Heat unrestricted free agent Dwyane Wade still hasn't signed an extension with the franchise that he's spent all 12 years of his career with. The three-time champion has requested that Miami give him either a two-year, $50 million contract or a three-year, $60 million deal with an option; Wade prefers an extra year of guaranteed cash.
The 2006 Finals MVP has felt deserted by his franchise who prioritized now-Warriors small forward Kevin Durant and young center Hassan Whiteside this free agency ahead of him. Wade originally refused to listen to any offer lower than $20 million per year from Miami, but now the shooting guard demands an extra $5 million per year for his talents.
D-Wade met with Heat owner Micky Arison this Wednesday in addition to meetings with two potential suitors, the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks.
The Nuggets remain the only team entirely willing to give Wade his contract demands, with the Bucks needing a trade for picks in order to get the cap space to sign him. Milwaukee, however, provides an interesting opportunity for him with their young athletic core of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, as well as Khris Middleton, who Wade is reportedly intrigued by.
Analysts throughout the league believed Wade's offseason would be anticlimactic and he'd re-sign with Miami, but with Wade now seriously interested in a relocation, the Heat will either have to agree to his contract demands or lose their decade-long franchise icon. Heat reporter Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweeted this after Wade and co. met with suitors:
Heat meeting with Wade did not necessarily lead to overwhelming optimism or pessimism. Very much up in air, Sun Sentinel told.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 6, 2016
Also, Wade has reportedly been in contact with his hometown Chicago Bulls, who, despite supposedly investing solely in superstar shooting guard Jimmy ‘Buckets' Butler, have expressed likewise interest in the 36-year old shooting guard. However, many across the NBA feel that the Bulls' front office has lacked a clear plan, wavering between a total rebuild of their roster and a pursuit to strengthen their mediocre squad.
With Durant now announcing that he will join the stacked Warriors, Wade has become the most interesting free agent still on the free market, and Heat general manager and president Pat Riley probably didn't expect their star player to be the hardest signing this offseason.
Starting July 7th, NBA franchises can officially sign their new acquisitions, and the 2009 scoring champion should make his relocation decision in the coming days.
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