NBA Rumors: Dwyane Wade Could Leave The Miami Heat This Summer
Dwyane Wade wants a raise and could opt out of his contract with the Miami Heat for the second straight year in order to ensure it.
Wade, 33, signed a two-year, $31 million contract last summer with the said opt-out clause included to give the Heat salary cap flexibility. Wade will be paid $16.1 million if he does not opt out. He has until the end of June to make a decision on what to do.
If Wade does opt-out, it will be the second straight year he has done so and the third time in the last eight years. The Sun Sentinel reported that Wade’s agent, Henry Thomas, made it clear that the latest round of negotiations might not be a slam dunk.
“We will continue to talk,” Thomas said. “It’s early in the process right now. So we’ll continue to talk about it.”
However, Thomas did tell the Sun Sentinel that it shouldn’t be assumed that Wade will enter free agency.
“I wouldn’t say at this point that that’s a goal,” he added. “We’ll just have to see how things continue to develop with the Heat.”
The reason Wade — who reportedly dropped 12 pounds in a month — is even considering using the opt-clause is because the sides are so far apart in what the Heat lifer should be paid over the next three year, according to the Miami Herald.
“The Heat and Dwyane Wade have been discussing potential resolutions of his contract situation and there’s a significant difference in what both parties believe he should be paid for the next three seasons, according to multiple sources.
“Though Wade prefers to stay with the Heat, where he has spent his entire 12-year career, he is now open to considering other teams this summer if the Heat does not raise its offer, according to three sources with direct knowledge.”
The Heat finished last season out of the playoffs for the first time in seven years with a 37-45 record. Wade appeared in 62 games last year and averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 32 minutes of action. He also registered a 21.4 PER and 34.7 usage rate — both of which are solid numbers.
Should the Heat ante up to their aging star, or should Miami take a hard stand on the contract extension?
While it would be nice to see Wade remain with the Heat for his entire career, he is not a $20 million-a-year player due to his age and his susceptibility to injury — Wade has not played in 70 regular season games since 2010-11. Plus, Wade has never developed into a consistent three-point shooter. He shot 28.4 percent from beyond the arc last year and shoots 28.9 for his career from long distance.
Miami is also awaiting to see what Goran Dragic and Luol Deng will do with their player options. Dragic is expected to re-up with the Heat for around $100 million while Deng’s situation is unclear. Miami have to pay Hassan Whiteside, who will be an unrestricted free agent after next season.
[Photo by Mike Ehrmann/ Getty Images]
