Skip to content

Wade vows return if Butler carries Bulls to playoffs

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

The Chicago Bulls are in the fight of their lives to make the playoffs and they're doing so without one of their main players.

Dwyane Wade will not play the remainder of the regular season having suffered a bone fracture and ligament damage in his elbow. But a return may be possible should Jimmy Butler single-handedly drag the Bulls into the postseason.

"Yeah, he actually does say that: 'Get us to the playoffs, because I'll be able to come back, and I can play,'" Butler said of Wade, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times.

"So that's my goal right now. Go out there and be the killer to take us to these wins."

The Bulls are 3-3 without Wade in the lineup, which sees them a half-game behind the surging Miami Heat for the eighth seed. Chicago only faces two winning teams over its last eight games, so finishing with a low seed is entirely possible.

However, it's unclear how the Bulls will perform on any given night. They'll take down the Utah Jazz one night, then lose to the Philadelphia 76ers a week later. Their maddening inconsistency is what sees them on the playoff bubble to begin with.

A healthy Wade should give the Bulls a significant lift, but much of Chicago's recent success is built on the backs of Rajon Rondo, who has come on strong in March. Bringing back Wade would put the Bulls back at square one with the problem of having too many ball-handlers and not enough shooters.

The 35-year-old Wade is averaging 18.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game this season.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox