The Miami Heat have signed Dwyane Wade on a free agent contract on the same day the team is meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency, as Wade agreed to a one-year deal for $20 million and while Pat Riley getting Aldridge is extremely unlikely, to have a chance the team would have to trade some players like Mario Chalmers, Hassan Whiteside, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh or Chris Andersen.
Miami is likely not going to be able to sign Aldridge, but Riley has previously made surprising free agent moves like when he wooed LeBron James and Chris Bosh to play with Wade. According to Yahoo Sports, Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Aldridge is meeting with the Miami Heat in free agency on Thursday night in Los Angeles. Marc Stein at ESPN reported that Riley will meet with Aldridge for dinner and pitch him on the Miami Heat.
Check here for the report on Miami meeting with Aldridge.
Miami has agreed to a deal with Goran Dragic this offseason and they have also signed back Dwyane Wade, according to the Associated Press. Those deals along with the potential money for Hassan Whiteside likely leaves them with a tough cap situation to get Aldridge, but Riley could wheel and deal to make it happen. The Spurs and Suns have both cleared out cap space to try and woo Aldridge and according to Pro Basketball Talk, the Heat would likely have to pull a sign and trade with Luol Deng, Mario Chalmers and others to make a deal work.
Aldridge reportedly granted the Los Angeles Lakers the chance to have a second meeting after the first one did not go so well. Wojnarowski reported the news about the Lakers and it comes after Aldridge has already met with the Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets previously. The Spurs look like they have a strong chance to sign Aldridge, as they have brought back Kawhi Leonard and signed back Danny Green. The Suns reportedly impressed Aldridge in their pitch and they have already signed Tyson Chandler and brought back Brandon Knight.
The Miami Heat meeting is not likely one that will work out, but Riley "loves to get in a room" with players, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. Shelburne said on SportsCenter that Riley wants to have cap flexibility moving forward and that is why he signed Wade to a one year deal. Aldridge likely will not sign, but if the Heat emerge as a real option, the team likely would try a sign and trade with Bosh, as Aldridge basically would make him a bench player in Miami if he came there.
The Blazers signed Ed Dixon in free agency and they also brought in Al-Farouq Aminu on a four year contract and that could be who ends up replacing Aldridge. The Blazers also signed Damian Lillard to a massive five year extension, so they are prepared to move along whether Aldridge stays or goes. Miami agreed to a $90 million deal with Goran Dragic this offseason and now the team has brought back Wade. According to the Associated Press, Miami and Wade have agreed on a one-year, $20 million deal for the 2015-16 season.
