The cost to keep Dwyane Wade is high. The veteran no longer wants to be cheap after taking pay cuts in his last few contracts with the Miami Heat. The question is whether or not the Heat sees Wade as a high-priced player or as an often-injured aging star. Wade has the numbers of an All-Star despite knee issues and he wants to get paid as such. The ball is now in the Heat's court to make it work.
Pat Riley told the media via the Miami Herald that he wants to keep Wade around and make him a career-player with the franchise. However, Wade opted out of his $16.1 million player option and now Miami's offseason just became more difficult. Before making a move for the veteran, the Heat first opted to lock down Goran Dragic, a player that might entice Wade to stick around.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is reporting that Dragic and the Heat have reached an agreed of a five-year, $90 million max contract. Dragic was gaining plenty of attention as a potential free agent and the Heat could not afford to let him walk away. His return along with the opting in of Luol Deng might hurt Wade's pursuit of a max contract with the Heat.
The Herald is reporting that Wade wants a max deal or at least a multi-year contract that pays him around $20 million per season. The shooting guard could have a hard time making that happen considering his age and injury history. It would appear that no one else in the league sees Wade as a player worth that price regardless of the resume. Free agency is never kind to veterans.
Several teams have been linked as options for the veteran. According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Lakers and Cavaliers could be options moving forward, but neither team will pay him that type of cash. The Lakers were hoping to land Jimmy Butler, but he is staying put with the Bulls. Wade could replace someone like JR Smith for the Cavaliers, but they will not pay him anywhere near $20 million a season. With Kevin Love re-signing to Cleveland, they will not shell out big contract demands. Wade has to consider what is worth it.