Surprise! Wade speaks to Stoneman Douglas graduates

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Former NBA player Dwyane Wade surprised the Marjory Stoneman Douglas graduates on Sunday. He was the school’s special guest — and when he was introduced, there was a lot of cheers.

One year ago, Wade met the students after a human shot and killed 17 students on Feb. 14, 2018. The star — who played for the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in his career before retiring in April — says that he is part of the MSD family.

Dwyane Wade takes a moment to himself during the national anthem before the game with the Charlotte Hornets (Getty Images)

During his speech to the graduates, Wade said it’s OK that they are undecided on their future. The school went through one of the worst massing shootings in US history.

“I’m so proud to say the words ‘MSD Strong,’” Wade said. “Today, you will close a chapter in your lives and embark on new experiences and journeys and memories. And it’s a time to celebrate and be proud of everything you’ve done to make it to this moment. As you know, I, too, recently closed a pretty significant chapter in my life. So in a way I feel like I can relate to what’s going on in your minds right now.”

There was no publicity about Wade coming to the graduation. Also, when he visited the school, it was kept secret.

When he visited for the first-time, he was not sure if his remarks would make an impact.

“What started going through my mind was, ‘How do I dare come here and act like I know what you guys have been going through? How narcissistic of me to think I can come here and make a difference because I’m good at my sport?’” Wade said. “I remember walking slowly to the cafeteria. As I was walking in, students started seeing me, started seeing smiles, people running, pulling out their phones.

“And I remember thinking, ‘Wow.’”

Since the shooting, Wade has been an advocate for increasing school safety. Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the mass shooting, was buried in Wade’s jersey.

Heat legend Dwyane Wade has triple-double in finale

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki was one of two future Hall of Famers, who retired on Wednesday night. Besides the seven-foot German, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade also played his final contest.

He also bested Nowitzki, who had a double-double in his final game. He had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the 40-year-old.

Dwyane Wade looks on against the Charlotte Hornets (Getty Images)

Wade had a triple double against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. He had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 36 minutes.

His 25 points were a team-high. The final assist came to Udonis Haslem, who is also retiring from the game following this contest.

The 37-year-old Chicago, Illinois native was the fifth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Heat. He played 15 seasons with the Heat, Chicago Bulls, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He appeared in 948 games with the Heat. He appeared in 60 games with the Bulls and 46 games with the Cavaliers.

This season, he appeared in 72 games with two starts. He started the final two games of his career.

He had 55 points in his final two games with 30 points in his finale in Miami and 25 points in Brooklyn. His season-best was 35 points that he scored against the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 25.

Wade inks lifetime with Chinese apparel company

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Dwyane Wade, who is on the downside of his career with the Miami Heat, has signed a lifetime deal with Li-Ning. The Chinese apparel company has been sponsoring him for the past several years.

Wade made the announcement while he was in Beijing on Wednesday. Li Ning, the company’s CEO, was also at the event.

Dwyane Wade attempts a jump shot over Philadelphia 76ers’ T.J. McConnell (Getty Images)

The star NBA player has been working with Li-Ning since 2012. He previously had shoe deals with Converse and Jordan Brand in his NBA career.

Besides Wade’s role in the company’s basketball and lifestyle apparel, he will now have a larger role within the company. He will also help with their youth development camps and basketball clinics, according to the announcement, in China and across the world.

He began last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had signed a one-year deal with the team, before being traded to the Heat at the NBA trade deadline.

Right now, Wade has not decided if he will return for his 16th season. He is 36-years-old.

Li-Ning has many sports sponsorships, as they attempt to raise its profile around the world. The company previously had apparel deals with the Argentina national basketball team in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

They also sponsored Finland national basketball team at the 2015 EuroBasket and the Malaysia national basketball team at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

Presently, the company has sponsorship deals with football and basketball teams. They sponsor Tajikistan national football team in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

They also sponsor club teams Esteghlal F.C., Persepolis F.C., and Tractor Sazi F.C. in . They also sponsor C.F. Pachuca in Mexico.

Wade reunites with James in Cleveland

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

LeBron James has been criticized for bringing in former Top 10 players to be his teammate. He has done it again with one of his best friends.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed free agent guard Dwyane Wade to a one-year deal. He’ll make $2.3 million during the 2017-18 season.

