With Dwyane Wade reaching a buyout with the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night, teams have already begun to express interest in signing the three-time NBA champion, including the Miami Heat.
However, a big obstacle keeping Wade from returning to South Beach might be his relationship with team president Pat Riley.
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As Heat fans remember, Wade left for Chicago over a year ago during free agency when he and Riley were not on speaking terms. And they still have not spoken yet, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype.com.
More recently, however, Riley spoke glowingly about Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union.
“If something happens, and I can’t speak to this because he’s under contract to them – I saw Gabby [Union, Wade’s wife] the other night at the Emmys. Chris [Riley, Pat Riley’s wife] and I were talking about how beautiful a woman and person she is,” Riley said. “I feel great about our relationship that we had over the 13 years. Anything that happens from a personnel standpoint and any opportunities that are there, right now he’s under contract with Chicago and I wish him the very best.”
Now that Wade is no longer under contract, the Heat are free to approach him but will ask him to accept a bench role, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Clearly, there are still some hurdles that need to be cleared for Wade to reunite with the Heat.
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