This was published 7 years ago
Dwyane Wade's fractured elbow may have ended his Chicago Bulls stint
By K.C. Johnson
After Dwyane Wade processed the emotional sting of leaving the Miami Heat franchise he led to three championships and then low-balled him in free agency, he set a goal of restoring his hometown Chicago Bulls' respectability with a return to the playoffs.
If that happens, it will occur without Wade, whose regular season ended when an MRI exam revealed a small fracture in the right elbow he sprained during their loss this week to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Chicago Bulls' Dwyane Wade: "It's not the way I would have written it."Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast
Wade's – only? – season in Chicago ends with the 35-year-old averaging 18.6 points on 43.3 percent shooting, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals. Numbers don't capture his leadership.
"It sucks," Wade said. "It's not the way I would have written it. I'll just move past it, get better and no surgery so that's one thing I'm happy about. I'll just rehab and hopefully get on the court at the end of this year. If not this year, at some point next year."
The 12-time All-Star said it's "definitely too soon" to determine whether the injury will affect his decision on a $US23.8 million ($30 million) player option to return to the Bulls next season.
It is likely Wade wouldn't command such an annual salary on the open market but he possibly could get more guaranteed money over a two-year deal. He has said the Bulls' fortunes, money and family would be the factors for his decision.
Wade, who called his injury a dislocation with ligament damage and the fracture, said he's scheduled to wear the soft cast and brace that covered his entire right arm for roughly two weeks, removing it for rehab. He will re-visit the team doctor in a week for X-rays to see how the healing is progressing.
Wade said he would play in the playoffs if he's cleared and if the Bulls qualify, but both are ifs. The Bulls are one game behind the Pistons and Heat for the Eastern Conference's final post-season berth.
"It's an opportunity league for certain guys and it comes in different ways," Wade said. "So this [is an] opportunity for someone who probably wasn't getting enough time they wanted, probably wasn't getting the touches they wanted. From a teammate and fan of the game perspective, you want to see who steps up to that."
Coach Fred Hoiberg said he and his staff are debating between three or four guys to replace Wade as a starter, but that's a stretch. Regardless of who starts, Wade's injury will mean increased roles for Denzel Valentine and Nikola Mirotic for sure, with Paul Zipser and either Jerian Grant or Michael Carter-Williams pitching in as well.
But the biggest burden falls on Jimmy Butler.
"It's not nothing he wanted. It's not nothing that anybody in here wanted," Wade said of his injury, not the increased burden. "But it's something we have to deal with.
"My job is for [Butler] to not worry about me. Just focus on what Jimmy needs to do and that's to go out the last 14 games of the year and kick ass and help lead this team to the playoffs. It'll be an even better story with me out of it. It's a challenge for him. And I look forward to see how he rises to the challenge."
Wade said even injured players have roles on teams and his role is to lead. When he's away from the team, he'll send text messages. When he's around, he'll share "little nuggets" he sees to boost confidence.
On the first day of training camp, Wade joked he felt like a rookie because of the change in franchises. Now, he's facing rehab and an uncertain future.
"It took me awhile to really get comfortable in these new surroundings. It took a long time," Wade said. "But then I finally got comfortable and I thought I played the way I wanted to. Coach did a great job of controlling my minutes. I tried to make adjustments to the different styles of play, different teammates and roles that I had. But overall, I thought I did a good job."
Chicago Tribune