That didn’t take long.
Former Marquette star Dwyane Wade has agreed to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers for one year and the veteran minimum of $2.3 million, according to The Vertical’s Shams Charania.
Sources: Dwyane Wade has reached agreement on a one-year, $2.3M deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 26, 2017
This news comes just a day after Wade officially had his contract with the Chicago Bulls bought out by the team. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed that Wade would sign with the Cavs after he cleared waivers on Wednesday.
Dwyane Wade plans to sign with Cleveland once he clears waivers on Wednesday, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 26, 2017
Wade rejoins his former teammate and good friend (and Banana Boat member) LeBron James for what may be one last go at a championship. The opportunity to reunite with LeBron was probably the deciding factor over the three other teams that were in the running: the San Antonio Spurs, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Wade’s former team of 13 years, the Miami Heat.
Wade and LeBron won two NBA Finals together in Miami during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, after teaming up in 2010. Wade also won a title in 2006, and was named Finals MVP that year.
Wade, who averaged 18.3 points per game during his only season with Chicago, should be a valuable veteran presence in Cleveland. His backcourt scoring will also be of need, since Cleveland’s prized offseason acquisition, Isaiah Thomas, isn’t expected to play until January due to a hip injury.
Regardless of the role Wade will play, members of the Cavs are looking forward to the addition of the 12-time All-Star. Coach Tyronn Lue and center Tristan Thompson gave their thoughts to ESPN.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said it will be a challenge with all the new players added to the Cavaliers' roster this offseason, but he and his players are up for it.
"Anytime you get new pieces and new players, it's always challenging, but I'm up for the challenge, and so are the players," he said. "We will figure it out. It will be a good year for us."
Thompson said he expects Wade will fit in well.
"He's pretty familiar with most of the guys on our team, whether playing against or playing with," he said. "I think he's going to jell pretty well. He's a veteran. He's always been a good locker room guy. We've never heard anything bad.
"It would be great for our team to have another championship-mentality player on our team. It's just more pieces to the puzzle."
Speaking of offseason acquisitions, Wade also is now teamed up with another former Marquette star, as Jae Crowder was part of the trade that brought Thomas to Cleveland and sent Kyrie Irving to Boston.
Cleveland now has more former Marquette players that won their conference’s Player of the Year award than anyone else. That’s something to brag about.
But seriously folks, Wade is one of Marquette’s all-time heroes, so it should be a treat for fans to watch him take one last shot at a title. This is, most likely, his last hurrah, and without much pressure as a go-to scoring option, he should enjoy it immensely. I know I will.