What a difference a summer and an unexpected free-agent decision can make.
After four seasons together ending in consecutive NBA finals appearances and back-to back titles, Dwyane Wade now pronounces former Miami Heat teammate LeBron James the player he most looks forward to competing against.
“Well, it used to be Kobe Bryant…the second best all time…now, I have a new favorite player to play against,” Wade told BleacherReport of the four-time league MVP.
The 29-year-old James announced earlier this offseason that he was heading back to his native Cleveland, and has since inked a two-year, $40-plus million deal with the team he spent the first seven seasons of his career with. While it’s clear Wade doesn’t quite consider James his mortal enemy, it’s just as apparent he senses that for his Heat to build on their historic run the Cavs now almost certainly rate as one of the Eastern Conference powers they will have to go through.
In addition to James, the Cavs roster also boasts All-Star guard Kyrie Irving and one-time lottery picks Anthony Bennett, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. The team also tabbed Andrew Wiggins with the top overall pick in this year’s draft, though he has been prominently mentioned in trade talks for Minnesota’s Kevin Love.
Meanwhile, the Heat and Pat Riley have added Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger since James’ departure, along with re-signing Chris Bosh, Chris Andersen, and Udonis Haslem. Coming off his lowest scoring season since his rookie season (19 points per game), the 32-year-old Wade is also rumored to have embarked on a new, strict diet that he is hoping will allow him to improve on the career-high 29 games he missed last season.
James averaged 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals with the Heat last season while also shooting a career-high 57 percent from the field.
