Dwyane Wade a fan of Derrick Rose

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade said Thursday that while the Chicago Bulls are a great team, they might be one player away from being an annual championship contender.
it a very, very, very tough series," Wade told ESPNChicago.com during an event for his "Wade's World" charities. "Derrick Rose is evolving into a phenomenal player. You could look and see they're one player away from being there every year."

Wade has a pretty good idea as to what type of player the Bulls should pursue, and it's not a surprise. Bulls fans clamored for a shooting guard who could help take the pressure off Rose.

"It would have to be a player that can take the pressure off him from making every play," Wade said. "As a point guard, when you have to score so much, and have to make every big shot, and have to make all the passes, eventually it takes a toll on you throughout the season, no matter how phenomenal you are.

"So just someone who can come in and take some of that pressure away. That's why I was excited not only to play with my friend but excited to play with a guy like LeBron, because it takes some of that pressure away from having to do it year after year after year. It saves you, your body."

Many Bulls fans were hoping Wade, who is a Chicago area native, would be that guy to play alongside Rose. The Bulls courted Wade as a free agent last summer, but he chose to remain in Miami.

"I was very serious about wanting to play in Chicago," Wade said. "I visualized myself being alongside Derrick Rose many times and Joakim Noah and all those guys many times.

"It didn't happen, but you never know what the outcome would be. Obviously they did a great job."