Campaigning for Wade's Commitment

This certainly can't hurt.

With Dwyane Wade shuttling from courtroom to courtroom between Chicago and Miami these days to deal with lawsuits and a divorce, the Heat guard could certainly use a bit of love these days.

And he's getting plenty of it now. Especially now that the Miami Heat officially launched its excessive campaign to retain Wade's services when he becomes a free agent in July.

The Heat produced a website, www.wewantwade.com,  as phase one of a marketing blitz that soon will extend to other massive flirtations designed to bring fans on board for this major recruiting pitch.

Wade said Thursday he was flattered by the team's out-of-character move to display such public affection. Keep in mind that it's usually not Pat Riley's style to go out of his way to publicize his players and coaches for league awards.

But Wade is clearly an exception. It was that way last season, when the team launched its MV3 campaign to push Wade for league MVP honors. And it's the case now, with Wade set to opt out of his contract and become one of the most sought-after free agents in NBA history on July 1.

That gives the Heat the next six weeks to show Wade in every way how much he's loved, needed, wanted and cared for here before other NBA cities such as Wade's hometown of Chicago can jump in and flirt with Miami's main man.

And here's why Wade is looking forward to this summer so much: He's never been in this position before. Yes, money and fame has a lot to do with this process. But just the simple aspect of recruiting is something Wade hasn't experiences before at a substantial level.

Wade's low test scores kept him from being highly recruited coming out of high school. He had three official campus visits. Marquette. Southern Illinois. DePaul. Even during the NBA Draft, Wade wasn't wooed as openly as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh.

So this has to be a sweet situation for Wade, who repeatedly has said he would like to stay in Miami. 

The website and public display of affection from Pat Riley and Micky Arison and all the fans in South Florida - the website temporarily crashed Thursday when it reached between 200-300 hits per second - will go a long way.

But it doesn't take billboards and banners to impress Wade.

It'll take Bosh, Boozer or the postseason beast known as Amare Stoudemire in a Heat uniform.

Wade knows how Riley and Arison feel about him. He wants to see what they're able to put around him in terms of championship talent.

It's clear the Heat has the money, the mission and the public mantra to make Wade a happy man.

But it will take more than a Heisman-like campaign to earn Wade's long-term commitment.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Comments

[Dman]

D wade the man guys whether you like him or not. Legitmate top 5 NBA player.

[Zts693]

Top 3 player this year... #1 player last season.

He's not gonna leave cuz he knows Riley's gonna work his magic to sign 3 or 4 more good/great players and re-sign the key players we need

[beerphin]

D Wade & J Johnson and L James would be a monster trio

[HeatSMOKE]

This is the perfect storm that has developed for the Heat. The only possible scenario that would've landed us James has actually occurred. Lebron will be going fishing early for the 2nd straight season. This time, the defeat came in the 2nd round. 2ND ROUND!!!

If Lebron is all about winning, then he will sign with the Heat. Period. It's clear he can't do it alone in Cleveland. How stupid must the Cav's GM feel for not pulling the trigger on the Amare trade? All because they didn't want to give up JJ Hickson? What a joke!

Wade needs to start hitting Lebron's cell phone fast and furious. Same with Riley. Pat, this is the perfect storm you were waiting for...

BUILD THE DYNASTY!!!

[Fishfan]

NA NA NA NA, NA NA NA NA, HEY HEY HEYYYYY....... GOODBYE .......CAVS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fishfan]

Right blog!!

[Fishfan]

Lebron=Choke artist Wade=BIU(Best in Universe)

[pramis]

People saying that the top destination for Lebron is Chicago, but I can't believe that he would want to try to make his legacy in the same city as Jordan and be always compared to him and the number of titles his teams won. He will jump to NY or Miami, and if he is as close to Calapari as everyone says, Riley would be wise to immediately sign him to coach the Heat and trump Chicago.

[taheati]

The Herald poll question about Wade's HOF prospects was well-timed, offering another angle the Heat could exploit.

Miami/Riley put Wade on a fast track to the HOF. Wade's best chance to avoid HOF derailment is Miami/Riley.

