Dwyane Wade Reportedly Open To Leaving Heat As Team Talks Stall

Dwyane Wade‘s initial contract negotiations with the Miami Heat have not produced agreement between the parties, thus the shooting guard is preparing to field outside offers when free agency begins Friday, according to NBA sources.

Dwyane Wade Reportedly Open To Leaving Heat As Team Talks Stall

Wade’s representatives have reportedly made it known to multiple teams over the last several days that he will be on the market. Some teams have been skeptical, however, doubting Wade would seriously consider leaving the Heat, with whom he has played 13 seasons and won three titles.

The Heat and Wade had multiple contentious weeks last year before they finally settled on a one-year, $20 million deal for the 2015-2016 season.

Wade, 34, played in 74 games, his most in five years, and averaged 19 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists, strongly hinting he had moved past the knee issues that had plagued him for so many years.

At the end of the season, said he hoped negotiations with the Heat would proceed more smoothly this summer.

“I hope that everything is quiet and works out the way I want it to,” Wade said. “But I have no control over that, as much as people might think. It’s a lot of moving parts in free agency. I’m not worried about it.”

Miami currently has around $40 million in cap space and have nine free agents, including Wade, center Hassan Whiteside and small forward Luol Deng. 

They are one of the six teams set to have a meeting with Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant once free agency begins, according to ESPN sources and media reports. The Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics are all reportedly interested in Durant. This has led the Heat to maintain maximum flexibility as it heads into July.

In addition to gaging Wade’s interest, Miami also has to manage Chris Bosh’s situation, as the forward’s status heading into next season remains undetermined. Bosh’s season was cut short for the second straight year due to health concerns stemming from a blood clot issue.

PHOTO: CHARLOTTE, NC – APRIL 29: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat brings the ball up the court against the Charlotte Hornets during game six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena on April 29, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Article by Pablo Mena