When Dwyane Wade agreed to opt into his 2017-18 NBA contract with the Chicago Bulls, he assumed the team could be competitive with him and Jimmy Butler leading the way. Almost immediately after signing the deal to remain in Chicago, the Bulls traded away Butler and announced they were rebuilding. That means that a player like Wade, and the size of his deal, is not something that Chicago wants to keep around.
Bulls expected to buy out Wade's contract
The Chicago Bulls have two options. The first is to pay Dwyane Wade a very high $23.8 million to play with them in the 2017-18 NBA season.
The second option is to offer to buy out his contract. ESPN indicated on Thursday that the Bulls are expected to buy out the contract in the next few months. If this happens, the Bulls will move on with their rebuilding process and Dwyane can find a new team to try to help lead to the NBA playoffs.
Udonis Haslem reaches out to Dwyane
The biggest contender to bring Dwyane Wade into the fold is the Miami Heat. Things did not end well for Wade in Miami as the superstar did not speak to Pat Riley for a significant amount of time before he decided to leave the only team he had ever played for. However, Riley made it clear that Wade will always have a home in Miami.
Now, it could become a reality. The Miami Heat missed out on the playoffs last season due to a tiebreaker against none other than Wade's Chicago Bulls.
That is not to say that Dwyane Wade is a difference maker at this point in his career, but he is a veteran that has won titles - in Miami - and he can be a huge mentor to the young Heat team.
The Miami Heat's longest lasting veteran Udonis Haslem has indicated that the Heat would love to have Wade back but only if it is what is best for Dwyane.
“My advice to him is, ‘Hey, we’d love to have you but take it one step at a time, take it one step at a time,'” Haslem said. He also added that it is all business, which is why what Dwyane Wade wanted at the end of his career likely won't come to fruition.
Other options for Dwyane Wade
If Dwyane Wade accepts the buyout from the Chicago Bulls and leaves the organization, there are teams other than the Miami Heat that could welcome the former NBA champion.
The Cleveland Cavaliers might only have one year left to contend for the NBA Championship if LeBron James leaves next summer and Kyrie Irving leaves before the upcoming season via trade. They have already brought in former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose and adding Wade could reunite him with LeBron for one more title run.
The Houston Rockets just added Chris Paul in a trade and have wanted to bring in Carmelo Anthony as well. While Dwyane is not up to Anthony's stature at this point in his career, working alongside Paul and James Harden could revitalize his career and push the Rockets to the top alongside the Golden State Warriors in the West.
The San Antonio Spurs are always contenders in the Western Conference and adding someone like Wade could help them try to match up to the Warriors once again. The Minnesota Timberwolves have a great young core and adding Dwyane Wade could really help, once again as a mentor who has won titles in the past.
