Dwyane Wade is hosting several meetings Wednesday in New York, including a one-on-one with Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, as his dramatic foray into free agency nears a final turn.
Acrimony between the 34-year-old pillar of the franchise and Heat management simmered to the surface when Miami offered a contract not to the liking of Wade, who has never been the highest-paid player on the roster.
Wade, a 12-time All-Star, had made over $300 million in total salary since he was drafted in the first round out of Marquette in 2003, but always played second fiddle on Arison’s books to help build the roster around him.
Wade reportedly asked for at least two years, $50 million. Miami’s most recent known offer was two years, $40 million. The Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks are potentially the Cleveland Cavaliers are courting Wade, but the Heat want to prevent a divorce. No doubt Arison wants to keep Wade away from a reunion with LeBron James and the NBA champion Cavaliers.
Unless James sacrifices his own salary – as James did when the Big 3 formed in Miami five years ago along with Chris Bosh – it’s going to be up to Wade to take the deepest cut for a “Big 4” to form in Cleveland.
Even so, that looks to be a longshot, given the salary-cap limits the Cavaliers to a $3.47 million midlevel exception, could turn into reality if Wade is willing to take less money or Cleveland figures out a way to part with payroll.
Speculation that Wade could wind up with his close friend exploded on social media Tuesday afternoon after the Cleveland Cavaliers Twitter account followed these famous folks: Wade and his other half, Gabrielle Union. Wade also began following Cavaliers’ shooting guard J.R. Smith on Instagram.
A major roster shakeup could be made if James pushes for it, including dealing Kevin Love. Unloading point guard Iman Shumpert, who signed a four-year, $40 million deal last July, could get the Cavaliers in the range of $11 million for next season.
The Heat already are maneuvering to move money. According to multiple reports, Wade could get to a two-year, $51 million offer is the Heat can find a trade partner to take forward Josh McRoberts, who counts $6 million against next year’s cap.
The Miami Herald reported Wednesday that Bulls guards Rajon Rondo and Jimmy Butler were recruiting Wade. In 2010 Wade considered his hometown Bulls, but ultimately chose to return to Miami alongside James and Bosh.
Denver reportedly was offering as much as $52 million over two years.