The San Antonio Spurs are in the hunt for the services of veteran Dwyane Wade, who recently got his buyout from the Chicago Bulls. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Spurs have a chance to acquire the services of Wade. Aside from the Spurs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and Oklahoma City Thunder are the other possible teams that could land Wade. The news of his buyout was first reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Wojnarowski, for his part, said Wade will give back roughly $8 million of his $23.8 million salary in the buyout.
The buyout ended Wade’s tumultuous one-year stay with his hometown team, which he hoped to lead deep into the playoffs when he signed a two-year deal worth $47 million with the Bulls. Wade exercised the player option in the contract after he was promised by the Bulls that they would field a competitive team for next season. However, the Bulls reneged on their commitment to Wade as they traded superstar Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves and released veteran point guard Rajon Rondo in the offseason.
Wade wants to join contender
In an interview with Johnson, the 35-year-old Wade said that at his age, he only wants to compete for a title. At this point in his career, Wade said he doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuilding team, which he said was the direction that the Bulls want to take.
However, the superstar clarified that he respects the decision of the Bulls to take that direction. The buyout has given him a chance to join a contender rather than stay with the Bulls, who will rely on Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and Lauri Markkanen in the coming season.
Cavaliers clear front-runner for Wade’s services
According to Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers are the "clear front-runner" for Wade’s services because of his closeness to LeBron James.
Earlier, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reported that sources close to James told him that the superstar is expecting that Wade will join him in the Cavaliers. James and Wade won two titles during their stint with the Heat in 2012 and 2013. However, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press said he is also interested in a return to the Heat.
Last season, Wade averaged 18.3 points in 60 games, the lowest scoring output of his career since his rookie year, in his only season with the Bulls. In 915 career regular-season games, he averaged 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. Wade also played in 172 playoff games, averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.
