dwyane wade CHICAGO, IL – JULY 29: Dwyane Wade is introduced as a new member of the Chicago Bulls at the Advocate Center on July 29, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The NBA, with its big-name stars, relative lack of parity and wild free-agency periods, is uniquely prone to seismic what-ifs. One move can knock over infinite dominoes. If the Celtics don’t trade for Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett never agrees to go to Boston and the super-team paradigm is never born. If David Stern doesn’t veto the trade sending Chris Paul to the Lakers, the Clippers never get good and Kobe gets a couple more shots at the playoffs. If the Clippers don’t salary-dump Baron Davis on the Cavaliers, Cleveland never gets the first-round pick that becomes Kyrie Irving and LeBron never returns to Ohio.

Here’s one of the most fun hypotheticals of the past 10 years in the NBA: What if Dwyane Wade signs with the Chicago Bulls in 2010?

In a Q&A for SI.com’s new vertical, The Crossover, Rohan Nadkarni asked Wade about his first run at free agency and learned that Wade was extremely close to inking a deal with him hometown team six years earlier than he eventually did.

RN: How close were you to signing with Chicago in 2010?

Wade: I was very close. In my mind, I was going back home. But things change a little bit when you got Chris Bosh and LeBron James on the phone saying we can play together. That changed everything. The opportunity to play with those great players—in my wildest dreams I never thought it was possible. So it was tough. I was actually in Chicago, that’s where I was doing all my meetings. I had to leave the city because my emotions were playing on me. I wanted to be a part of that team, they had some great young talent. And I’ve always wanted to play at home. But I had to take myself out of the situation and make a decision where it was about championships, it was about now. And, with Chris and LeBron, that was now.

Whew, can you imagine the ramifications if Wade goes to Chi-Town back then? Does the Big Three ever happen? Does LeBron stay in Cleveland his whole career? Do the Thunder have an NBA title? Do the Spurs have one or two more?

It’s kind of mind-blowing how much of NBA history bends based on the decisions of a few dudes.

In the Q&A with SI.com, Wade spoke on a number of subjects, including the Bulls’ backcourt; what he’ll remember about Kobe, Tim Duncan and KG; the best moments of his career and why he speaks out on social issues. He also left the door tantalizingly open for a return to Miami.

RN: Will you ever play another game for the Miami Heat?

Wade: I don’t know. I never thought I would not be there. At this point in my career, I’ve been asked that, and it’s not a focus of mine. I’m happy where I am. I gave Miami everything I had for 13 years. The years I have left, hopefully I can give as much to Chicago. You never know what the future holds so you never want to say yes or no. Anything is possible. But, I’m cool right now. I’m good.

[SI.com]

 

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.