Check the shortlist of *legendary* HOFers. Most are linked to SINGLE teams, including Jordan/Bulls, Magic/Lakers, Bird/Celtics. Even a late-career 'journeyman' like Shaq will always be linked to the Lakers, where O'Neal first struck gold.

Ditto Wade, if he's smart.

Miami/Riley will *not* allow Wade to fail. No other organization has done or will do as much to protect Wade's legacy, to ensure continued success.

Even a team like Chicago will perceive Wade from the prism of what-have-you-done-for-me-lately. If Wade fails to bring home an O'Brien, he'll always be remembered as Jordan's *lesser*, the 2nd, 3rd or even 4th etc best player in franchise history.

Same deal with New York.

What Wade accomplished in Miami means NOTHING to backstabbing Knicks fans or their media. Donnie Walsh & Jimmy Dolan WON'T do for Wade what Riley/Arison already have. NOT. EVEN. CLOSE.

Neither will Jerry Krause & Jerry Reisdorf in Chicago. Not with Jordan & Pippen hovering over Wade's head. Not with Frazier, Monroe, Reid, Bradley, Debusschere already anointed as New York gods.

THAT's the reality Wade must face if he even *thinks* about leaving the Heat.

Starting over. Championship or chump. Being unfavorably compared to other franchise legends if/when Wade can't deliver.

AND, leaving #30 million on the table just for the "privilege" (grief).

Miami = HOF And3, best player + 1st legend in franchise history.

Chicago, New York = Who dat #3, the overpaid free agent who didn't deliver or measure up to Jordan, Pippen, Frazier, Monroe ...

[taheati]

Wade has already 'won' the only game that matters. He just doesn't know it yet.

[rockstarjc]

2 trade ideas:

1st:

HEAT TRADE: *BEASLEY / COOK / JONES / + PICKS
2010 CLASS (we got 4 picks, 3 of
them is on 2nd rnd, & 1 on 1st
rnd @ #18...) atleast we offer
them 2 of our picks...

TO MEMPHIS: >OJ MAYO pg/sg & >MARC GASOL c

2nd:

HEAT TRADE: SAME OFFER (@1st idea)

TO NETS: >HARRIS pg & >BROOK LOPEZ c

IT COULD BE POSSIBLE THAT ONE THE TRADE IDEA WOULD HAPPEN THIS SUMMER???

CHOOSE 1 TRADE IDEA & THOUGTHS???

we acquire for max deal: >BOSH pf

we acquire UFA: >TRAVIS OUTLAW sf
>RAJA BELL(min.vet)
bring back UFA: >EARL BARRON (cheap contract)
as back-up center...

RETAINED: *CHALMERS / *JOEL ANTHONY

RESIGNED: *WADE / *WRIGHT / *HASLEM

BRING BACK "PAT RILEY" AS HEAD COACH!!!

FOR ME I CHOOSE trade idea #1:

line-up:

pg >mayo / chalmers
sg wade / >bell
sf wright / >outlaw
pf >bosh / haslem
c >gasol,marc / >barron / anthony,joel

i think of MAYO & WADE could play together & MAYO is younger than HARRIS(injury prone)...
for MARC GASOL & BROOKS they both similar has lenght & have wide body to guard bigger center in the league...

if ever this could be done & if we got a salary space cap, im happy to see:

>TYRUS THOMAS pf (RFA) on our team...
he's explosive! tough defender! young! he could bring energy off the bench...

>STEVE BLAKE pg (UFA) a good veteran pg...
he may inspire our young point guards... (MAYO especially CHALMERS)

the cavs lose to celtics... i guess "THE KING JAMES" would not leave the cavs... but if it could happen & he will play along WADE here in MIAMI with BOSH..., I SAY, THIS COULD BE THE DYNASTY WE LOOK FOR!!!

IMAGINE???

pg >mayo / CHALMERS
sg wade / >BELL / (WRIGHT)
sf >lebron / >OUTLAW / WRIGHT
pf >bosh / HASLEM / *DOZIER
c >marc gasol / >BARRON / ANTHONY,JOEL

coach: "PAT RILEY"

[RP]

The Chicago deal with Lebron, Callipari...then maybe Bosh or Wade would be a total stunner. The great potential of Rose still overshadows the fact he's not a great distributor of the ball like a Rondo or Nash...but who's to say with that line-up it would even matter.

