Dwyane Wade opted into the final year of his contract with the Chicago Bulls one year after he left the Miami Heat to join his hometown team. However, after he opted into the $23.8 million final year of his contract, the Bulls made the surprising move of trading away their best player in Jimmy Butler and making it clear that they were rebuilding with young talent.
The only other player on the Chicago Bulls team that makes over $8 million in 2017-18 is Robin Lopez, who is making $13.7 million. Wade makes over $10 million more than the second highest paid player on his own team and he makes this after averaging 18.3 points last season, his lowest numbers since his rookie season in 2003-04.
As a result, the Chicago Bulls have made it clear they are considering a buyout for Dwyane Wade.
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James
Dwyane Wade was playing in the NBA Finals before LeBron James joined the Miami Heat. When LeBron came to Miami, Dwyane was in the NBA Finals every season. It can't be a coincidence that the minute that the Chicago Bulls made it clear that they had no plans to win an NBA title this year, Wade would start to think of LeBron James.
Fans have to credit Dwyane Wade for not throwing dirty laundry out or demanding a movie, such as the one that Kyrie Irving made with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, when TMZ caught up with Dwayne, they asked about re-joining LeBron to go after an NBA title again.
Dwyane Wade then said that he was having dinner with LeBron James later this week. When that was construed as a "meeting" with LeBron, Wade went to Twitter to say that it was not a "meeting" and that it was dinner between friends.
Or GO to dinner. Like friends do. Not Meet for dinner there's a difference. https://t.co/6SyKkUfvTb
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 29, 2017
The future of Dwyane and LeBron
This doesn't mean that Dwyane Wade and LeBron James won't end up back together.
If the Chicago Bulls offers a buyout for Wade's contract, he could always end up back with LeBron and chase an NBA title in Cleveland. WIth Kyrie Irving gone, Wade could join LeBron, Kevin Love, Isaiah Thomas, and Derrick Rose to try to overtake the Golden State Warriors this season.
There is also a chance that the Chicago Bulls could buyout Wade and he doesn't join LeBron - this year.
There are a ton of rumors that LeBron will opt out of his contract with the Cavaliers in the summer of 2018 and that James will head to the Los Angeles Lakers. There are a lot of names that could join him there, including Paul George.
There might not be a bigger deal than seeing Dwyane Wade, Paul George, LeBron James, and Lonzo Ball leading the way for the Los Angeles Lakers. There is nothing happening right now but when it comes to the Chicago Bulls, the time for Dwyane is coming to an end.