The Cavaliers were the favorites to sign Wade after he agreed to a buyout with the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night. He reunites with his best friend James, as the two were previously teammates with the Miami Heat.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (Getty Images)

In addition, James and Wade were a member of the 2003 NBA Draft class. James was the No. 1 overall pick by the Cavaliers, while Wade went fifth overall to the Heat.

Wade had to clear waivers before he could officially sign. On Wednesday, his first day of being eligible to sign with his new team, he signed with the Cavaliers.

The 32-year-old, who may be playing for his final team in his career, had to eat $8 million to leave the Bulls. Yet, he did receive $16 million of his potential $23.8 million deal for this season during the buy out.

Last season with the Bulls, he averaged 18.3 points. He also shot 31% from three-point range.

Wade and James helped the Heat two championship in a stretch that included four straight NBA Finals appearances from 2011 to 2014. The Cavaliers, if they advance to the NBA Finals once again, it’ll be their third straight NBA Finals appearance.

Any Corrections?. You can contact Anthony at publisher@thecapitalsportsreport.com.

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Bulls interested in 76ers’ Okafor

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
On February 3, 2017 at 12:52 am EST

The Chicago Bulls are reportedly interested in Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor, according to CSNChicago.com. Okafor is a Chicago native and has been in a numbers game with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.

With the emergence of Embiid, Okafor has been on the trading block. He is a half-court center, but he is defensively inclined.

Jahlil Okafor (Getty Images)

The Bulls have had a lot of dysfunction between Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo. If they can get their acts together, they can be a contending team in the Eastern Conference.

Right now, the Bulls center is Robin Lopez. After being acquired from the New York Knicks in the Derrick Rose trade, he has not produced much for the team. The 28-year-old is averaging 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game with 0.8 assists and 0.2 steals.

Lopez has had two 21-point games this season. However, he also had 24 games, where he has scored less than 10-points in a game.

This season, Okafor is averaging 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 23 games.

He was the third overall pick by the 76ers in the 2015 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 53 games.

This appears — at this early stage — to be more interest in the Bulls side than the 76ers.

Any Corrections?. You can contact Anthony at publisher@thecapitalsportsreport.com.

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Lakers defeat Bulls without Russell, Young

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Chicago Bulls, 96-90, at the United Center on Wednesday night.

The Lakers improved to 10-10 on the season. It’s the second win in their past three games for the Lakers, who were without D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young.

José Calderón (Getty Images)

The Bulls dropped to 10-7. Chicago has lost for the second time in their past three games. They’re 4-2 at home.

Young suffered a strained right calf on Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s expected to be out two-to-four weeks. Russell sat out as he recovers from left knee soreness.

The Bulls were without Doug McDermott as he continues to be in concussion protocol. He’s missed seven straight games after being injured in the Nov. 12 game when he fell on his face and caused the injury when he lost his balance.

Julius Randle led the Lakers with 13 points, while Luol Deng added 10 points. Fellow starters Timofey Mozgov, rookie Brandon Ingram and José Calderón combined for 17 points.

Los Angeles had 56 bench points. Both Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams had 18 points off the bench.

The Bulls had 22 points from Jimmy Butler. Dwyane Wade added 17, while Rajon Rondo had 14. Starters Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez combined for 21 points.

Chicago had limited bench production, as they had just 16 bench points. Nikola Mirotić led these players with six points.

Any Corrections?. You can contact Anthony at publisher@thecapitalsportsreport.com.

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Chicago police arrest two in Wade’s cousins death

By Anthony Caruso III
Publisher

The Chicago Police Department have arrested two men in the murder of Dwyane Wade‘s cousin, who was shot dead on Friday. The two brothers have been charged with first-degree murder in Nykea Aldridge‘s death.

Wade’s mother Jolinda, who is a Chicago-area paster, said she was walking her kids to register them for school when she was shot down. The authorities have charged 26-year-old Darwin Sorrells Jr. and 22-year-old Derren Sorrells with her death.

Hours after the shooting, law enforcement said she wasn’t the intended target. They also said they believe it was gang-related.

Dwyane Wade (Getty Images)

The brothers both have criminal records. Law enforcement said they walked up to a third man and shot when the 32-year-old Aldridge’s head and arm was hit with the bullets.

The authorities are expected to release more information at a news conference later today in regarding to the death of the mother of four.

On Thurs. night, Wade and his mother were featured on The Undefeated‘s race conversation from the SouthSide YMCA.

