Wade to fans: 'Don't question my loyalty,' negotiations with Heat just business
When it's all said and done, Dwyane Wade will one day go into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as the greatest Miami Heat player of all time.
The Heat drafted Wade with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft and never looked back. Wade was named to the All-Rookie First team in his first season, made the All-Star Game in his second year, and carried the Heat to their first-ever championship in his third season.
Wade should go down as a Heat lifer, a term popularized by owner Micky Arison referring to Miami's family-first values.
However, that union was put to the test when Wade hit free agency this summer. Wade wanted a maximum contract, but the Heat were concerned about financial flexibility and the health of their aging superstar. Interactions became tense between the two sides as rumors linked Wade to teams like the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ultimately, they found a suitable compromise - a one-year, $20-million contract. Wade got max money and the Heat retained flexibility.
Most importantly, it kept the hope alive: Wade could still be a Heat lifer.
Still, the fallout from the negotiations led fans to question the seemingly unbreakable bond between Wade and the Heat. But, as Wade explained in an interview with 710 The Ticket, it was just business - his heart was always set on South Beach.
As transcribed by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:
There's a business side of everything. But my heart, and where I always said I wanted to be, was here. I started my career here and I would like to finish it. I came here just happy to be here, just wanting to make this organization proud for drafting me as the fifth pick.
Wade also reiterated his dedication to Miami after he got flack for wearing a New York Jets jersey to a Miami Dolphins game.
I don't know why people in Florida like to test my faith in my belief and my love for Miami because I wear a jersey to a game. I'm in this community. I have done everything I can from a basketball standpoint, to help this town be successful and I will continue to do that. The heart is there, the love is there ... Don't question my loyalty, you all. Do not question my loyalty.
Given that Wade's contract only spans the 2015-16 season, another round of negotiations is bound to test his bond with the Heat. But as Wade reminded fans this week, there's business and there's love - and there's a lot of love between Wade and the Heat.