Dwyane Wade, going by his recent seasons with the Miami Heat that have seen him not play more than 69 games since 2010, has been on the decline. But it would be hard to argue against the fact that 11-year NBA veteran is still one of best shooting guards in the game and his presence in any team guarantees a lot of scoring value and an invaluable NBA betting age.
Interestingly though, there have been a lot of speculations that Wade will be leaving Miami to sign elsewhere this summer, as the contract talks between him and team’s management are seemingly not headed in the right direction.
The speculations went from mild to full-blown on Tuesday night, when the All-Star guard began a sentence with, “When I was in Miami…,” fuelling the rumors that him talking about the Heat in the past tense meant that he’d already made up his mind about leaving South Beach.
As far as money talks are concerned, the Heat are reportedly grateful of the concessions made by Wade in 2014, allowing them to sign a couple of free agents. And because of it, they are willing to bump his salary. However, there is supposedly a significant difference between Wade’s preferred salary of around $20 million per season and the money Miami is willing to offer.
That Cleveland talks are supported by NBA analyst Stephen Smith, who recently told Cavs Nation that, “I’ve known D-Wade for over a decade. I am telling you: He will leave.” Smith went on to say, “I don’t know if it will be Cleveland. Cleveland is on the list and LeBron would want him in Cleveland. It’s possible. But again, if you’re not gonna get the money anyway, what difference does it make.”
VIDEO: Trouble in South Beach? Watch Dwyane Wade refer to his time in Miami in the past tense. http://t.co/pQ6M2qdK8A pic.twitter.com/daf1xQfvTo
— theScore (@theScore) June 17, 2015
The Situation in Miami
Last season, the 11-time NBA All-Star was supposed to sign a $41.6 million deal for two seasons, but instead, he decided to sign a two-year, $31 million contract to give Miami cap room to get some free agents. Following that decision, the Heat thankfully added a few pieces in the team, but it all didn’t matter much, as Miami (a team that reached the 2013-14 NBA Finals) regressed in a big way and failed to qualify for the 2014-15 playoffs. Looking ahead into the 2015-16 NBA season, Wade is assessing his options, either to accept the remaining $16.1 million left in the 2-year contract he signed last year, or to opt out and become a free agent on July 1. Playing deeply into his deliberations is that Wade is reportedly fishing for a bigger deal. In addition, the current Miami team is talented with good enough players, but since LeBron James—Wade’s close friend and former teammate—left Miami at the end of the 2013-14 season, the Heat lack sufficient competitive edge, even with the likes of Chris Bosh and Luol Deng still giving their best.
As far as money talks are concerned, the Heat are reportedly grateful of the concessions made by Wade in 2014, allowing them to sign a couple of free agents. And because of it, they are willing to bump his salary. However, there is supposedly a significant difference between Wade’s preferred salary of around $20 million per season and the money Miami is willing to offer.
What Does Wade Bring to the Table?
Being a three-time NBA champion in the five times he’s played for a championship, Wade’s agent Henry Thomas said he believes that Wade should be able to fetch good money in the upcoming season, if not with the Heat, then with a different team. That being considered, leaving Miami is therefore a possibility for Wade. Coming off a season where he averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, there is still a lot of basketball left in Wade. In addition, the All-time leading scorer in Miami’s history has appeared in 152 postseason games. Of the players who could possibly hit the free agency this summer, only Paul Piece (158), LeBron James (178), Manu Ginobili (187) and Tim Duncan (241) have appeared in more playoff games. Going by the exploits and value these players have been able to bring to their respective teams, there is no doubt that a good number of teams would kill to have Wade and his battle-tested services.Possible Suitors for Wade
The New York Knicks, for example, would love to pair up Wade with Carmelo Anthony for some damage in the weaker Eastern Conference. But then again, giving him a $20 million contract doesn’t look feasible with New York’s plans. With the Cavs similarly set to load their team with more scoring options, the rumors have it that James (if he decides to stay with the Cavs) could also lure the 33-year-old Miami guard to join Cleveland, possibly at a well-negotiated rate.
That Cleveland talks are supported by NBA analyst Stephen Smith, who recently told Cavs Nation that, “I’ve known D-Wade for over a decade. I am telling you: He will leave.” Smith went on to say, “I don’t know if it will be Cleveland. Cleveland is on the list and LeBron would want him in Cleveland. It’s possible. But again, if you’re not gonna get the money anyway, what difference does it make.”
