The Miami Heat reportedly offered star Dwyane Wade a new three-year, $36 million deal. With the offer a far cry from what Wade purportedly wanted, the 33-year-old veteran could end up leaving in free agency.
Reports suggested Miami lowballed Wade with its initial offer, and now Heat fans may have an exact figure.
"A friend of Dwyane Wade has been telling people that Miami's preference is to give Wade $36 million over three years - $16 million this season, then $10 million and $10 million," Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote Wednesday. "That's quite a difference from Wade's preference for $60 million over three, according to that friend. Neither the Heat nor his agent is confirming numbers. I would expect that gap to close somewhat, but the question is how much."
Wade's side is arguably using the media for leverage in the negotiations, seemingly in the hope Heat president Pat Riley cracks and ups his offering. Wade apparently wants to cash out with his next - and likely last - contract after taking two pay cuts, and a report from May indicated he would be open to leaving in free agency if it came to that.
While it's hard to see either side not reaching a compromise, Riley has been likened to a "mercenary" in that he would have no qualms not re-signing Wade if it were in the franchise's best interest. Reportedly planning to make a run at Kevin Durant in 2016, Riley needs as much future cap space available as possible and not tied up on an aging superstar.
All signs point to Wade opting out of his $16.1 million option for next season. He has until the end of June to notify the team of his decision.