Wade signed with his hometown Bulls this off-season. He, along with Chicago area athletes and his teammate Rajon Rondo, have asked for the violence to stop in the Windy City.

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Staying put: Chalmers re-signs with the Heat for the next two years

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: July 13th, 2014 at 11:55 pm EST

On Friday, LeBron James decided to leave the Miami Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Many thought it would be a mass exit for the other free agents as well.

However, that has not been the case. Free agent Mario Chalmers is the latest to stay put.

Mario Chalmers (Getty Images)

Chris Bosh and Chris Andersen also re-signed deals with the Heat. They are also expected to re-sign Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade this week.

“Proud to stay I’m back [with] the Heat,” Chalmers wrote on Twitter. “Heat nation we still here.”

The 28-year-old is expected to keep his starting point guard role with Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier backing up. If teams are able to make him struggle like the San Antonio Spurs did in the NBA Finals, Napier will be named the starter.

Chalmers has been with the Heat for the past six years. In his career, he has averaged less than 10 points a season.

It was thought after the loss in the NBA Finals that Chalmers would leave town. As players decided to go elsewhere, the Heat had to re-sign their point guard for the next several years.

RT @ESPNSteinLine: As for Mario Chalmers, hearing he landed a two-year deal from the Heat in the region of $8+ million

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 14, 2014

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What will James do? The focus is on whether the Heat star will become a free agent

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: June 15th, 2014 at 11:46 pm EST

The Miami Heat are going to need to rebuild in order to be able to contend for another NBA Finals.

The Heat have appeared in the past four NBA Finals since LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh formed the Big 3 in 2010. Since that time, they are 2-2 in the Finals.

LeBron James (Getty Images)

James was the only one that stepped up against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Yet, they received little help from Bosh and Wade, who was a different player with his injured knees.

These three players have the opportunity to leave the Heat this summer. The biggest question mark will be what James does.

He has not answered many questions regarding his future. He will have a few days to make his decision, as he will have to inform the NBA next week if he elects to become a free agent.

If he does, the team that he signs with will change the landscape of the NBA. Much like it did in 2010, it will give that team a very good shot at winning a championship.

LeBron James: “I love Miami. My family loves it. Right now, I’m not even thinking about that.” Said he will sit down with family/friends.

— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) June 16, 2014

 

LeBron James on this summer: “(You) guys are trying to find answers. I’m not going to give you one.”

— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) June 16, 2014

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Spurs defeat the Heat in Game 5 to win the NBA Finals

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: June 15th, 2014 at 11:04 pm EST

The San Antonio Spurs are the NBA Champions.

The Spurs beat the Miami Heat, 104-87, causing a 4-1 series win in the NBA Finals. It is the second loss in the NBA Finals for the Big 3 of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.

San Antonio Spurs celebrating (Photo by the San Antonio Spurs)

“We remember how it felt last year,” Duncan said. “It makes last year ok. We remember how it felt in that locker room that got us here today.”

This championship is the fifth for the Spurs since 1999. It is also the fourth in the Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili era.

Last year, the Spurs were just seconds away from winning their fifth in Miami, before Ray Allen hit a key three-pointer and turned Game 6 into the Heat’s favor. A few days later, the Heat won in Game 7, as the Spurs were deflated after the Game 6 loss.

Kawhi Leonard let the Spurs with 22 points. Ginobili came off the bench and scored 19 poins with Patty Mills scoring 17 off the bench, as well.

Parker scored 16 points, and Duncan scored 14 points with 8 rebounds. Besides Leonard, Boris Diaw chipped in five points and Danny Green had zero from the Spurs starting lineup.

Marco Bellinelli scored 4 points, while Tiago Splitter scored 3 points. Jeff Ayres and Aron Baynes chipped in 2 points.

They had 16 fast break points and 32 points in the paint. The Spurs also scored 8 points off of 8 turnovers.

The Heat were led by James, who had 31 points. This was his third NBA Finals loss in his career.

Bosh scored 13 points with Wade chipping in 11 points. The rest of their starting lineup had 8 points, as Rashard Lewis scored 3 points and Allen, who started as the point guard in place of Mario Chalmers, had five points.

Michael Beasley scored 9 points and Chalmers had 8 points. Toney Douglas had 3 points, while Udonis Haslem and Norris Cole had 2 points.

The Heat had 11 fast break points, and 34 points in the paint. They scored 12 points off of turnovers.