Death of agent, father figure Henry Thomas has Wade away from Cavaliers

The "personal issue" that has DwyaneWade away from the Cleveland Cavaliers is the death of his agent, HenryThomas, whom Wade considered to be a father figure.

On his Instagram account, Wade wrote an emotional, heartfelt message about Thomas. It included a photograph of them together taken just after Wade was selected by the Miami Heat in the 2003 draft.

"I'm writing this letter to you as I cry both tears of SADNESS and tears of JOY," Wade wrote. "I know -- i know -- I can hear your voice saying, 'Come on my man. You got this!' I can picture your face and feel your hugs in so so many moments in my life.

"Whether it's you hugging me and saying how proud you are of me or congrats on winning a NBA championship or you hugging me and saying everything's gonna be alright -- we will get thru this. I can't thank you enough for these last 15 years."

Wade, who has been told by Cavaliers coach TyronnLue and general manager KobyAltman to "take his time" before rejoining the team, expressed his relationship with Thomas was much, much stronger than that which is typical between a player and an agent.

"You should be so proud of the job you did on this young misguided kid from Chicago," Wade wrote. "I was a young 21 when we met and i needed a Man's love. My dad and I had things to work out and I was leaving my father figure Coach Crean. So you stepped in right away and became that MAN I desperately needed."

Wade emphasized calling Thomas his "agent" doesn't come close to describing what he meant to the veteran guard, now in his first season in Cleveland.

"I hate saying my 'agent' because you have always been way more than that to me. I cry these tears because selfishly I wanted you to be there when I got my jersey retired or when I gave my hall of fame speech or when I had a daughter. I got so many questions on how to raise a strong, confident, intelligent, independent black woman. I hope you don't mind but I will still be calling on you for guidance. I love you Henry (Hank) Thomas. THANK YOU for loving me right back. Be at peace. We (your family) got this!!!"