NBA rumors: Heat may be interested in Dwyane Wade reunion
The Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade didn’t part on great terms, but a reunion could be in the cards.
After not getting what he was looking for from the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade signed a two-year deal with his hometown Chicago Bulls in 2016. The second year of the deal was a $23.8 million player option, which Wade obviously exercised in June. But Jimmy Butler was traded a few days later on draft night, which immediately brought rumors of a buyout for Wade.
Bulls Executive Vice President John Paxson has said the team expects to have Wade next season, and head coach Fred Hoiberg has backed that up by saying he doesn’t expect a buyout. But it’s possible Wade pushes to be bought out, so he doesn’t have to be on a rebuilding team to start his age-36 season.
Wade would be an obvious trade candidate, with the money he’s due to make as a major hurdle. If he gets a buyout, the Heat will be on any list of potential landing spots. Pat Riley has suggested the team may not use their $4.3 million mid-level exception, so that could be available for Wade if he’s willing to take less money to come back to Miami.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, that’s the only circumstance where the Heat would have interest in Wade.
"While the Heat had no interest in bringing back Wade on a big-money deal, there likely would be Heat interest in Wade at a lower salary. Miami’s level of interest would depend, in part, on need at the time.Miami is loaded at guard, with five veteran players, but has not ruled out a Wade return at some point."
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Wade proved he wanted to chase money by signing the deal he did with the Bulls, and that financial threshold is surely where he and Riley parted ways in contract talks a little over a year ago. It’s easy to see Wade taking a lot less money if joining LeBron James in Cleveland becomes an option, but any other landing spot is sure to be driven by the best offer after a buyout. The Heat also don’t have a need in the backcourt, so it’s not worth betting on a reunion.