Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade reportedly is open to leaving in free agency. Wade and Heat president Pat Riley are so far apart in contract negotiations that Wade is now considering signing with another team this summer, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Wade playing for another team next season? It was unthinkable, prior to Jackson's report. But Jacksons's sources say that just might happen if Wade and Riley can't get on the same page for a new contract this summer.
"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," Jackson wrote Thursday night. "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."
Wade took pay cuts for the Heat in 2010 and 2014, but heading into what will likely be his final contract, the 33-year-old looks set on trying to cash in on as much money as possible. Doing so would mean declining a $16.1 million option for next season. Given his age and his injury history, locking down a new multiyear contract now is the smart move.
With that being said, the report about Wade's openness to test free agency sounds like posturing from his camp. Wade played well and stayed healthy for most of the season, but unless Riley is low-balling him, he's unlikely to find a significantly better offer - more money over more years - in free agency. Would teams jump at the chance to sign Wade in free agency? Of course. Would teams shell out superstar-caliber money for him? No. If Wade were to seriously test the market, the situation likely would somewhat resemble what happened toward the end of Ray Allen's career. Wade is younger and without question he's a superior player that would easily command more than a veteran's minimum, but the idea is the same: Teams want him, they just don't want to pay for him.
All signs point to Wade's heart being in Miami, and the fact there won't be a market willing to commit a huge chunk of future cap space to an aging superstar makes it sound like Wade's people leaked his "openness" about leaving Miami in an effort to bluff Riley into raising his offer.
Wade has until the end of June to decide whether to opt out.
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Part of Riley not wanting to overpay Wade is the fact Miami is already short on cap space this summer. Goran Dragic will be the team's top priority in the offseason, and although Dragic reportedly wants to re-sign with Miami, it looks like it'll take a max-level contract to lock him down.
Miami also is in wait-and-see mode with Luol Deng, who has a $10 million player option. Whether he will exercise the option is uncertain. On one hand, it's a lot of money to leave on the table. On the other, playing on an expiring contract is risky for a 30-year-old veteran who has a history of injuries. The biggest question is how confident does Deng feel that he can find a better deal in free agency?
There's also the $1 million team option on Michael Beasley.
Earlier in May, Jackson suggested the Heat would have to look into trading players - such as Josh McRoberts McRoberts ($17M over 3 years), Mario Chalmers ($4.3 million, expiring contract) and Chris Andersen ($5 million, expiring contract) - for cap relief.
