The Miami Heat have a lot of contract issues in front of them as they fight the battle of luxury taxes with big deals hitting the pay roll. Dwyane Wade is of course at the forefront of this issue, but there are other players contributing to the problem as well. The Heat continue to try and negotiate a smaller deal with Wade, but if that fails to happen and the veteran gets his money, will it cost Miami other players like Luol Deng or Goran Dragic?
Buried in the reports regarding Wade is the Deng player option that could throw another curve ball at the Heat. Deng has a $10 million player option in his contract for next season. According to Ira Winderman of the Miami Sun Sentinel, Deng has not yet decided what his future holds as the small forward will need to decide if he can get that money elsewhere from another team or if he should protect himself for the upcoming season. Deng's contract will factor in to what the Heat can do with other free agents. Winderman believes that if Deng opts in for another season which the Heat could be hoping he does not, he is still at risk of getting released or not getting re-signed in free agency.
One player guaranteed to opt out is Dragic who is seeking a max contract. According to the Palm Beach Post, Dragic has already made it clear that he intends to seek a long-term contract and remains hopeful that it will come from Miami. Could the Heat convince him to opt in on the $7.5 million option instead? For more flexibility, getting Dragic under contract now could be the better option. The point guard would be set to earn a five-year, $116 million contract from the Heat.
Of course these two deals will play a role in what the Heat do with Wade. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Wade and the Heat are not on good terms with negotiations as the star wants to opt out and seek the money he believes he deserves after taking several pay cuts for the team. John Newman of Bleacher Report wrote that the Heat offered a contract of less than $10 million for Wade which is another $5 million pay cut they expect him to take. Wade could simply head elsewhere out of spit, but he is unlikely to earn the $20 million he is set to get with his player option.
Heat owner Pat Riley has stated the team wants to keep Dragic for the future. They also want to be able to re-sign Hassan Whiteside in free agency in 2016 while targeting big names there too. Deng could end up being the odd man out depending on the negotiations with Wade.
