Dwyane Wade has played his entire career with the Miami Heat, but that won’t stop him from exploring his options. The three-time NBA champ told reporters earlier this week that “it’s going to be an interesting summer” and is sticking to his word as he’s reportedly in contract negotiations with both the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks.
Wade has never been the highest-paid player on his team and took a pay cut to get LeBron James and Chris Bosh to come to South Beach in 2010, so this could be nothing more than a strategy to drive up his price–especially with the crazy amount of money being thrown around on the first day of free agency.
However in today’s NBA, nothing can be counted out.
More from ESPN:
Dwyane Wade is in contract talks with the Knicks & Bucks and could schedule meetings next week, sources told ESPN.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 1, 2016
Knicks are in the market for a shooting guard and Wade has Milwaukee ties from time at Marquette.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 1, 2016
Said a source close to Wade, "He wants to be compensated for his pay cuts" https://t.co/5u5yWzP20H
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 1, 2016
As the Miami Heat focus on a Sunday meeting with Kevin Durant, free agent Dwyane Wade is intensifying talks with other teams, including the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks, sources told ESPN.com.
Wade could look to schedule meetings next week after he returns from vacationing in Europe, sources said.
On Friday, the Heat reached a verbal commitment with center Hassan Whiteside on a four-year contract that could be worth up to $98 million. The decision will likely force the Heat to renounce Wade’s rights regardless of Durant’s decision.
After the Whiteside contract, the Heat currently have $19 million in cap room, although they have some options to create more if needed.
According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Wade does not want to accept less than the $20 million he made in Miami last year.
Wade, who has played 13 years in Miami and won three championships, has grown frustrated with the Heat as they prioritized Durant and Whiteside in free agency, sources said. Over the years, Wade has twice taken pay cuts to help the Heat manage their salary cap and also taken short-term deals to help the team with flexibility.
He has signed one-year contracts in each of the past two summers, earning $20 million last season. He averaged 19 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists playing in 74 games, his most in five years, last season.
