TNT, ESPN reportedly courting Dwyane Wade; where would he fit with Charles Barkley and Co?
Dwyane Wade is in high demand.
According to the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand, both TNT and ESPN are prepping their pitches to the recently retired Miami Heat star to join their studio shows for coverage later in the current playoffs.
It raises the obvious question of what that means for Wade’s potential as a full-time analyst for either network.
Where would Wade fit with TNT cast?
With TNT having a well-established and already at-capacity studio set, ESPN seems a more natural fit for Wade.
TNT’s “Inside the NBA” has long been one of the best critically received shows in sports, and finding room for Wade alongside host Ernie Johnson and analysts Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal would make for a crowded set.
The show was a success before O’Neal arrived, and after some initial growing pains, he’s become an integral part of the show’s chemistry. Where Wade would fit is a mystery.
Short-term test run?
If the network does lure Wade for a short stint this postseason, it could provide a test run to find a spot for him on a longer-term basis.
Marchand suggested Wade could be a potential long-term replacement for Barkley if the 56-year-old holds true to his plans to retire at 60.
Perhaps he could find a role similar to Mike Tirico, who left ESPN for NBC with the long-term plan to replace Al Michaels in the “Sunday Night Football” booth, but has carved out other roles in the meantime.
ESPN could use a new voice
Where “Inside the NBA” is iconic, ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” is, well, the opposite of that. It’s safe to say that for a large segment of NBA fans, tuning into ESPN’s studio coverage is a letdown compared to watching their TNT counterparts.
Michelle Beadle, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups and Paul Pierce just don’t have the same chemistry. Wade is generally well-liked, and his voice could be a welcome addition to a show that has struggled to find its niche.
A stint on set alongside Pierce could prove entertaining after Pierce’s widely mocked claim on set that he was a better player than Wade.
What’s missing from the report is where Wade stands. But it sounds likely we’ll be seeing Wade on one network or the other before these playoffs are over.
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