Should Dwyane Wade Stay with the Miami Heat?
After what seems to be weeks of staying away from one another, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat are finally going to sit down and address their impending contract issues. After the season Heat Nation had, who would have thought this summer would potentially bring even worse news?
Wade, who has until Monday to decide whether he will become a free agent or opt in and earn $16.1 million next year, has been said to want to finish his career out in South Beach. However, he is also adamant about getting a pay raise.
Although some are rolling their eyes at his stubbornness, given that he only has a few years left in him at best and will probably be unable to even play a full season, others are on his side. In 2010, Wade took a pay cut in order to help sign Chris Bosh and LeBron James, doing so once again last summer to make room for Luol Deng.
As in most situations, the “right thing” is probably somewhere in the middle. While Wade’s glory days may indeed be behind him, he has given up a lot financially and otherwise, for the Heat.
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So what happens now?
Well first, Wade will bow out of his usual media sessions via the adult basketball camp he is hosting this week, in order to meet with president Pat Riley. After all, issues must be prioritized.
Then, if Wade wants to stick around, Miami has a few options. The first is to give Wade a one-year maximum contract ($23.5 million), a sum that would cause significant luxury tax. There is also a way out of that, however. If the Heat trade Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen, they would be in a better financial situation; together, the guard and center are set to make $9.3 million next season.
Of course, there are also Goran Dragic and Luol Deng to consider.
Currently it is being reported that Miami is ready to offer Dragic a five-year, $80 million deal. As for Deng, he too can opt out of his contract ($10.2 million) to become a free agent, but little has been released in terms of his plans.
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Now if Wade does plan to search elsewhere for a deal, he has only a handful of places to choose from (each one sounding worse than the next). There recently has been mutual interest expressed to/from the Los Angeles Lakers, and James himself has said he would love to reunite with his former teammate. The New York Knicks have been brought up too, as have the Los Angeles Clippers, but each option comes with a caveat.
While the Lakers and Knicks both certainly have the money to dish out, it would mean that Wade would finish out his career on a team that is, at best, struggling. Could you imagine working towards championship year after year your entire career, only to end up not having a chance at all?
Wade reuniting with James would be a sight to see (maddening maybe, but still quite entertaining from a media point of view), but the Cavaliers are not in the best place financially to sign him. The Clippers too are constricted by the salary-cap and prior commitments.
If you ask me, Wade’s best bet would be to stay with the Heat. Yes, I am first and foremost saying that because as a Miami fan I want him around. But I am also considering his best interest.
Since I can remember, Wade has wanted to be a Heat Lifer. And he has already given the organization his blood, sweat and tears. It would be such a shame to leave with only a few more years in the tank. Even more so if it were on bad terms. Or by going to a bottom-barrel team.
Fingers crossed that Riley and Wade reach an agreement they are both happy with. Although Wade should be realistic in how much he can really give, Riley certainly needs to remember the sacrifices his star has made.
Will Wade stay with the Miami Heat? Sound off in the comments!
[UPDATE] Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel later reported that a meeting between Wade and the Heat is not currently scheduled, though it’s only a matter of time before it does after Wade officially hits free agency on July 1.