NBA Rumors: Miami Heat Offer $36M Over Three Years To Dwyane Wade?

USA Today

There’s a lot of speculation about what may happen once NBA free agency opens on July 1. Plenty of big-name players will hit the open market potentially resulting in a power shift in the NBA.

One of those star players might be three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade. Although Wade wasn’t expected to be a part of this free-agent class, the veteran shooting guard appears ready to opt out of his contract with the Miami Heat in order to secure a long-term deal.

Apparently, the Heat aren’t sold on the notion of continuing to pay Wade his desired salary. Wade is said to want at least $20 million per season for the next three years. Miami isn’t budging and according to a friend of Wade’s, the team offered him the following deal, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:

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.

With Wade clearly past his prime and set to turn 34 in January, the Heat not wanting to invest in an often-injured star isn’t all that surprising. Wade has played for Miami throughout his entire career and has helped the team win its only three titles in franchise history, but it seems they may be prepared to part ways.

Although Wade may not be the same player he used to be, there will likely be a few teams ready to sign him if he becomes a free agent on July 1. Wade landing in Los Angeles with the Lakers or Clippers might be a scenario that comes to fruition. The perennial All-Star returning home to sign with the Chicago Bulls or possibly rejoining LeBron James with the Cleveland are also possibilities that might present themselves this summer.