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NBA Free Agency: New Additions Who Will Be 2017 All-Stars

By Maxwell Ogden

Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kevin Durant poses for a photo with his jersey during a press conference after signing with the Golden State Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kevin Durant poses for a photo with his jersey during a press conference after signing with the Golden State Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 25, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) prior to a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) prior to a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 34 (1/17/1982)
Slash Line: .456/.159/.793
Season Averages: 30.5 MPG, 19.0 PPG, 4.6 APG, 4.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG

No free agency decision was more shocking—all right, maybe Kevin Durant—than Dwyane Wade leaving the Miami Heat. After 13 seasons, three championships, five NBA Finals appearances, and 12 All-Star Game appearances, Wade found a new home.

That new home just so happens to be his original home, as Wade inked a two-year deal worth $47.5 million with his hometown Chicago Bulls.

The hype alone could land Wade in the 2017 All-Star Game as Chicagoans vote him into the starting lineup. Keep in mind, Wade received more fan votes than any Eastern Conference player not named LeBron James in 2015-16.

In fact, the only four players who received more fan votes than Wade were Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, James, and Kevin Durant.

Bryant retired, Curry and Durant are in the Western Conference, and James doesn’t play the same position as Wade. In other words, no Eastern Conference guard has emerged as a safe bet to replace Wade in the All-Star starting lineup.

Teammate Jimmy Butler may have something to say about that, but let’s be honest: Wade is a 12-time All-Star who hasn’t missed the game since 2004.

must read: Dwyane Wade's 10 greatest moments with the Miami Heat

If any one of these players is a truly safe bet to make it again in 2016-17, it’s the first ballot Hall of Famer who has the support of a rabid and vast hometown fan base, and did nothing to truly alienate his beloved Heat fans.