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Pat Riley speaks of the time Dwyane Wade left the Miami Heat for the Chicago Bulls
Dwyane Wade will forever be a Miami Heat icon. Yet, it is worth mentioning that the former Marquette star had a season with his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. This stint followed a period of intense negotiations, marred by a dispute between Wade and Pat Riley, the president of the Heat.
Though that chapter of Wade's career was put to rest with his return to Miami in 2018, Riley recently spoke of the events surrounding that period, admitting that Wade's decision to go somewhere else was as much his fault as it was Heat owner Micky Arison's.
Sad to see him go
In 2016, Wade jumped ship to the Bulls, signing a two-year contract worth an estimated $47 million. This came when negotiations with the Heat broke down as Miami initially offered a two-year deal worth just $20 million.
"I was sad to see him go, I was upset that he went," Riley said. "I knew we could work something out, but we didn't. We did not work it out the way that he wanted it to be worked out and that's our fault. I think probably as much as myself and Micky [Arison] and anybody else with the Heat, I think Dwyane went to Chicago and then he went to Cleveland, I think he wanted back as much as any of us wanted him back."
Though he clearly regressed at age 35, Wade remained effective for the Bulls, averaging 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Chicago made it to the NBA Playoffs, but was eliminated in the first round by the Boston Celtics.
Hall of Fame
Wade is set to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this Saturday in Springfield, Massachusetts. Riley, as well as some other Heat luminaries, will be on hand to witness Wade's big moment, which Riley said is well-deserved.
"The Hall of Fame is like sacred ground. … That's where Dwyane's place is today," Riley added. "Everything he did in his career has gotten him here. He's a three-time champion, he's highly respected, he has gone on to do even probably better things than he did as an NBA player on the court and he's going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday. It's just an honor to be there and for him to be a Miami Heat lifer."
