When the greatest player in franchise history speaks up on the current state of the team— you listen. And that’s exactly what former Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade did recently.
Miami had just suffered a season ending play-in elimination, making it the first time since the 2018-19 campaign (ironically in Wade’s farewell tour season) that they missed out of the playoffs. Since their improbable run to the NBA Finals in 2023, the Heat have failed to make it out of the first round in the following three years.
Over the years, Wade has dove into the media world, whether it’s been calling games as a TV announcer for NBA on Prime or leading his own podcast with Wy Network. In one of his latest episodes, Wade shared his brutally honest thoughts on the Heat’s current roster situation. He mentioned that they have been a “disgruntled” organization the last few years, and added where he believes things turned for the worst during this time.
“It’s no secret that the Miami Heat need to re-tool. They need to figure it out. They continue to put out All-Stars but you just got to put out the right mix together so you can get back to that place you’re accustomed to being at. That’s the playoffs and competing for something. It’s not just championships, it’s in the playoffs competing for something.”
“You just want a chance. We haven’t given ourself a chance. We’ve been in the play-in the last four years. People got mad at me when I said it but no lies detected. It’s not that the talent isn’t there, It’s just the ‘meshing’ of the talent is not there… It started when everything started going down with Jimmy (Butler) and the Heat. We’ve been a disconnect organization since that point. We been a disgruntled organization the last few years.”
— Dwyane Wade (via Wy Network, h/t HeatCulture13/X)
Dwyane Wade believes the organization hasn’t been the same since Jimmy Butler’s departure.
The unfortunate reality is that Wade is absolutely right.
During the Butler era, Miami was a proven underdog that had undeniable success as a group. They were never valued in the eyes of national media as a real contender, but Butler’s playoff risings and belief in the team repeatedly defied the odds and proved narrative’s wrong.
At least to many Heat fans, those Butler led teams were fun to watch and always delivered when it mattered the most. It didn’t matter if they were a fifth seed, eighth seed, play-in or whatever the case may be. As long as they at least made it to the postseason, the team knew what they were capable of— the success speaks for itself.
Two trips to the NBA Finals and one game seven of an Eastern Conference finals in a five-year span. If that 2024 playoffs where Butler suffered a knee injury in the play-in and was sidelined for the Heat’s entire first round series isn’t counted here— then that was all done in really a four-year span.
Of course, new contract/extension talks ultimately led to a publicly disgruntled Butler in his final year in the 2024-25 season before finally forcing his way out by the trade deadline. The negative attention and discourse it brought to the locker room was noticeable, both on and off the court. That Butler chapter is now closed completely, but there’s no question that this once eight seed Eastern Conference champion group just hasn’t had that same spark ever since.
Wade knows so himself, and it only makes it that much more glaring to know that significant roster upgrades are needed to get the Heat back to where they’re accustomed to being: competing for a championship.
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“You just want a chance. We haven’t given ourself a chance. We’ve been in the play-in the last four years. People got mad at me when I said it but no lies detected. It’s not that the talent isn’t there, It’s just the ‘meshing’ of the talent is not there… It started when everything started going down with Jimmy (Butler) and the Heat. We’ve been a disconnect organization since that point. We been a disgruntled organization the last few years.”
WHO IS THIS “WE” HE’S TALKING ABOUT?
Things started going down when Wade decided to become a part owner of the Utah Jazz five years ago (April 2021) and take a hands-on role in the franchise by assisting with team operations and business development. He’s no longer in a position to give the Heat advice.
Because he is Butlers friend.
wiggy dav jaco norm dont move the needle to much.jimmy when healthy major needle mover but he got old at the end.need some needle movers.currently dont have one
Butler hasn’t won a championship with any team he played for. He was on a good Sixers team. With the Wolves, he had KAT, a much younger Wiggins, Teague, Deng, Rose, even Covington.
stackton mailman barkley ewing need help rc or no mj.for 4 years he took a mediocre team to 2 finals.becuase of lack of size(bam) or lack of talent dunc caleb .. didnt finish job had nothing to do with him.
A truly great player finds a way. Wade could, Steph could. SGA can, LeBron still occasionally can, which is unheard of at 41.
mailman stockton barkley patrick?pretty good players?
I have brought up those names to you in the past. IMO, the first 3 were better than Butler, Ewing equal.
Miami needs to develop its younger players, acquire assets and be in a position in the summer of 2027 to make a splash. Minor moves like the ones made in the last 6 years won’t move the needle and would be like putting lipstick on a pig.
develop who all role players except maybe ware and hes got long way to go to be a diff maker.the league is full or role players.difference makers needed.all the teams left playing now have diff makers.role players dime a dozen.
Develop two lottery picks (2026 & 2027), second rounder (2026), current youngsters (Ware, Jakucionis, Jaquez, Larsson, Johnson, Jovic) and any young players obtained via trades. Cut current overhead so Heat can use salary savings to look for difference maker(s) in summer 2027.
Yeah, exactly as SM indicates. Not saying develop players into all stars. Develop players to understand their role, to contribute to team success, to fill positions of need like pf or backup center, and to become tradable assets when you need that final piece to put you over the top.
Exactamundo!
You can’t insist on having a half-ass competitive team while also expecting to rebuild. Pick one direction or the other. Up until now, Miami has chosen the half-ass option. In the process, it has entered into contracts over the past 10 years (several out of desperation) which have hamstrung the team’s trade/free agent/re-tooling options.
No shit Sherlock. Why not address the 800 pound gorilla in the room? Three guesses and the first two don’t count.