Report: Wade And Lakers Have "Mutual Interest"
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The NBA's free agency period begins in just over a week and the situation between the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade doesn't appear to be getting any less complicated.
Wade has played for the Heat his entire 12-year NBA career and it's difficult to picture him playing anywhere else, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.
According to Sports Illustrated senior writer and NBA insider Chris Mannix, one of the teams that could be pursuing Wade is the Los Angeles Lakers.
While many execs still see Wade/Heat as contract saber rattling, a Wade option will be the Lakers. Mutual interest, per league sources.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) June 21, 2015
It seems far-fetched for Wade and the Heat to part ways over a few million dollars and it's very possible that this latest rumor is something created by Wade's agent to put some pressure on Pat Riley.
It's rare when an NBA player remains with one team for their entire career, but Wade can be put in an exclusive group that includes the likes of Tim Duncan with the Spurs, Dirk Nowitzki with the Mavericks and Kobe Bryant with the Lakers.
Hard to see LA offering Wade a better chance to win than Miami, especially in the West. But it is LA, and they do have money to burn.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) June 21, 2015
Wade showed last season that he still has something left in the tank, and there are plenty of teams out there that could use someone like him.
Riley has a plan to re-build the Heat into a championship contender once again and that plan surely includes Wade remaining in Miami.
Whether or not that happens, we'll have to wait a couple weeks before finding out.
Follow David on Twitter (@DavidDwork)