerome James.

Whereas Hadadi at least shows enough potential (good hands, quickish hops for his side, a developing hook, good short-to-med touch, good timing/vision for boards,offensive rebs) to become a Ronyish (Seikaly) producer.

[heatstroked]

"quickish hops for his [size]..."