Dwayne Wade to remain with Chicago Bulls: News and reaction

Veteran star Dwyane Wade has chosen to stay with the Chicago Bulls despite the uncertain direction of the franchise.

Amid uncertainty about the Chicago Bulls‘ future, Dwyane Wade has removed one question: he will be a Bull next season.

Wade reportedly informed the team that he will opt into his $23.8 million 2018 player option. From a financial standpoint, this move was expected. After all, the 35-year-old wouldn’t have earned that nearly much as a free agent at this point in his career.

The timing of his decision is interesting, however. Even now, the Bulls are still shopping Jimmy Butler, though he has expressed a desire to stay in town. In particular, the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves have all been labeled as possible destinations. However, sources suggest that Wade intended to pick up his option even if Butler left. Assuming he’s still with the team, Butler and Wade will likely meet over the next few weeks to discuss their futures.

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If both Wade and Butler stay in Chicago, it will certainly suggest that the Bulls don’t want to rebuild yet. In fact, CSN Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill stated that the front office reportedly told both Wade and Butler not to expect drastic roster changes. Of course, there are grumblings that they don’t terribly want Rajon Rondo back. In such a case, the Bulls might try to recruit a veteran point guard like Kyle Lowry or Patrick Beverly. But the future is still relatively murky.

And with the decision to potentially keep Wade, Butler and Co. intact comes the risk that failure to succeed could finally cost Bulls’ brass their jobs. Sure, we’ve been saying that for years, but this time is different. The team has an opportunity now to admit that it’s not a title contender and trade Butler for future assets. Wherever they traded him to, they’d surely recoup a lottery pick or multiple young talents that could become stars.

Instead, they appear ready to double down and stick with a mediocre roster lead by a good but not great player. If the Bulls miss the playoffs next year with Wade, Rondo and Butler’s contracts up, the chickens may finally come home to roost.

Next: Could the Chicago Bulls use Butler trade to offload Wade?

For now, Wade, and likely Butler at least remain a part of the Chicago Bulls’ future plans. What those plans are exactly we still don’t know, of course. Truthfully, the Bulls could possibly still trade Butler and package Wade along with him, if someone were willing to take on the contract. Who knows? What we do know is that an aging Wade will continue jacking up mid-range jumpers every other possession and occasionally showing flashes of his dominant self.

Hopefully, that’s enough to keep Bulls fans interested as the team inevitably comes up short in their futile quest for a title.