Sweet Home Chicago

"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." Ok, so his name isn't Jake or Elwood Blues, and the trip from Miami to Chicago is a whole lot farther than 106-miles, but you get the point. When Dwayne Wade officially becomes a free agent, he should make like the Blues Brothers and high tail it to the Windy City.

If we learned anything during the first round of the NBA playoffs, aside from the fact that the scheduling is brutal, it's that Miami's a one man show. It took a 46-point performance from Wade, including 19 in the 4th quarter, for the Heat to win one game against a senior citizen Celtics team that came into the post-season staggering. Wade is now 28, and to stay in Miami with the supporting cast by which he's surrounded, would be to waste the remaining prime years he has left in his career. Pat Riley and the rest of the Heat front office can certainly pursue the likes of Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire, but they can't guarantee what Chicago can...a young, talented nucleus led by an emerging star in point guard Derek Rose.

There are drawbacks, such as the lack of a stable coaching situation, Michael Jordan's never ending shadow, and the fact that Miami can pay him more, but they're far outweighed by the benefits. If Wade signs with the Bulls, they immediately become a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference, joining the ranks of the Cavaliers and Magic. He'll still get a max contract, and if money really is an issue, moving into the Chicago market will only help his marketability.

Finally, under the heading of "there's no place like home," Wade is a Chicago native, born on the south side. He doesn't have to be on a mission from God, but if his mission is to win another title, there's only one place to be...Sweet Home Chicago.