Dwyane Wade's first job with the Bulls

When Dwyane Wade’s free-agent interest in the Chicago Bulls reached Jimmy Butler, it was Butler who became consumed with making the potential partnership a reality. The franchise’s lone All-Star, in between promotional events in Los Angeles, had placed calls to Wade and made clear his desire for Wade to leave Miami and sign with Chicago. Butler has admitted he could have better handled his relationships with two resolute leaders in Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, and here comes one more into his life.

Butler wanted Wade – and got him.

Wade returned to his hometown for a news conference on Friday, and one teammate stood 15 feet to his left inside the Advocate Center: Butler. Bulls guard Rajon Rondo had called himself, Wade and Butler, “Three alphas,” and the immediate challenges of their cohesion looms over next season. Wade and Rondo have withstood trials and confrontations from major NBA stars and their egos for championships – Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen between them – but this task is fresh for Butler.

This roster and its personalities are a combustible proposition. The talents of Rondo, Wade and Butler call for elevated ball usage, and all are most potent mid-range jumper and in. Off the court, Wade has understood his responsibility goes beyond the $47 million contract and statistical production. He remembered Shaq’s introduction to the Heat in 2004, O’Neal declaring the team as Wade’s, and implemented the same response to these Bulls.

“This is Jimmy Butler’s team,” Wade said on Friday afternoon. “Him calling me during free agency – this wouldn’t be possible without Jimmy Butler. Me and Rondo will bring what we do as athletes and leaders … but it won’t be a tug and pull on whose team this is.

“I saw how Shaq handled it. I was 24 and playing for the U.S. team at the time that Shaq joined the Heat, and now Jimmy is 26 and he’s playing for the U.S. team. I love to play with a guy like Rondo; we’ve both had championship experiences. Jimmy will get better with what Rondo and I bring to the table.”

Now, the Bulls plan to move forward with this core of Rondo, Wade and Butler, and evaluate the progress in training camp and the regular season. They pursued a deal for Kris Dunn of Providence, and made overtures to Minnesota for the No. 5 pick and explosive guard Zach LaVine, as The Vertical reported on draft night. When the Timberwolves maintained their offer of guard Ricky Rubio and the No. 5 pick, Chicago moved on, reassured Butler of his stature within the organization and turned to free agency.

The rise of Butler over the past several years has been crafted in his rejection of a $44 million extension in 2014 to sign a $95 maximum deal last offseason, along with national exposure, but has yet to translate with his teammates, with significant playoff victories, with the proper understanding of a star’s leadership. In times of struggle or injury, his relationships with Rose and Noah turned unstable, and both now relish the opportunity as teammates with the New York Knicks.

For his part, Wade left his breakup with Miami in the past, and confirmed he and Pat Riley never had communication during free agency, that he only held negotiations with Micky and Nick Arison. “They’re the ones cutting the check,” he said. For Riley and Miami, this was a change of direction – away from the Heat’s longtime franchise cornerstone and toward younger players.

Wade has listened to the perception that these Bulls are his as the sole leader and star. He has eliminated that, and so did Rondo. They go through Jimmy Butler now – whether genuine or by design. Pursuing the construction of a formidable bond with another Marquette alum, this is Wade’s first duty, and it’s on Butler too.

“I need all the information on you, Jimmy,” Wade said, pointing at Butler. “What time you go to bed, what time you wake up. Your habits. …I’m not trying to play 40 minutes, I’ll let the young Bull over there handle it.”

Jimmy Butler had received knowledge of Wade considering joining Chicago earlier this month, and people around him say no message from a Bulls exec was needed. Butler made the call to Dwyane Wade, made his pitch about succeeding together, and the pressure to co-exist has followed Wade’s arrival.