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What Will Happen To The Miami Heat Now?

AL DIAZ
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Miami Herald
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade speaks to the media during Miami Heat's end-of-season wrap-up at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Tues., May 17, 2016.

Loyalty is something you hear a lot about in mobster movies and television shows. But as ruthless as someone like Tony Soprano can be, it pales in comparison to the ruthlessness and ego-laden industry which is professional sports.

It should come as no surprise  - just disappointment- that Dwyane Wade is leaving Miami for Chicago. The Bulls are offering a few million more per year, which is almost nullified by the fact Illinois has a state income tax. (Florida does not.)

Wade left because he felt jaded, unloved, disrespected. And, not to take anyone's side, Pat Riley and the Heat have to think about the future. And what exactly is that future? John Devine, assistant sports editor at the Miami Herald, has mixed feelings about that. Here's what he had to say about Wade's departure:

How did this happen? 

What happened is you have two sides: both sides thinking they're right, and to an extent they were, and they could not come together, meet in the middle ground.

Last year they did. The owner, MickyArison,  stepped in. But what you had is a player who gave back approximately $25 million in concessions to keep the Big Three together and keep [teammate and close friend] Udonis Haslem around.  When Chris Bosh re-signed in 2014, he made another concession to make sure that Bosh could get his maximum. And frankly when LeBron James left, it cost Dwayne Wade $10 million in salary as well, so you add all that up that's $25 million.

From the team's standpoint, they're saying we have a 34-year-old guard going at 35-years-old. Production goes down. You're paying for past performance, but that also clogs up your salary cap, and Chris Bosh whose health status is in doubt, also clogs up $26 million against the cap. All of a sudden you have more than half your cap on two players whose production may not be what it should be that matches their star power.

He's getting really just a little bit more in Chicago, but again he's going to pay a state income tax. And it almost sounds like Milwaukee could have probably paid him more, as well as Denver. Why choose Chicago?

Chicago is where he grew up. And his mother is still in the area. She's a minister there. His family is still up there, not his immediate, but you know, brothers, sisters, extended family up there. If he was going to leave that was probably the most likely destination unless, it was a LeBron reunion or somewhere where he's really going to go to be that final piece on a title contending team.

Credit David Santiago / El Nuevo Herald
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El Nuevo Herald
Miami Heat President Pat Riley Heat, left, and guard Dwyane Wade were unable to come to an agreement.

We talked about the relationship he had with Pat Riley, president of the team, but how would you describe Riley's reputation with players and that idea of loyalty?

Well, Pat Riley's first loyalty is to the Miami Heat and he's done everything he can to serve them first and since he's been here, they have gone from doormat to a perennial contender to winning three titles in 10 years and he's served them well. But he also realizes it's a cold business. And when I say that, he hasn't had a problem saying good-bye. He said goodbye to Shaquille O'Neal. People forget he said goodbye to Alonzo Mourning and then Alonzo Mourning came back eventually. And they're on great terms now. But there comes a time where, for the long-term health of the franchise, he has to look forward and they draw a line in the sand. They don't mind saying - this is as much as we're willing to pay and no further. And when they do that it helps your long-term health, but there will be days and decisions that are very unpopular. This is probably one of them.

Is there one story that you believe really describes that love this community has for him?

I will tell you that during this year's playoffs I think he reminded everyone what he meant individually. And when I say that, in the first round against Charlotte he kind of took over. Statistically it was not his greatest season. He was less efficient. But certain players have that 'IT' factor where they can take over late in games and he constantly did that in the round against Charlotte, and he did it to some extent against Toronto as well. He can put the shots down. I mean he didn't hit a three-pointer from January until the playoffs and then the playoffs he's hitting three-pointers that they need in order to go ahead or win the game.

What are you hearing from players?

If you look at Twitter everyone says we're wishing you the best. But the one person I'm concerned about, and I would love to hear from most is Udonis Haslem. And when I say that, he's the other Heat-lifer who's been here and been here through all the championship teams since 2000. They were the big brothers in the locker room and kept the locker room straight. So that's the person I would really like to hear from most of all. What happens to the team now? What's the future look like? I think what the team is looking ahead to  is next year when the salary cap goes up to $94 million. And as it goes up there will be a lot of money available. Heaven forbid if Chris Bosh cannot play again that's another $26 million available. All of a sudden you may have like $50, $60 million available in the salary cap. If Bosh doesn't play and they're a lottery team, you have that first round draft pick in what's considered a very deep draft. All of a sudden you have Justise Winslow who's going to be guaranteed playing time and he can grow. He was a top 10 pick. You have Josh Richardson who was a surprise and played very well. You take those two young guys, you take Hassan Whiteside, you take a top 10 pick and maybe two maximum free agents. And all of sudden your rebuilding has taken a quantum leap forward.

If Wade was the most popular athlete in south Florida, now that he's gone, who's the most popular athlete in the region?

Credit Jeff Roberson / Miami Herald/AP
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Miami Herald/AP
Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton missed Monday’s exhibition game against the Washington Nationals with a sore knee.

  That's a void waiting to be filled. Giancarlo Stanton has the name recognition, he has a $300 million contract, and he's an excellent player. It's just that the Marlins, and I put this on ownership, are not as popular as you would think. But he is the biggest named athlete. The Florida Panthers are on the upswing. Hockey hasn't really taken root the way we want yet. But if they are sustained winners then someone can emerge from there. It's just really tough. There isn't someone ready to just step in and be that face of South Florida like we had with Dan Marino or like Dwayne Wade. 

Luis Hernandez is an award-winning journalist and host whose career spans three decades in cities across the U.S. He’s the host of WLRN’s newest daily talk show, Sundial (Mon-Thu), and the news anchor every afternoon during All Things Considered.
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