Regardless how it shakes down... the Heat need a legit point guard. Adding Bosh or Amare is an absolute must but we need a stud at the point or else the Heat will sputter.

[HeatSMOKE]

Why on earth would Lebron go to the Bulls? He's better off staying in the Cavs in that case. Derrick Rose is no better than Mo Williams at this moment.

What's up with Jamal Mashburn saying that Lebron is better off in a Nets uniform because "New Jersey has the most talent." And lets not for the greatest line of the night from Jamal "Yes, but they're not a 15 win team... They are better than that." You are what your record says you are.

[HeHateBills]

Greatest line of the night was mashburn describing a Terry Allen dunk as "he gave him the Stank Face... Like somebody pooted in his grill." I LMFAO

[jpejeff]

Wade will get Paid if he Stayed. Simple as that. Maybe we outto think about bringing Shaq back.My thinking is everytime you add Shaq to a team that was great the year B4, they take a step back. Maybe just maybe if you add him to a team that was not as good,maybe you would get the opposite effect and win a championship...........Nah SHAQ SUCKS!

[club]

Same here on the pooted comment. That was funny as hell.

[Manny Porras]

Dwade didn't need Lequit James when he won a ring the first time.Speaking of rings, you know what the great ones do. They take their games to whatever level they have to, to ensure that they win a championship.Do you guys remember what wade did down o-2.

[RP]

New Orleans has to decide what to do with both Paul and Collison at some point. Probably has much to do with the contracts but the cost cutting by the Hornets may create an opportunity. The Heat need a REAL point guard !

[Greg Gembe]

"Derrick Rose is no better than Mo Williams at this moment."

Now that's funnier than anything Mash said last night.

By the way, when all the handringing over the Heat not making any major moves this past off-season (in other words -- sticking with the plan they had in place for the last 2-3 years) and that everybody else in our conference was making moves to get better, there was one voice who said the Cavs and Magic didn't get any better, only the Celts did. As it is turning out, the Celtics have gone further than last year, the Cavs didn't improve, and unless the Magic WIN the 2010 Championship, they wouldn't have either.

Somebody new what they were talking about.

[RARA]

As crazy as this sounds, I have never witnessed a 27pt, 19reb, 10 assist game by a player that did not leave an imprint on the game until NOW! With all the numbers LeBron put up his time to shine and take the game over was when he knocked down those two 3’s at the 6 min mark to bring the game to 4. That was the time greatness was supposed to shine. That was the time to dominate, take 95% or the remaining shots, and facilitate the remaining 5%. When the lead was down to 4, that killer instinct should have kicked in…but again it didn’t. Probably cuz it’s not strong enough and probably will never be strong enough. You can say what you want about Wade, but Wade leads that Cleveland team not only to a victory last night, but a victory in that series because the Cavs had enough pieces. It’s just that LeBraon, for all his numbers, has more of a mindset of a Penny Hardaway (more talented, but same mindset). He’s a PG in a freak of nature SF/PF body. He needs someone who he can get the ball to for a set up to close. Again, it’s not because he didn’t win that I say this, but I say it because he doesn’t have a scores mentality like Jordan, Kobe, Wade, Carmello. You can give me stats to disprove this but THE FILM DON’T LIE!!! Pat and Wade need to say you can win with me or get BEAT BY ME! Cuz that is the reality. When it’s all said and done LA, Miami and Orlando will be the teams to beat over the next five years and that championship will continue to allude Lebron.

[HeatSMOKE]

Put Mo Williams on a team full of scrubs like Derrick Rose and we'll see what stats he can put up.

[Greg Gembe]

HeatSMOKE: I'm not sure what point you are going trying to make.

First, I don't believe all the Bulls are scrubs.

And second, do you think the Cavs go down 4-2 to the Celts if Rose is your PG and not Mo Williams? I tend to believe that Rose brings a hell of a lot more to the table than Mo, and would have given Baaaston much more of a challenge, if he was playing for Cleveland.

