There are not a lot of tasty free agents left on the market this offseason that NBA front offices would die for to sign. But if they want a veteran with a championship experience and some juice left in his legs and gas in his tank, then Dwyane Wade deserves a hard look.
Wade is unsure of his future and there’s always the possibility that he will ultimately call it quits this summer. However, according to Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald, in case Wade and his camp decide to get on the negotiation table, particularly with the Miami Heat, his starting asking price would be $5.3 million.
Most expect Wade will request the Heat’s $5.3 million tax exception as a starting point in negotiations should he decide to return. A league source said it will ultimately be up to Heat owner Micky Arison to decide how far he’s willing to go into the luxury tax to re-sign the 12-time All-Star, who was still very effective in Miami’s first round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Heat does not have big spending power left, as they are over the luxury tax threshold line by around $4 million with 12 players on their current roster. There are three slots left on the 15-man roster, suggesting that the Heat are still interested in bringing back the Miami legend to South Beach. But should Wade ask for more than $5.3 million, which means to ask for money that will count against Miami’s salary cap, Heat owner Micky Arison may have a tough decision to make.
In 67 games split between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Heat last year, Wade averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while shooting 43.8 percent from the field.
In five games in the first round of the playoffs against the Sixers, the three-time NBA champion put up 16.6 points, dished out 3.6 dimes, and hauled down 4.2 boards.
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