Sports Authority Review: MVP of the Heat?

D-Wade returns, the Heat win. LeBron sits, the Heat lose. So who’s more valuable to Miami, LeBron or D-Wade?

Steve Aschburner:

Miami Heat fans get pretty upset, and Cleveland Cavaliers fans don’t much appreciate it either, but LeBron James clearly is the more valuable of these two. He already has won two MVPs in seven seasons and, in switching teams, has had huge impacts on both the Heat and the Cavs this season. Dwyane Wade is an All-Star, maybe a future Hall of Famer, but he has finished in the top five of MVP balloting only twice. His absence in training camp and the Heat’s struggle was all about learning, not needing to be rescued by an MVP. And look, this is coming from a Marquette alum.

Fran Blinebury:

It’s not a cop-out to say none of the above. The whole reason they came together is that neither was capable of carrying a team and winning a championship on his own. Then again, neither was Kobe before he got Pau. So now Wade and James are both each other’s Pau (and pal) and it’s the combustible combination that gives them the explosive power to win it all.

Art Garcia:

Don’t think you can tell much from a one-game sample, but it’s clear that both of these guys are critical to the Heat’s success. They’re not going to go far without either one for long stretches because this team just isn’t very deep. And you might as well throw Chris Bosh into the mix since Miami lost Wednesday night without its favorite lefty. If I had to pick one, I’d go D-Wade. No wait, LeBron. Ask me again next week.

Scott Howard-Cooper:

That’s an impossible tie to break. LeBron is slightly better as a player, but Wade has the longevity in Miami, and a ring, unlike some people, and is more of a stabilizing factor than James. Wade is also unmatched as a recruiter. None of this happens without D-Wade.

Shaun Powell:

I call it a push. A LeBron-only team doesn’t make Miami any more or less dangerous than a Wade-only team. I think both players would face the same issues and challenges because they’re similar players with similar styles. But I believe we know which player is more valuable from a PR standpoint.

John Schuhmann: Statistically, it’s been LeBron, who has a better plus-minus (raw and per-minute) thus far. He’s the more complete player and asked to do more in the Miami offense. But obviously, the Heat need both of them if they’re going to have a shot against the league’s best teams. And it will be how well they play together that determines how far they go in the postseason.

Sekou Smith:

This is a trick question. More valuable to the Heat? They can’t win the way they want or expect to without them both healthy and playing their best, particularly in the postseason. That said, as critical as Wade has always been to the Heat’s fortunes, he simply doesn’t impact the game in as many ways as LeBron can. James takes decent role players and makes them a 60-win team. Wade with the same role players produces a 45-win team.