That leap didn’t happen, and the reason why it mostly didn’t happen can be attributed to that ankle issue. Waiters turned down more money annually from the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks to stay in Miami, and the Heat believed that Waiters could take another leap forward in 2017-2018, even with a lingering left ankle injury. Guard Dion Waiters, who joined the Heat on a prove-it deal in Summer 2016, ended up re-signing with the franchise next summer on a four-year deal worth $52 million that also included incentives for games played. The Heat’s roster as it was constructed had to rely on internal growth, and it’s safe to say they didn’t get that. James publicly posted on Instagram on that February day that Wade being in Miami was how it was ‘suppose to be.’Ī post shared by LeBron James even the triumph return of Wade couldn’t overshadow Miami’s major flaws. James also seemed genuinely happy to see Wade headed back to Miami, as he could often tell that Wade missed being a Heat player. James conceded, saying that in the end it should be Wade’s decision, and the Cavaliers made the deal and acquired a heavily-protected 2024 second-round draft pick they will likely never covet. James, who is best friends with Wade, was told by Cleveland brass that the organization had a plan to send Wade back to Miami, but that they wanted him to be content with the plan first. Wade was traded back to the Heat on February 8 following an organization decision by the Cleveland Cavaliers to complete re-tool their roster around LeBron James. Instead, what they ended up getting was a 36-year-old Dwyane Wade being the highlight of the team’s season following his homecoming to Miami that began in February, an unpredictable return when you consider everything that went into it. Miami knew this current roster wasn’t good enough to compete for a championship, but team executives were hopeful that they would at least make the semi-finals and be a tough team to fend off there. The Miami Heat saw their 2017-2018 season end at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers on April 24th following a 104-91 Game 5 loss in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, and it’s hard not to call that result expected.
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