Dwyane Wade talked about how the NBA is "different" than it used to be in how players court one another and it has influenced free agency.

"The league is different today," Wade said. "The league is all about relationships, player relationships. Obviously presidents and GMs have their job to do to put teams together, but when it comes to free agency, that's player relationships more than anything. It's where an individual wants to go, so you have to feel comfortable with where you're going and who you're going with. And it starts in that process. Maybe you have a relationship with a guy, maybe you don't, but it starts in that process when guys are able to reach out to you and you see."

Wade readily admits how important it was that Jimmy Butler reached out to him during the process.

"If the star player on the team doesn't reach out to me then I don't think he's really excited about me coming there," Wade continued. "If Jimmy don't reach out to me then I'm not coming to Chicago because I don't think Jimmy wants me here. But Jimmy reaches out to me and says, 'D, I want you to come,' it's a different -- that's simple right there. It's hard to change my mindset and everything."

Wade's friendship and influence played a key role in Miami's ability to sign both LeBron James and Chris Bosh in free agency in 2010. 

The Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler and the New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 14 through Sunday, Nov. 20.

Butler helped the Bulls to a 3-1 week, with all victories coming on the road, by averaging 27.3 points (second in the East), 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He began the week with back-to-back double-doubles, finishing with 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 113-88 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 15 and recording 20 points and 12 rebounds in an 85-77 victory over the Utah Jazz on Nov. 17. In his final game of the week, Butler scored a season-high 40 points and added seven rebounds and six assists in a 118-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 20.

The Pelicans went 3-0 last week in games Davis played (3-1 overall) as he averaged a league-high 33.7 points, led the West with 13.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, and added 2.0 steals.

Pat Riley said he regretted not signing Dwyane Wade to a maximum contract in 2014 when he was a free agent for the first time since 2010.

"Riley told me before the game that, if he had to do it over again, in the summer of 2014, after LeBron James left and went back to Cleveland, we should have given Wade a max deal as well as Chris Bosh, as the team did," David Aldridge said in a sideline report. "Riley told me, 'That was wrong. I should have, we should have given him that. That's a big second-guess, but that's on me.'"

Wade signed a two-year, $31.1 million deal with a player option for the second season after opting out of a more lucrative arrangement that would have paid him $42 million over two years.

Wade recouped some of that by opting out and signing a one-year, $20 million deal in 2015.

Wade left the Heat to sign with the Bulls this past offseason after they had a stalemate over his contract terms.

Dwyane Wade had a relatively simple perspective on his exit from the Miami Heat due to how well he's known Pat Riley.

“I know who Pat is. It’s no secret to me,” Wade said following Wednesday’s morning shootaround. “If you’re not with him, you’re against him. That’s just the way he is. You gotta understand that, man.

“I’m cool with it. I’m fine, 100 percent. I was there 13 years. I’ve seen a lot of video tributes. I’ve seen a lot of players come in and go out. And I’ve seen the way he has responded to them. And I know if you’re not with him, you’re against him.”

Wade will return to Miami for the first time on Thursday.

“I haven’t talked to him. Simple as that,” Wade said. “I think I’ve been very open and honest about my respect and love for Pat. But I’ve also been honest that I haven’t spoken to him since the season ended.”

Wade said he has communicated “with everyone else” in the organization.