NBA News: Heat Seriously Struggling After Losing Franchise Player Through Free Agency

The first NBA season since 2003, the Miami Heat roster does not include their franchise player Dwyane Wade, who signed with the Chicago Bulls last summer. The Heat are greatly struggling this season with a 5-12 record in the eastern conference standings and still looking for a new leader to replace Dwyane Wade. Signing role players Dion Waiters and Derrick Williams to fill in the void and to support Hassan Whiteside holding the banner for the new-look Miami Heat.

Heat rewarded Hassan Whiteside a max contract for his solid plays last season but completely lost the best talents in the NBA after winning back-to-back NBA titles with their three superstars. LeBron James went back to the Cleveland Cavaliers and willed the Cavs to win the title last season, Chris Bosh is out indefinitely with his illness then Wade was lost through free agency. Critics believe that the Miami Heat are headed downwards and may have a chance for a high pick in the NBA draft next year, according to nba.com.

When Dwyane Wade visited Miami for the first time in a Bulls uniform, he showcased the vintage Dwyane Wade highlights all throughout the game and made the Heat feel what they are missing. A go-to guy, a leader on and off the court and a player who takes big shots when the game is on the line. Chicago won 95-98 in a close game against the Heat and Wade stated that the young Miami Heat team will eventually learn to figure out how to win. After the game, Dwyane Wade approached his former teammates and had some pointers to the young players of the Heat to keep working hard, via Miami Herald.

The Heat has invested a lot in their young center Hassan Whiteside by signing him to a huge and long-term contract. In a recent interview with Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, he addressed that setting up Whiteside as the primary option in the Heat's offensive flow is still a thing the team needs to work on. Spoelstra added that it must be a team coordination to find Whiteside more in the paint, to dominate in the post and that it may take time for the Heat to perfect. Heat fans may need to wait a little longer to see a competitive Miami Heat pushing for a playoff spot, per Sun Sentinel.