Reaction has been mixed to the reports of the Bulls bringing back Doug Collins for a second stint as coach, but count Dwyane Wade solidly in the positive camp.
"I love Doug as a human being, first of all,"
the Miami Heat guard said Monday. "He seems like he's so happy and content in life and unstressed. If he goes to the Bulls, I'm sure the city of Chicago will be happy with that hire."
The Bulls are expected to announce the hiring today or Wednesday. Then the issue will become whether Collins, 56, can remain "unstressed"
in the job -- something he wasn't able to do two decades ago as the Bulls' coach.
"If I was a coach, I'd go crazy, too; I know we drive these coaches crazy,"
Wade said. "I'm sure he's learned from his mistakes, from his past. But at the same time, you don't want to take his passion away. He just has to have a balance, and I'm sure he knows that. I'm sure if he comes back to coaching, he's ready to take on that challenge."
Wade's focus has been on the Bulls a lot lately because the decision they make with the No. 1 draft pick -- Memphis point guard Derrick Rose or Kansas State forward Michael Beasley -- will determine whom the Heat gets at No. 2.
"It's a win-win situation for the Bulls and the Heat,"
Wade said. "Whoever they take, we can take the other one."
When asked if he prefers one, Wade said: "Either one of them would work. Having someone that can handle the ball besides myself would be good for me. But having someone who can score and knows the game like Beasley is also a plus."
The thought of adding a quality player has motivated Wade in his rehab work on his left knee with personal trainer Tim Grover of Attack Athletics on the West Side.
"The rehab is going well,"
said Wade, who expects to be ready for training camp with the Olympic team next month. "I've been here five days a week working extremely hard, and I'm getting there."
Between rehab sessions, he will find time to conduct the fourth Dwyane Wade Basketball Camp starting Wednesday at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. He also plans to hold a camp at Richards, his alma mater, in the summer.
"I'm trying to reach out to our youth and help give them the support they need to get ahead in life,"
he said.
