by Jordan Long
The Denver Nuggets are going to meet with free agent shooting guard Dwayne Wade in New York City today. The Nuggets offered him a two-year $52 million contract. Wade wants a third year guaranteed in the deal. Would the Nuggets make sense for him?
Wade is a superstar in the NBA. He has 13 years of NBA experience, all with the Miami Heat. Wade averaged 23.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game in the regular season. He would bring postseason experience to the Denver Nuggets. Wade made the playoffs with the Miami Heat 11 times. In 2006, 2012, and 2013 his teams won the NBA Championship. In the playoffs he averaged 22.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Nuggets could use a veteran leader like Wade.
The biggest problem with the Nuggets is they are young and rebuilding. Mike Malone will be entering his second year as head coach. The Nuggets have a core of Emmanuel Mudiay, Gary Harris, and Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari is the oldest of the group with seven years of NBA experience. Harris only has two years while Mudiay just finished his rookie year. The team as a whole is learning how to play NBA basketball. Wade would be the veteran on the team. He could help them improve and maybe even become a playoff team as the 7th or 8th seed in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets are hoping that if Wade decides to come to the Mile High City, attendance would go up. The Nuggets had a record at home of 18-23. In those games, the Nuggets averaged 14,095 fans, the lowest in the NBA. If Wade signs with the Nuggets, it may bring a little more excitement for the fans to fill the Pepsi Center because Wade is a superstar.
Wade, though, is 34 years old, out of his prime and who knows how much he has left in the tank. I don’t think he really fits in with the Nuggets. They are trying to build a core that would last for years. Wade wouldn’t fit that mold unless the leadership he could provide is worth the tradeoff.
Wade is also going to talk with the Chicago Bulls today. Both the Nuggets and the Bulls have more salary cap space than Miami. It will be up to Wade to decide which city he will end his career with. The Nuggets are hoping he picks them.
What do you think of the possibility of Dwayne Wade going to Denver?
Well, I think you hit it on the head. He will bring leadership to this young Nuggets team. His experience in years of playing and championships would make him a very valuable member of the team. So if it is only 2 years, that would be ok. Young team can learn and come together and would likely make a run in the playoffs, probably his second year. Think of him as a “Lebron James” to the Nuggets.
Thanks Jason but I just don’t see Wade helping the Nuggets all that much. Are they one player away from a playoff spot? No. I hope I am wrong and if the Nuggets land Wade, they do make a run.