As reported, in a shocking turn of events, the Chicago Bulls have signed former Miami Heat franchise star Dwyane Wade.

Rumours had been been circulating over the past day that Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo had been actively recruiting Dwayne Wade to the Chicago Bulls. Rondo and Butler's headhunting of Wade seems to have paid off handsomely with the Wade decision.

What makes this a surprising development is the history between former Heat player Dwayne Wade and former Celtic point guard Rajon Rondo.

During the early 2010s, the Celtics and the Heat produced some of the fiercest rivalies in the competition, particuarly between Wade and Rondo.

It all kicked off in Game 3 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals when Wade dislocated Rondo’s elbow on a physical play that saw both players hit the pine.

Rondo got Wade back in the opener of the 2012-13 season when he clotheslined Wade, picking up a flagrant foul in the game’s final minute, almost resulting in a team altercation.

Wade wasn’t shy about his feelings towards Rondo and called him a “punk” for that particular play. Rondo later fired back at Wade, referencing the shoulder dislocation incident and calling him out for “dirty plays.”

Both players have flirted with ejection whenever they were pitted against each other and the fans loved it.

But the days of Ginals glory with Miami and Boston are in the rear view mirror for both players.

Since leaving the Celtics, Rondo has played two unmemorable seasons with two different Western Conference teams and Wade's Heat have taken a dive as a result of LeBron James‘ departure and Chris Bosh‘s absence due to his medical issues.

Now the bad blood that once existed is in the past. Both players must work together to give their new team a chance of competing with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

It is possible that the same competitiveness that once resulted in memorable battles between Wade and Rondo could be combined and channelled to make the Chicago Bulls a legitimate and competitive threat in the 2016-17 season.

A Wade, Butler, and Rondo triumvirate will certainly make the East interesting again.

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