Dwyane Wade’s teammate of 13 years Udonis Haslem says the Miami Heat would welcome him back if he’s bought out by the Chicago Bulls.
Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Bulls are going in different directions, and that could lead Wade back to the Miami Heat.
Amid speculation that the Bulls and Wade are expected to agree on terms of a buyout within the next few months, it’s easy to connect the dots. Wade going back to Miami, where he spent the first 13 years of his career, should be in play.
Last summer, Wade shockingly decided to leave the Heat and instead sign with his hometown Chicago Bulls. Both sides said all the right things, with Wade voicing his respect for the organization and Pat Riley and the Heat taking out an ad in the local paper claiming they’d leave the key under the mat for him, should he one day wish to return.
That day may come sooner rather than later. If Wade is bought out by Chicago, the Heat as a destination makes sense for a variety of reasons, including that his former teammate Udonis Haslem, with whom he played 13 seasons, would welcome a reunion.
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"“My advice to him is, ‘Hey, we’d love to have you but take it one step at a time, take it one day at a time,” Haslem said today on the Joe Rose Show on 560WQAM. “The situation with Chicago and everything that’s going on it’s just a frustrating situation on both sides and I think he just made a decision based on frustration.”"
Wade has one year left on his contract worth $23.8 million. The Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson said the Bulls’ stance is that any buyout has to be “advantageous” to the team. While that’s vague, one could assume that means not paying the entirety of the remaining money on Wade’s deal. Wade has already said he wouldn’t sacrifice any money in a buyout.
That could complicate this process. Despite ESPN’s report that a buyout is expected, it will take negotiations from both sides. How much might Wade be willing to give back, if it means signing another contract with another team this season? How much are the Bulls willing to pay in what amounts to a sunk cost?
Next: What do the Dwyane Wade rumors mean for the Heat?
If (and when) a buyout happens, the Heat will be an option. They won’t, however, be the only option. If Wade is ready to come back, he’ll have to check under the mat.