Report: Wade 'Pursuing Max Contract' With Heat
Dwyane Wade wants to get paid.
The Miami Heat hold all the leverage.
And now the story heightens on this first day of free agency with a report by Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski indicating not only that Goran Dragic will re-sign with the Heat for $90 million but that Wade is "pursuing a max contract."
The question is one of duration.
If the 33-year-old Wade is willing to sign a one-year deal at the $23.5 million expected maximum, the Heat can maintain cap flexibility for next summer when the likes of Kevin Durant could become available in addition to re-signing young center Hassan Whiteside before signing Wade to a new, affordable deal to finish out his career. They would, however, incur significant luxury tax penalties with the current structure of the roster.
If Wade is searching for a maximum contract spanning more than one season, things could get tricky for Miami to retain the 11-time NBA All-Star. There's also the question of whether they should, considering NBA Insiders don't think another team will offer him anything in the realm of that type of money.
Not helping matters is a player like DeMarre Carroll reportedly receiving $60 million over four years from Toronto.
Update: Wade and the Heat are making progress.
Free agent Dwyane Wade and Miami are progressing in talks on a likely multi-year deal, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2015
Heat understood from the start they can't afford to let Wade walk. Would hurt their perception among the next wave of free agent stars.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 1, 2015
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