Chicago Bulls Roster News and Update for NBA 2016-17 Season: Dwyane Wade Says 'It's My Decision to be Selfish,' About Transfer from Miami Heat
Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo are the biggest additions to the Chicago Bulls arsenal this 2016-2017 season. The decision to include the two superstars in the lineup made it clear that the Bulls is not riding the bandwagon where other teams are building up three-point specialists in their arsenal.
With the departure of Derrick Rose, the Bulls are playing their cards around Wade and Rondo. Although comparatively, the two are not as effective as the former in the three-point arc, making it apparent that the team will rely on inside and under the basket efficiency of the new duo.
The Bulls seems to be overhauling the entire team and fans will miss some familiar starters to include Rose. The team has made the overhaul possible through the free agency and trade deals for the 2016-17 season, a move badly needed since the team grew cold in eight years.
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Team vice president John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman, therefore, breathed new life into the sinking team and recent developments can be considered as one of the quickest rebuilding effort in NBA's new era. The team might even end up in one of top five landing spots in the Eastern finals.
The move however, seems to be leading into Chicago building up Rondo as the new floor manager since the point guard is universally known in Celtics, Mavericks and Kings to possess the pass-first ethos. The set-up can be a potential fit for scorers such as Jimmy Butler, Nicola Mirotic and Wade. Rondo's record as the NBA's current leader in assists is a testament of selfless plays and dangerous asset if these passes can convert into scores.
Now about Wade, Bull's current salary cap is still way under, plus $19 million in luxury tax space, making it possible to accommodate a pricey $47.5 two-year contract for the three-time champion. The team is apparently gambling in Wade's veteran status at 34 and hoping that he can still show flashes of himself and help out Butler.
"I got the opportunity to be selfish and I took it. The direction and the focus for that organization in Miami, which I have nothing but respect for and love for, was a little different than it has been in the past. And with that being said, my direction and my focus was a little different than it's been in years past," Wade said during the press conference called during Bulls' practice where he was announced as a new addition to the team.
So come 2016-17 season, the projected starters for the newly overhauled Bulls will look like cornerstones composed of point guard Rondo, shooting guard Wade and small forward Jimmy Butler with power forward Nicola Mirotic and center Robin Lopez under the basket.
Coming off the bench are point guard Jerian Grant, shooting guard Denzel Valentine, small forwards Doug McDermott and Tony Snell, power forwards Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis as well as center Cristiano Felicio.
