Veteran forward Udonis Haslem believes that the Miami Heat will welcome Dwyane Wade with open arms. Haslem made the pronouncement in an interview on the Joe Rose Show on 560WQAM after it was reported that Wade and the Chicago Bulls are working on a buyout. According to Haslem, the Heat would love to have Wade, but he must take it one step at a time. The veteran forward added that Wade’s situation in Chicago was very frustrating.
Haslem and Wade played together with the Heat for 13 seasons before the latter signed a two-year, $47.5 million deal with his hometown team last season.
However, it was an uneventful campaign for Wade, who averaged just 18.3 points in 60 games, the lowest scoring output of his career since his rookie year. Despite a forgettable year, Wade exercised the $23.8 million player option in his contract.
According to James Herbert of CBS Sports, the Heat have a full $4.3 million room exception available that they can use to sign Wade, who averaged 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 915 career games with the Heat and the Bulls. Wade also has a vast playoff experience, averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 172 career playoff outings. Wade led the Heat to three NBA crowns in his 13 years with the team.
Bulls plan to buy out Wade’s contract
Nick Friedell of ESPN said the Bulls are planning to buy out the contract of the 35-year-old Wade, giving him a chance to join another team. Friedell said the Bulls don’t see Wade as part of the organization’s future and might work out a buyout agreement with him in the next few months. He exercised the option in his contract before the Bulls traded Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves and released veteran guard Rajon Rondo.
The report was contrary to the earlier pronouncement by coach Fred Hoiberg that the Bulls were not planning to buy out Wade and he will be part of the team when the season starts.
Wade to join Cavaliers?
The Cleveland Cavaliers can also sign Wade if he’s released by the Bulls. They can sign him through their available $2.4 million taxpayer mid-level exception.
Wade will give James a dependable veteran partner in case Kyrie Irving gets traded. He can also compete with J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert for playing time. The San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and the Minnesota Timberwolves are the other possible destinations for Wade. The Spurs could use him as a playmaker with Tony Parker still recovering from an injury. The Spurs have an available bi-annual $3.3 million exception that they can use to sign the veteran.
