Wade may have a motive in attacking Bulls' loyalty
Dwyane Wade seemed to send official word that he plans to fight the Bulls in free agency, rather than join them.
The Miami Heat star made comments in Thursday's Tribune questioning why Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are not involved in the Bulls organization, while suggesting a perceived lack of loyalty could hurt the Bulls in free agency.
Wade's words would hold more weight if he was a neutral party in this summer's free agent chase. But Miami also has cap room to spend, which means the Heat and Bulls will be going head-to-head trying to lure the likes of LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Wade could be trying to steer top free agents away from Chicago.
Bulls general manager Gar Forman took offense to the charge of disloyalty.
"Anyone who would question our loyalty is obviously misinformed," Forman said in a phone interview. "It absolutely ignores our record, which speaks for itself. We've had a number of ex-players that are and have been employed within our organization in a variety of capacities.
"We take great pride, not only in how we treat our current players, but also how we treat our former players."
The Bulls employ several ex-players - John Paxson, Bob Love, Pete Myers, Bill Wennington, Stacey King, Randy Brown, Sidney Green. Johnny "Red" Kerr, Norm Van Lier, Bill Cartwright and B.J. Armstrong were on the list in the past.
Wade spoke to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Thursday and downplayed his comments about the Bulls.
"All I know is that my favorite player of all time (Michael Jordan) is not there, so I'm wondering why, as a fan," he said. "Besides that, I think everything was maybe taken out proportion."
Wade spoke at the Miami-Dade County Courthouse, site of a civil trial regarding a failed restaurant investment.
"I'm not taking shots at the Bulls, and the organization," Wade said. "I respect the organization, I respect every organization in the NBA. It's just that my opinion when the question was asked about what's most important to you, I said one of the most important things is loyalty. It's not that I'm taking shots at the Bulls, or I'm taking shots at any organization."
Forman also doubts how high loyalty would rank on a free agent's wish list, assuming it is even an issue at all.
"In regards to the summer, what I read and hear players say is winning's the most important thing," Forman said. "We believe with our talented young nucleus of players and the flexibility we've created to add to our core, that we're set up to have great success here for many years."
The Bulls will try to add a top free agent to a lineup that already has Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng.
Wade also mentioned plans for all the top free agents this summer - himself, James, Bosh, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer - to get together before July 1 and discuss plans.
Such a meeting could violate the NBA's tampering rules. Chicago-based agent Henry Thomas, who represents Wade and Bosh, told the Sun-Sentinel there is no free-agent summit planned.