NBA Rumor Mill: Could Wade End up in Los Angeles?

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to make a huge splash in both free agency and with the #2 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. With what is expected to be Kobe Bryant’s final season after a sure-fire Hall of Fame career, the Lake Show are looking to send the Black Mamba out in style. Former Kentucky star Julius Randle will finally get to play a full season (hopefully) after breaking his leg in the first game of what would have been his rookie year last year. The Lakers will likely add fellow Kentucky alumni Karl Anthony Towns or Duke’s Jahill Okafor with the second pick. But the Lakers also have a lot of cap room to spend in free agency. While Cleveland’s Kevin Love has long thought to be the prime target, Memphis center Marc Gasol (brother of former Laker and two-time champion Pau Gasol) is also on the radar. Former UK guard Rajon Rondo has long been thought to be on his way to L.A. as well, but a new surprising name has popped up the radar….Miami’s Dwayne Wade. Wade has played his entire career in South Beach and has three championships to show for it (One with Shaquille O’Neal, and two with Lebron James). With contact talks at a stalemate between Wade and Heat management, rumblings have begun that the former Marquette star could be interested in taking a cut to go to L.A. and spend the final of year of Bryant’s career there. Wade is 33 and wouldn’t be able to take the Lakers much farther down the post-Bryant era. But insiders are saying he is eyeing the team closely this offseason. Bryant’s former teammate Shaquille O’Neal left the Lakers to team up with Wade and the two won a championship together. In a twist of fate, could Wade return the favor and head out west to team up with Bryant? The Lakers are nowhere near championship caliber yet, but Wade’s presence (while diminished with age and injuries) would certainly help the case for the team.