The Miami Heat are going to have a distinctively unfamiliar look for the upcoming season and beyond. Dwayne Wade has been the lifeblood of the franchise since his arrival as the number five overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. He departs as a three-time NBA champion, 12-time all-star, 2006 Finals MVP, two-time all-NBA first team selection and an Olympic gold medalist.
In a nutshell, Wade was seeking a two-year contract from the Heat close to the $50 million range, whilst the Heat’s offer was closer to $40 million over two years. On top of the fact that Wade was not made a top priority by the Heat in their pursuit of re-signing and chasing other free-agents, it eventuated in a somewhat messy divorce.