Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade were only teammates for a short period of time with the Cavs, but it’s clear that Smith holds Wade in the highest regard. Smith thanked Wade for returning for one final season in an Instagram post on Sunday.
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Smith mentions how the media tried to turn them against one another. That comment is likely alluding to the short stint Wade had with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season.
D-Wade’s reunion with LeBron James in Cleveland was hyped up prior to the season, but the partnership never quite lived up to the hype. It certainly paled in comparison to Wade and James’ first stint together in Miami. The Cavaliers struggled mightily in the first half of the season and they made some major changes to the roster around the trading deadline.
For whatever reason, Wade didn’t fit well in Cleveland and he eventually returned home to Miami. There’s no doubt that there’s something about the Heat that ups the level of Wade’s game. He’s not the same player he was when the Heat were capturing championships, but he still has something left in the tank.
He may not be able to take the floor every night and put up 20 points without hesitation. But he is capable of hitting big shots and helping a team down the stretch in a close game.
Additionally, Wade is the best player in the history of the franchise and this last year gives fans the opportunity to give him a proper sendoff.