Chicago Bulls: 5 Bold Predictions For 2016-17 Season

4. D. Wade Will Be A Difference-Maker For Bulls

When it comes to Dwyane Wade signing with the Bulls, the adage “the third time’s a charm” comes to mind. Wade was selected as the fifth overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 2003 draft, just two spots ahead of the Bulls, who had the No. 7 pick.

Seven years later, the Bulls hoped to acquire Wade during the summer of 2010. Instead, Wade opted to stay in Miami and went on to win a pair of titles with LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Following contentious contract negotiations with the Heat during the offseason, the 13-year veteran signed with Bulls on a two-year deal worth $47.5 million, thus bringing the local kid back to city he grew up in.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Wade is past his prime at 34 years of age. That point cannot be debated.

In addition to that, his 19.0 points per game tied for the second-lowest scoring output of his career. At the same time, Wade did appear in 74 games last season, the most he has played in five seasons.

It is also worth noting that he averaged 21.4 points per game while converting an eye-popping 52 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc during Miami’s postseason run.

That being said, as long as Wade isn’t asked to log heavy minutes on a nightly basis — something he says he has no desire to do — it is possible that he will return to being the 20-point scorer he has been for most of his career.

Next: Bulls Return To Playoffs