One Thousand and Eighteen: I Want to Win

Wade sat blankly on the sofa, staring blankly ahead.

The living room was dark, and the TV that was on was the only source of light in the space.

But it was clear that Wade's mind was not on the television.

He looked at the clock and saw that the hour hand had reached between 12 and 1.

It was late at night, but Wade was not sleepy at all. He took out his phone again and looked at today's news.

"The Heat offered an insulting price of 18 million for two years to renew Wade's contract, and the negotiations have reached a deadlock!"

"In this era when Ryan Anderson can earn 20 million a year and Nicolas Batum can earn a contract of 100 million yuan, Pat Riley only gave Wade 18 million?"

"What a disgrace! Look how Cuban treats Dirk, you bastard!"

"Dwyane Wade has not made any response, and most people believe that he will choose to leave Miami. Currently, Wade's hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, is actively brokering negotiations."

Wade smiled. He didn't expect that at the age of 34, he could still cause such a big disturbance in the free agent market.

Of course, this is just a self-deprecating laugh. Because from the bottom of his heart, Wade was not happy at all.

Being abandoned by the Miami Heat was something Wade never thought about.

In this context where the salary cap has skyrocketed, everyone can get a big contract, and as long as you are a starter, you can get 20 million.

Wade really couldn't believe that Pat Riley would make such a decision!

In fact, Wade is not eager to get much money. If necessary, Wade is even willing to take a voluntary salary cut for the Heat.

As a city's signature, it is natural to take a salary cut to stay on the team. However, at least respect is still required.

The key is that the Heat's contract really lacks respect, and what Wade wants is respect.

In fact, Riley was already having a tough time with Wade as early as two years ago.

Last year, the two sides fought for most of the season, and finally settled the matter with 20 million a year.

Before the free agent market opened this year, Pat Riley had not given Wade a clear answer to his contract extension. Combined with the experience of the previous two years, Wade's heart was already a little hurt.

As a result, Riley has now offered such a humiliating price.

Two years and 18 million. You know, just this morning, the Heat just signed Joe Johnson for two years and 22 million!

In other words, in the eyes of Pat Riley, his team spirit is not even as important as a outdated scorer!

Fans are joking that the Heat are generous to everyone except Wade. Pat Riley really treats Wade as one of his own.

This insulting quote made Wade very sad. What does this feel like? He called Miami his home and devoted his entire youth to it.

But when he got old and wanted to die well, he was cruelly kicked away.

Wade is no longer a kid, he has been fighting in this league for 13 years. He's seen so much come and go,

Divide and combine.

But this time, when it was Wade's turn to do something like this, he couldn't accept it at all.

In 2010, Dirk stayed in Dallas for 4 years and 80 million. It was reported at the time that Cuban actually offered Dirk a four-year, 96 million contract, but Dirk rejected it.

Dirk told Cuban, "It's too much, I only want 80 million in 4 years."

In the same year, Ray Allen renewed his contract for 20 million in two years, and Pierce signed a 4-year contract for 61 million. At that time, Ray Allen and Pierce were no longer young, and the league's salary cap was only 58 million.

People have always said that Danny Ainge is a cold-blooded bastard, but this time compared with Pat Riley's operation, he is simply too warm.

Of course, how can we forget that after Kobe was seriously injured at the age of 36, he still signed a two-year contract worth 48.5 million with the Lakers.

Do the general managers of these teams really not know that these players are old? Do they really not care about cap space?

of course not!

But, this is called respect!

Respect is not something everyone deserves, but the Heat should respect Wade.

Both championships were put on hold, and in 2014, when James returned to Cleveland, Riley immediately gave Bosh a five-year, $118 million contract.

But what about Wade? He did not get the final big pension contract, but jumped out of the original 2-year 42 million contract, and then signed a 2-year 31 million contract...

Yes, jumping out of the current contract and signing a smaller one... no one would do that, but Wade did it just to give the Heat some cap space to work with.

What was the reward he was waiting for? It's an insulting offer of less than 10 million a year.

Wade shook his head and turned off the TV. But he didn't intend to end his fucking day like this. He picked up his phone and made a call.

"Hank, are you still asleep? I think...well, I want to meet you now."

"Now?" The voice on the other end of the phone was a little confused. After all, it was almost one o'clock in the morning.

"Well, right now."

"Okay, see you at the same place?"

"old place."

