While many expect Dwyane Wade to join the Cleveland Cavaliers after he gets a buyout from the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers might be an attractive destination for him. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, an associate of Wade “has been telling people” that the Lakers could be the next stop for the veteran. Jackson said the associate was the one who alerted him that the negotiations between Wade and the Miami Heat were not going well. It was proven to be true as Wade signed a two-year, $47-million contract with the Bulls last season.
Wade exercised the $23.8 million option on his contract for next season, but the Bulls are expected to buy him out in the coming month. The Lakers could also pursue the 35-year-old Wade as he can help them convince LeBron James to join the team in 2018 after he opts out of his deal with the Cavaliers. It was reported that James plans to opt out of his deal with the Cavaliers and join the Lakers in 2018.
It was proven to be true as Wade signed a two-year, $47-million contract with the Bulls last season. Wade exercised the $23.8 million option on his contract for next season, but the Bulls are expected to buy him out in the coming month. The Lakers could also pursue the 35-year-old Wade as he can help them convince LeBron James to join the team in 2018 after he opts out of his deal with the Cavaliers.
It was reported that James plans to opt out of his deal with the Cavaliers and join the Lakers in 2018.
Earlier, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reported that Wade could sign with the Cavaliers and reunite with James with the team. Wade and James teamed up with the Heat and led the franchise to back-to-back titles in 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
Wade played 13 seasons with the Heat before signing with the Bulls. James and Wade earlier planned to play together with Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony at some point in their careers.
James could ignite Celtics-Lakers rivalry
According to Matt Burke of Metro.us, if James joins the Lakers, he could ignite the rivalry between the franchise and the Boston Celtics, who recently acquired his former teammate Kyrie Irving via trade.
Throwing Wade in the mix would make the rivalry more interesting. The Cavaliers shipped Irving to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick and a 2020 second-round pick. The Lakers could also acquire Oklahoma City Thunder’s Paul George as support to James in 2018.
Magic Johnson to shoulder $500K tampering fine
Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson has requested team owner Jeanie Buss to take the $500,000 fine for tampering from his salary, saying he should be accountable for his action and not the team. The NBA recently imposed the fine on the Lakers after they tampered with George, who was with the Indiana Pacers then. “I don't want her (Buss) spending $500,000 because she didn't do anything.
That's on me,” said Magic. The Lakers can still pursue George when he becomes a free agent after the NBA failed to determine if there was an improper agreement between the two sides. If proven otherwise, the Lakers could be prevented from signing George.
