Dwyane Wade's potential free agency run is already headlining the NBA headlines and the official offseason has yet to even begin. Wade has stirred the pot during his stint as an analyst for ESPN during the coverage of the Finals as he spoke about the Miami Heat in past tense. Now, it is being reported that the team should be concerned their franchise star is ready to bolt for money and a familiar face could be recruiting him.
According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, LeBron James will "stop at nothing" to recruit players to Cleveland in the coming weeks. Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio followed that up by saying the wheels are already in motion with Wade as an intended target. James will have a lot of say in who the Cavaliers chase in free agency and of course the reuniting of Wade and the forward would be a journalist's ideal dream, but if that were to happen, Wade must take a pay cut.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the biggest issue with Wade and the Heat is the veteran is no longer interested in taking a pay cut. Wade has taken about a $5 million pay cut in each of his last two contracts and the star is rightfully ready to get his money. However, it would not come from the Cavaliers who are already about $10 million over the cap space line heading into the offseason.
According to the Herald, Wade wants $20 million a season from Miami. They will not offer than and neither can the Cavaliers. Keeping the current team together puts the payroll at over $110 million which comes with $7.5 million in luxury tax. Adding Wade means someone else must go and even then he would still need to take less money.
Wade will have a hard time finding a team willing to meet his contract demands. The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to pay big for a young point guard or center, not an aging veteran. The New York Knicks are thinking the same thing. At this point, the most money Wade could make is with Miami by opting in on the $16 million option. Chances are very slim Wade joins those teams at lesser value.
The Heat want Wade to opt in on the option, so they can re-sign Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside while having cap space to target a big name like Kevin Durant. The crucial part of that plan is Wade waiting another season to be a free agency. Understandably with his age and injury history, Wade wants his money now.