Anybody saying that this would create a "Big 4" is doing so only because of Wade's established reputation, not based on current production. He is either washed up or sandbagging it (and I seriously doubt it is the 2nd. He's far too competitive for that).
Let's review this year:
-He sat out over 1/3 of the Heat's regular season games (28 out of 82)
-He played Popovich minutes in the other 54 (32.9 mins per game)
On to the playoffs:
-He played 33 low-intensity minutes per game in a sweep of Charlotte (lots of rest after the series).
-He played low-ish minutes (35/game) during a gentleman's sweep of an average team (Brooklyn).
-He played 35.5/game during a 6 game series against a team that was imploding.
Despite all that rest (even Pop doesn't sit Duncan for 1/3 of the season) and the fact that he was playing crap teams, he has completely run out of gas in the finals, this despite only playing 34mins/game. He can't drive. He has no lift on his jumpers. And on defense, he's does that jog/walk that you usually see with overweight people who have just started their exercise program. He's not just a liability on D, he almost guarantees an open shot for somebody.
This is only going to get worse barring a Kobe or Duncan-like miracle (and those are definitely the exception, not the norm). I'm not kidding when I say I wouldn't want Wade over Danny Green or even Patty Mills. That's even if their salaries were the same. The only things he's got over those guys are experience (not insubstantial but minimized with a coach like Pop), an ability to draw fouls, and maybe 2-3 nifty offensive moves/game. On the other side, Green and Mills play far better defense, are quicker, are much more consistent on offense, and they are willing to admit their weaknesses and play around them. Fading superstars rarely go quietly. They continue on, insistent that they deserve the same touches that they did back in their primes.
[This message has been edited by Deputy Travis Junior (edited 6/14/2014 5:07p).]