Mo Williams?? Really?? He's not quicker, I don't believe he finishes in the lane better than DRose, maybe a better outside shooter, but Rose is probably a stronger defender. I don't know, just my humble opinion.

[HEATWAVE7]

Alas King James is no more. Poor Cleveland 7 years of Lebron and what do they have to show for it NADA!!!!. I gotta admit it I was a witness lastnight...to the most embarrasing display of leadership I have ever seen...what a joke. If Dwade was in that game lastnight it would have been a rap.

[Ayatola]

Calapari watchers...the Kentucky coach tweeted he ain't leaving UK for at least another season. So Lebron close to him or whatever wouldn't make any difference now, since Bron cant sign to play for Kentucky at this point. Now if Wade re-signs with the HEAT and he was able to convince LBJ to set up his Kingdom is WADE COUNTY, all they need is another of the remaining free agent available and you will immediately a treat to the Magic or even the Lakers. But everything will start with Dwayne Wade

[Ayatola]

And just to comment on those people who say WADE and JAMES ego's would not be able to co-exist here in MIAMI truly is clueless about basketball and or just simply life in general. Everytime I hear Chicago this and Chicago that for Lebron...I laugh..HARD! Because just imagine on July 2nd (after WADE sign) They fly to Akron with Riley recruiting Lebron to join them in Miami, then phone rings its Derrick Rose coming to Lebron's house also in hopes of recruiting him to go CHI-Town....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Who's your coach kid? ahhhh ummmm ahhhhh ummmmm We can coach ourselves...hehehehehehe Yeah Chicago is the best destination for Bron...right! Coming from a team that chokes to a team that is unknown and is so-so at best.

[energy_bust]

Greg Gembe wth?...again, you're pretty trying to say Riley made good by not doing anything? Ok, lets say its true, but what about no major moves in the last 3 years even after shaq made his contract pay heavy in the earlier seasons for talent could keep coming in.

Seriously I can never take u serious cause i noticed when spo or riley weren't doing well, you stopped commenting after you had nothing to defend themm on, but never said they messed up when they did...you're not even a heat fan, you're a riley fan.

As to only 1 team getting better:

follow along please. Here's some mathematics for you.
There's 3 teams A, B, C and their rankings.

A = 3 B = 4 C = 5

A got better by 8 A= 3 + 8 so A = 8 now...
B got better by 2 B = 4 + 2 so B = 6 now...
C got better by 2 C= 5 + 2 so C = 7...

So even though B is now the 3rd best, is 6 < 4?
Then they got better. And if Miami is only a 2 and did nothing to change that, those teams still pulled further away from miami. Your argument is seriously flawed. This is the difference between a Heat fan and a riley fan. We see the heat is bigger than Riley or Spo...

Point is Boston may have gotten the best, but it mean Orlando didn't get better nor did Cleveland...and Clearly Atlanta did...get a clue...

[energy_bust]

Corrected:

Greg Gembe wth?...again, you're pretty trying to say Riley made good by not doing anything? Ok, lets say its true, but what about no major moves in the last 3 years even after shaq made his contract pay heavy in the earlier seasons for talent could keep coming in.

Seriously I can never take u serious cause i noticed when spo or riley weren't doing well, you stopped commenting after you had nothing to defend themm on, but never said they messed up when they did...you're not even a heat fan, you're a riley fan.

As to only 1 team getting better:

follow along please. Here's some mathematics for you.
There's 3 teams A, B, C and their rankings.

A = 3 B = 4 C = 5

A got better by 5 A= 3 + 5 so A = 8 now...
B got better by 2 B = 4 + 2 so B = 6 now...
C got better by 2 C= 5 + 2 so C = 7...

So even though B is now the 3rd best, is 6 < 4?
Then they got better. And if Miami is only a 2 and did nothing to change that, those teams still pulled further away from miami. Your argument is seriously flawed. This is the difference between a Heat fan and a riley fan. We see the heat is bigger than Riley or Spo...

Point is Boston may have gotten the best, but it mean Orlando didn't get better nor did Cleveland...and Clearly Atlanta did...get a clue...

