The Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade are set to meet about Wade's current contract situation, as the two sides have been in dispute over compensation and this comes as the team needs to sign back Goran Dragic as a free agent this summer and Hassan Whiteside next year, while both Wade and Luol Deng could opt out into free agency, giving the team plenty to deal with this offseason.
Wade has a player option for next season at $16.1 million and the clock is ticking on a decision, as the deadline is next Monday for him to opt in. The team reportedly wants Wade to take the player option and sign a new deal next year, but Wade is looking for a longer deal, according to the Miami Herald. ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst reported on Monday that the team and Wade are meeting this week to discuss the contract situation and it will be the first talks between the sides in "some time."
After the offseason there were reports that Miami was looking for Wade to take a "below market deal" to help the team avoid "limited financial flexibility" moving forward, according to the Herald report. The Herald also reported that Wade was looking for a three year deal at $60 million, while sources "close to Wade" said the team offered a deal around $10 million per season. The two sides could work out an agreement when they meet and reports have Wade looking to secure a lucrative deal after previously taking less money to help Miami sign players like LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
Wade is 33 years old and he is coming in after scoring 21 points and five assists per game in 62 games and the team is looking to keep the salary cap fairly flexible over the next two years. CBS Sports reported that the team wants to go after Kevin Durant next summer when he is a free agent and Miami also has other contracts to deal with on the horizon. Hassan Whiteside had a breakout year last season and he will also be a free agent next summer.
Wade's contract situation could have an effect on Dragic, as Miami may not end up offering a max deal to the point guard to help keep Wade. According to Marc Stein from ESPN, the Heat are "planning" to offer Dragic a five year deal at $80 million and not the $100 million max they can give him after acquiring him in a trade. Dragic said earlier in the season that he would like to stay in Miami and that the extra year they can offer over other teams would be a factor in his decision.
Stein writes that the team has to deal with a number of issues, including Wade's contract and Luol Deng's situation, as he has a $10.2 million player option for next season. Dragic will be a target on the market for the LA Lakers, NY Knicks, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings if he considers leaving the Miami Heat and he could use negotiations for force Miami to go to the max. Wade's situation could be resolved by the time Dragic hits the market and reports have the Lakers, Clippers, Bulls and cavaliers as potential options if Wade leads South beach for the first time in his career.
