ERST LESEN! » player empowerment, and they certainly arent obliga

The Miami Heats long and healthy marriage with Dwyane Wade is in a delicate, dangerous place. The tension and frustration is real, and it pushes Wade and the Heat closer than they have ever been to a messy divorce. And LeBron James, bejeweled mistress who comes in and out of that marriage occasionally with many fireworks, is in a fascinating position to do some home wrecking if he so desires.(More on that in a moment.)The Golden State Warriors, just a couple of baskets away from back-to-back championships, sent Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala to go get the NBAs biggest free agent. A front office and team united, in public and private. The San Antonio Spurs entered Kevin Durants recruiting room with LaMarcus Aldridge, who could talk about how San Antonios stars put aside their egos and dollars to make a place for Aldridge a year ago. Management and star working together, in public and private.Miami Heat legend Pat Riley? He didnt merely walk into Durants recruitment without his biggest star. He did so without Wades cooperation in any way, not financially and not emotionally. Days before the meeting, the Wade camp leaked that Wade was unhappy with Miamis initial lowball offer -- an offer the Heat denies -- and would entertain leaving in free agency. Never mind flying out to see Durant or being financially flexible with trust because his Larry Bird rights allow Miami to wink-wink golden parachute him years from now. Wade wouldnt make so much as a public comment to lure Durant or call him or text him either. This while vacationing with James overseas, no less.Wade wasnt going to persuade Durant to take dollars that could be his, and its hard to blame him for that unless you are a Heat management that has grown accustomed to his cooperation and needed his help with Durant while he was vacationing with James. Hassan Whiteside, who had multiple max offers, was willing to give back to make room for Durant. Wade apparently was not.So, for the second time in two years, and the only times in the relationship, Miami and Wade were divided, in public and private. This isnt how this organization conducts business, but Wade has spent two offseasons throwing dirty laundry in the streets because of fractured trust, though at least this year he didnt sing Rihannas Bitch Better Have My Money with his son on Snapchat. No Heat player has ever done this, never mind a star. Bargaining? Bluffing? Business? This isnt how discounted Dirk Nowitzki or Tim Duncan work with management they trust. James and Wade are about player empowerment, and they certainly arent obligated to help billionaires with discounts, but why the sudden and public disconnect after all these years? Could it be about who owes whom in this relationship?Wade, who has never been the Heats highest-paid player, has made nearly $25 million in sacrifices for the organization over the years. But the Heat can counter that he has done that to help himself as much as the franchise, and that it isnt refunding dollars Wade lost mostly because of James, Chris Bosh and Wades agent, Henry Thomas, who has a conflict of interest.(More on that in a moment, too.)The Heat prides itself on lifers and loyalty and family, but the relationship with Wade has been contaminated by business. His relationship with James is more personal. And thats where things become soap-opera interesting: Because James, power broker and paradigm shifter, is in a position to either make the financial sacrifices to steal Wade to Cleveland outright by taking the minimum or merely create the game-of-chicken leverage that forces Miami to pay Wade too much because of the threat of its beloved icon going to join him in Cleveland. The Cavs are the only