Chicago Bulls face uncertain future after Dwyane Wade injury

In his third season, Wade led the Heat to their first NBA championship in franchise history and was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP. A lot will depend on how the rest of the team, and more specifically Butler, picks up the slack in Wade’s absence.

The Chicago Bulls signed Dwayne Wade to a 2-year $47 million contract in the offseason but has a player option on the final year of his contract.

“It’ll be an even better story with me out of it”, Wade said.

Perhaps Butler, Rondo and the young Bulls come together to make a push to the playoffs.

The Bulls reportedly have had a contentious locker room all season.

The Chicago Bulls can kiss their hopes to reach the Playoffs goodbye.

With 14 games left, the Bulls are trying to capture the Eastern Conference’s eighth playoff spot, a position now held by the Detroit Pistons. “But no question about it, what happens throughout this year as I go into my summer, I’ll definitely take a look at it”.

“I don’t think so”, head coach Fred Hoiberg said when asked if the team’s mindset about making the playoffs has changed in light of Wade’s injury. He’s averaging just 9.0 ppg this season against Chicago, but much of that has been due to his responsibility trying to slow down All-Star Jimmy Butler. Wade wore an elbow brace/cast as he spoke to reporters. At 32-36 it’s going to be tough, but the team has enough veterans that they won’t simply throw in the towel after hearing this latest Dwyane Wade injury update. He has a $23.8 million player option, so does he cash in on that payday? Goran Dragic, Udonis Haslem and Hassan Whiteside each said they will check in on their former teammate after hearing the news. “It’s just good to see our guys competing again”. Considering the free fall of the Bulls’ organization, no one would blame Wade.

A 12-time All-Star and three-time National Basketball Association champion, Wade said he sustained the injury when his elbow was caught awkwardly while battling Zach Randolph and others for a rebound.