Dwyane Wade is currently taking time to work for ESPN as an analyst during the NBA Finals. Naturally, he is being asked about his current contract situation since it has been such a hot topic in the league and will likely be a main storyline during free agency. Wade has been the face of the franchise since arriving and has always been willing to be flexible, but as that patience wears thin, is the veteran hinting he will be opting out come July?
Wade has the option of either opting in to his $16.1 million option for 2015 or opting out and becoming a free agent. This decision will happen on July 1. When asked by ESPN when he would make a decision, he claimed all would be settled by July which has everyone believing he will be opting out.
"Well, listen, it's summer time," Wade said, via ESPN. "So when summer time and free agency [come together], it's going to be a lot of talk. And right now, I'm glad that the Finals is going and we're here. And we'll worry about that in July. Right now, we're going to focus on these Finals."
When Wade signed that contract last summer, he reportedly told the Heat that he would opt in this year which would then give Miami better financial flexibility. However, according to the Miami Herald, that might no longer be the case. Over his past two contracts, Wade has taken at least a $5 million pay cut so the team could have flexibility and now he is not looking to continue that trend. It was reported the Heat originally offered him a contract of around $10 million if he opted out which is again another $5 million pay cut and the start is not happy.
Is there enough bad blood between the two sides that would push Wade away from the Heat? The Herald is reporting that the master plan for Miami is to have Wade opt in, re-sign Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic before then targeting a big name like Kevin Durant in 2016. That is a very lofty master plan for team president Pat Riley and is mostly rests on Wade opting in so the team can have the money to make it all happen.
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News believes that Wade could be headed to the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Clippers if he opts out of his Miami contract. Wade could take the pressure off Carmelo Anthony or be the third piece for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin out west. The issue is that the veteran will not come close to the $16 million salary. Both the Knicks and the Clippers can simply not offer that deal unless they make other roster moves first. Wade would have to be willing to take another pay cut which he is appears to be not so thrilled with.