For the past nine seasons, two men have been on the sideline for every Miami Heat game. Next year, neither Dwyane Wade nor former Heat assistant and current Grizzlies coach David Fizdale will be among the Heat personnel. Fizdale wasn't just a long-time assistant under Erik Spoelstra in Miami helping the team to four Finals and two titles, but often referenced as a trusted advisor for players like Wade, LeBron James, all the way down to the role players.
But if losing Fizdale was a crippling blow, Wade leaving was like losing the team's very heart and soul. Wade agreed to a two-year, $47.5 million deal with the Bulls earlier this month.
In the aftermath of both long-time fixtures of Heat culture departing, Fizdale told CBS Sports this month at the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League that the way it ended, for both Wade and the Heat, was difficult for him on a personal level.
"It was, quietly and when I was sitting alone, it was heartbreaking. I have deep, deep affection for both sides of that," Fizdale said.
Fizdale insisted that while the fracture between Miami and Wade runs deep, there's no scenario he can see where the wounds aren't eventually healed.
"It's unfortunate they couldn't come to terms," the Grizzlies coach said, "but I think both sides will be OK and eventually come back together. But yeah, it was heartbreaking. The idea of Dwyane Wade not being in a Heat uniform was a kick in the stomach. I spoke to both sides, and it was a kick in the stomach to both of them. Dwyane wasn't exactly jumping with joy to leave, though he's excited about a new opportunity and a new challenge. But he was hurt he didn't stay, and the Heat were hurt as well he didn't stay."
Wade took several pay cuts over the years to help enhance and prolong the team's title window. But starting last offseason, Wade looked for big money deals as recompense for those discounts. The Heat, on the other hand, were unwilling to provide what would have been essentially back pay for a 34-year-old with injury concerns despite Wade's productive season in 2016. Pat Riley said recently that he had regrets over how the situation played out and that the team wanted to pay Wade but "not at the expense of paralyzing" their "chance to win."
Wade's deal with Chicago includes a player option for 2017-2018 and whether it's next year, or down the line, Fizdale insists that eventually, the two sides will reconcile because of what Wade means to the franchise and city.
"No matter what he's always going to be Heat family," Fizdale insisted. "Once they get past the hurt and the anger, at the end of the day Dwyane Wade is the Heat, right along with all those guys who are there. They all are 'the Heat.'"
"Who knows what the future holds, you may see him back there in a year and everything's back to normal. But it doesn't change anything from the standpoint of what we all shared accomplished together. That's something you can't ever take away. I know both sides understand that and eventually will come back together whether while he's still playing or in retirement."
Fizdale said that eventually, the end result of this divide will be the same, with Wade's jersey being retired and the team honoring his long success and three championships with Miami.
"Let's be real about it," said Fizdale. "There's going to be a banner up there with his jersey on it and a big ol' statue of him out front of [American Airlines Arena] looking out over Biscayne Boulevard. So how can it not come back together?"
