Chicago Bulls: The Makings Of Guard Dwyane Wade 2.0

NBA superstar Dwyane Wade might be looking forward to a new beginning with the Chicago Bulls, but there is plenty he will have to leave behind in order to be successful.

This upcoming NBA season, everything will change for Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade.

In fact, it already has.

Having decided to leave behind the Miami Heat after 13 seasons of playing in South Beach, the guard signed a contract with the Chicago Bulls this summer, leaving all of Heat Nation heartbroken and shocking the entire Windy City.

Although it is obvious that the 34-year-old is eager to begin a new chapter in his life, there is no doubt about it: the transition will not be an easy one. As Wade finished up his Miami commitments, said goodbye to his loved ones, and boarded a private jet on Wednesday afternoon, his book on Miami has officially come to a close.

(For now, anyways.)

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So it is time to look ahead.

While his time with the Heat will never be forgotten, neither by Wade nor his fans, unfortunately there are a handful of things the veteran will need to learn to leave behind if he wishes to be successful in Chicago.

For example, the idea of being the end-all, be-all.

This might sound dramatic. But for good reason. For the better part of 13 years, Wade was the face of a franchise. There was no Miami without mention of Wade. He represented the city. He was synonymous with the team. And no one ever expected this to change.

But it did. For one reason or another, Wade thought it best to leave behind the only organization he had ever played for. During most likely the farewell tour his career, to boot. To join a team that struggled last year (to put it mildly), is under an inexperienced coach and is dealing with a significantly revamped roster.

And in that move, he goes from top dog to just one piece of the puzzle — albeit a pretty large piece, but a piece nevertheless.

Because he now has to play alongside a guy like Rajon Rondo, who lives for having the ball in his hands. Who gets a bit… cranky when that is not the case. And then there is Jimmy Butler, who has been waiting for the chance to take over the Bulls since just about the moment he was drafted. Who had to swallow his pride in order to deal with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, year after year.

For all practical purposes, Chicago now belongs to Butler.

That is something Wade can’t do anything about. Something that he just has to get used to. Not just on the court, but off of it, as well.

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Conversely however, he will also have to learn how to wear many more hats.

Over his career with the Heat, Wade has had the privilege of playing alongside talent like Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Although he himself has always been a high-level basketball player, he has been able to stick to what he is good at, and leave the rest to his All-Star teammates.

However, this will not necessarily be the case in 2016-17.

There is no question: the Bulls have certainly made moves this offseason. Last year’s problems should very well be a thing of the past. The future is looking up. But even so, Wade will have to get used to playing without the Ray Allens and Hassan Whitesides of the league.

He will have to compensate for what he has lost around him.

Like when it comes to three-point shooting, for example. Wade has never really made three-pointers a part of his game, because he didn’t have to. He always had sharpshooters from downtown to fall back on. Specialized players like James Jones who could be counted on, night after night.

But now, with Rondo falling behind in that category too and Butler’s strengths lying elsewhere, Wade may have to step up and train himself to get more comfortable beyond the arc.

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Wade’s Miami legacy will follow him around for the rest of his life. But hopefully, the adjustments he makes to help Chicago become successful again will go down in history as well.