Dwyane Wade has the chance to be a free agent if he doesn't come to a contract agreement with the Miami Heat, as the two sides are in dispute over compensation and if he hits the market in free agency, teams like the Chicago Bulls, NY Knicks, LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers could be interested in signing him.
Reports this offseason have had Wade and Miami at odds on how to move forward with Wade's contract situation, as the team wants to keep the salary cap in check this summer. According to the Miami Herald, Wade is looking for a three year deal worth around $20 million per season, while the team wants Wade to either use his player option for 2016 or sign a deal for about $10 million per season over three years. Wade is looking for security and the Herald reports that the team wants to avoid "limited financial flexibility" moving forward.
Wade is 33 years old and the team is reportedly worried about tying up too much money in his contract with other deals still needing to get done for players on the roster. The team has to sign Goran Dragic back after he opted out into free agency, while Luol Deng also could hit the market with his player option. On top of that, the team has Hassan Whiteside needing a new contract next summer and CBS Sports reports Miami wants to be in play for Kevin Durant when he hits the market.
According to Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst at ESPN.com, Wade and the Heat are expected to meet this week to talk about the contract situation and this will be the first time in "some time" that the two sides have formally had talks. The reports says that the two sides are "currently far apart" in what they want for the next deal, as Wade wants a "new, richer and longer-term contract" according to sources. Wade feels that he has helped the team by taking less money on multiple occasions and now he would like some security and compensation on the back end.
Windhorst and Marc Stein report that Wade could opt out and meet with teams in free agency to see if Miami blinks as part of his strategy for a new deal. The report says that the Lakers, Clippers, Bulls and Cavaliers all have shown interested in Wade and SI reporter Chris Mannix writes that the interest between Wade and the Lakers is "mutual" if he considers leaving Miami. Dragic has reportedly officially opted out of his deal, which was an expected move, according to ESPN.com.
Wade has a $16.1 million player option for this season and the team would like him to use that and then sign a deal next summer at below market value, but still with some solid compensation for the guard. The team reportedly wants to go after Durant and they do not want to be hamstrung by giving too much money to Wade. The team obviously does not want their franchise player to leave, but with Dragic expecting a max deal and other contracts still to come, Wade could think about leaving South Beach if he doesn't get the contract he wants.