[winz305]

There is NO WAY that Mo Williams is better than D.Rose. You are delusional if you believe this. Did you see what Rose did in the playoffs this year? What about last year against the Celtics, did you see that? The reason they hung with the C's was because of Rose.

As for Wade and Lebron:
I truly believe that Wade will sign with the Heat for 6 years, and Lebron will sign with Heat for 2 years until the new building for the Nets are built. Then he will go play for the New Jersey because Jay-Z would recruite him there.

Another thing. Did anyone hear the press conference from the Cavs owner. He basically said that no one man is bigger than the team, and that he is not trying to make Lebron happy, he just wants to build a winning team. NOW WAY DOES LEBRON SIGNS BACK WITH THE CAVS AFTER WHAT HE SAID TO THE MEDIA.

[winz305]

The difference with Mickey Arison and the Cavs owner is Arison isn't afraid to show his player that he wants and will to do whatever it takes to make them happy and stay with the Heat, the cavs owner is all about himself and doesnt want Lebron to take all the spotlight. He wants some for himself. If i was Lebron i would go to where i was wanted.

[POWA]

The Cleveland Fans Want LeBron, The Cavaliers Owner Wants A Happy Team, Even If That Means Not Re-Signing LeBron.

[Fishfan]

Rose and Mo are the same type of players SGs pretending to be PGs.

[Fishfan]

I'm not sure what smashing somebodies mom means but apparently D.West was doing with Lebrons mom.

[Fishfan]

Miami seems to be the best choice for Lebron right now, as for talent wise. The main problems will be that James will have to get paid less and he will have to come aboard another stars team. Yet their is a higher chance of Lebron wining a championship with the heat, along side future hall of fame player Dwyane Wade. If Dwyane Wade was to stay in Miami and Pat Riley was to strike the deal with Lebron, the Miami Heat franchise may have a new NBA dynasty in-hand. Now their are specters that say that, "It cant work out! They are too big of stars to share one team." Others disagree they feel that, "if they were able to submit in Beijing, China for the Olympics they could do it again. Because at the end Lebron and Wade want what's most dear to them. Which is the NBA Championship." Lebron just has to face facts in the last 30 years only one team with one star was able to win the championship. Which was Hakeem Olajuwon and the 1994 Houston Rockets, who beat another team in the Finals, Patrick Ewing's New York Knicks, that featured just one star. Look history is clear: It takes two, at least! MJ never won it without Scottie, Magic and Oscar never won it without Kareem, Bird never won it without Parish and McHale, Jerry West never won it without Wilt, Dr. J never won it without Moses Malone, and Kobe and D-Wade never won it without Shaq and/or Pau.

[LOL]

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2010/05/we_are_lebron_if_we_work_toget.html

BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!

[LOL]

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2010/05/we_are_lebron_if_we_work_toget.html

BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!! lol

[wadehouse]

I know Wade is not selfish. This could be Wade and James team. Why not? It can work if both players put there ego aside and they can get a championship together. Sometimes you have to help the weekest link. Labron need to leave his hometown because the fans expect to from him. He can't please them one way or the other. This loosing thing has been going on all his young life. Check out his movie and you can see the same thing is still
Happenin. The movie is more than a game. He need someone else to help him with the pressure of an NBA game. Time will tell in the off see where they both will end up. I hope Miami.

[Greg Gembe]

...give me a minute to do the math here.

I've got my abacus and pencil.

I can't be the only one on here that has NO clue as to what the heck this

A = 3 B = 4 C = 5

A got better by 8 A= 3 + 8 so A = 8 now...
B got better by 2 B = 4 + 2 so B = 6 now...
C got better by 2 C= 5 + 2 so C = 7...

means.

If we are still talking about which team improves from year to year, here's a simplier formula:

How far did you make it in the playoffs?

Simple. Direct.

Those other numbers sound like they are coming from the CBO.

[energy_bust]

naa..i think its only you just like you have no clue as to how to make the Heat the successful team...just simple mathematics there and by all means you can downplay it, but you can't disprove it...but good butting heads again...if we ever agree on riley, it will be a miracle...lol

[Greg Gembe]

You are right -- I can't disprove what I don't understand, so I'll just leave it alone.