※※※

Wade is sitting in a street basketball court on the edge of Miami Beach. He likes it because the atmosphere here reminds him of the streets of Chicago.

After a while, a man with a retro mustache, glasses, gray hair, and a slightly fat figure came over.

Seeing him, Wade smiled knowingly. Wade felt at ease whenever he could see him.

Henry Hank Thomas, a professional sports manager under CAA. His first client was Tim Hardaway, who signed Wade and Bosh in 2003.

But in fact, the relationship between Thomas and Wade began before 2003.

From the moment Thomas entered the old dormitory building at Marquette University and met Wade and his family, mutual trust was established between them.

At that time, Wade and his father had a falling out. It was Thomas who was responsible for all the affairs of Wade entering the NBA and gave his family a lot of help.

Wade has always disliked calling Thomas his manager because to him, Thomas means more.

To be honest, Wade thinks Thomas is more like... a father!

When he was lost, it was Thomas who brought him to the NBA.

Now, Wade believes Thomas can still point out a way to his lost self.

"Sorry, Hank, I know it's late." Wade asked Thomas to sit down and waved his hand.

"It's okay, I'm used to it." Thomas shrugged. This was not the first time in the past two years that he had been worried about Wade's contract extension.

"What did they say this afternoon...?"

"Pat Riley said he was willing to raise his salary."

"Really? How much?" Wade was overjoyed. Sure enough, Riley was not an ungrateful person!

"20 million in 2 years, yes, 2 million more than 18 million in 2 years."

"Fuck!" Wade's mood suddenly turned from sunny to cloudy.

"I have told you not to keep giving in in the past few years. Don't keep giving in. You don't believe it. Do you think Pat Riley will be grateful to you for your concession? No, he will only go further because of your concession. Squeeze you." Thomas shook his head. It was not like he had never advised Wade before. In 2014, he even suggested that Wade simply leave.

With Wade's state at that time, he could sign a costly long-term contract with a championship team.

As a result, Wade refused and chose to opt out of the contract and voluntarily take a salary cut. At that time, Wade proudly said, "I am a Heat player and I am not going anywhere."

How proud Wade was at that time, how disappointed he is now.

"Yeah... maybe I should have listened to you earlier... So, Miami can't stay here." Wade looked up at the city that belonged to him, and felt a twinge of pain in his heart.

"If you don't mind Riley insulting you like this, you can choose to stay."

"Haha, who are the potential buyers?"

"Chicago, your hometown." Thomas replied without thinking. "They are very competitive in the Eastern Conference, and Jimmy Butler is growing at an alarming rate."

"What if...I mean, I don't want to be in the East?"

After Wade finished saying this, Thomas cast a surprised look.

"At this time, you are still thinking about Miami? Don't want to be a rival of the Heat? Even for this reason, you have to give up the call of your hometown team!? God, you are hopeless, Dwayne!"

Wade raised the corners of his mouth slightly and shook his head, "Just think I'm hopeless, Thomas. By the way, is there any news about the Memphis Grizzlies?"

At this time, Wade suddenly remembered the text message Link sent to him in Los Angeles a few days ago.

"Yes, they have asked, and the offer is very sincere. But I don't think you can maintain your exposure under Link's halo. People who play beside him are Gasol, Conley and Iguodala." He is a tepid star player, and only this type of player is suitable for him. But you are different, Dwayne. Besides, if you join the Grizzlies and a team that has left scars on Miami, public opinion will be negative on you. Very disadvantageous.”

"It's now, and you're still thinking about Miami? You're hopeless, Thomas." Wade fired back at his manager with his exact words.

"Hey, when I said I didn't want to be in the East, it wasn't because of the Miami Heat. You know what I'm thinking about right now, Thomas?" Wade continued.

"what's on your mind?"

"I want to win!" he replied decisively.

"Have you thought about it?"

"More or less, since I can't stay in Miami forever...then go to a place where I can win. In the last few years, I don't want to admit defeat yet."

After Wade finished speaking, he picked up his phone and found Link's phone number.

This time, it was his turn to text Link.

After the Heat lost to the Grizzlies in the 2014 Finals, Link hugged Wade and said you are welcome to come to Memphis as a guest at any time.

In the summer of 2016, Wade finally decided to go to Memphis to relax.

"Now, do you still welcome me here?"

A simple text message determined the path Wade would take in the future.

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