Source: Dwyane Wade's contract talks with Miami Heat hit impasse

[Andrew]

Report on ESPN.com

MIAMI -- For the first time, the relationship between Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat seems murky at best.

And his future with the team is now in doubt.

Contract talks between Wade and the Heat are at an impasse and the three-time NBA champion is preparing himself for possibly leaving the team this summer, a source confirmed to ESPN.com.

Wade is under contract for the 2015-16 season, and would earn about $16.1 million. He also could opt out and become a free agent. Wade has said many times, including in an end-of-season interview with The Associated Press, that he wants to remain with the Heat for the remainder of his career.

But Wade has not decided anything, including whether he will opt out, the person said on Thursday.

"He's trying to figure out how things should transpire and if he can reach another agreement with the Heat," the person said.

[Kevin]

Hope he does stay with the Heat. Not sure what NovU would feel if he leaves Miami.

[Alpha_]

Taking his talents to Chicago.

[Kevin]

I can feel it comin' in the air tonight

[stereoxide]

Wade reuniting with LeBron in Cleveland confirmed.

[Alpha_]

I can feel it comin' in the air tonight

[ Image ]

[Andrew]

Taking his talents to Chicago.

If he's willing to take a huge paycut to make it happen, I could get on board with that scenario.

Wade reuniting with LeBron in Cleveland confirmed.

That would be something, too.

[NovU]

[shadowgrin]

loool so much for that loyalty and sacrifice garbage Heat fanboys were spitting a fee years back.

[NovU]

There's a rumor that Wade's seeking 50 million for 3 season deal. That'd be overpaying vastly but it's nothing like the Lakers did Kobe anyway. But I'd say Arison has to open up his wallet for once since he's been taking pay cuts in nearly every contract in his career with the Heat.

But I kinda wish to see him going to the team where he can contend like the Bulls would be a perfect fit. But oh well, if it's money that he's after, that's probably not going to happen.

[air gordon]

It was good year for wade. He surprised all by playing all those games and at a decent level.

Even on a modestly priced contract, stay away from the Bulls

[benji]

▪ It was LeBron James, not Wade, who first made real the possible paradigm shift with three superstars playing together in Miami. James broached the subject during free agency in 2010, at a secret meeting he called in Cleveland with Bosh and Wade. To that point, Wade had been relaying to Heat management that there was no way James would go for the idea of playing in Miami.

▪ It was Wade, not James, who by himself kept Udonis Haslem in Miami. Wade went to James with the idea of taking less money to include Haslem. James refused. The Heat couldn’t figure out a way to make a competitive offer to Haslem within salary-cap constraints until Wade volunteered to take that salary hit alone. It is why Wade was paid millions less than Bosh and James — one of the sacrifices Wade would make on behalf of team that he evidently would now like reimbursed.

▪ Miami’s Big 3 would have never gotten together if Pat Riley had originally gotten what he wanted. Riley was busy offering millions in 2009 to Lamar Odom, fresh off a championship in Los Angeles. Odom was having something close to a nervous breakdown trying to decide between the Lakers and Heat, but eventually settled on L.A. before marrying a Kardashian and spiraling into addiction. If Riley had closed Odom — and Odom couldn’t be reached for days at deciding time — Miami never would have had the money to pay James, Wade and Bosh.

▪ Miami’s Big 3 would have never gotten together if Shawn Marion, of all people, had gotten what he wanted. Marion was so stubborn about wanting a max contract back in 2007 that his insistence helped blow up a three-team deal that could have sent Kevin Garnett from Minnesota to Phoenix. That deal would have prevented Garnett from ever teaming up with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to win a championship in Boston. But Marion wouldn’t re-sign with a trading team that wasn’t offering the max, so he was instead sent to Miami for a disgruntled Shaquille O’Neal. Miami offered Marion a four-year contract that would have also kept Miami’s Big 3 from uniting, but not at the max. So Marion asked to be traded … and had to settle in Dallas for a five-year, $39 million deal that was far less than the max.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-c ... 76375.html

[Kevin]

▪ It was LeBron James, not Wade, who first made real the possible paradigm shift with three superstars playing together in Miami. James broached the subject during free agency in 2010, at a secret meeting he called in Cleveland with Bosh and Wade. To that point, Wade had been relaying to Heat management that there was no way James would go for the idea of playing in Miami.

▪ It was Wade, not James, who by himself kept Udonis Haslem in Miami. Wade went to James with the idea of taking less money to include Haslem. James refused. The Heat couldn’t figure out a way to make a competitive offer to Haslem within salary-cap constraints until Wade volunteered to take that salary hit alone. It is why Wade was paid millions less than Bosh and James — one of the sacrifices Wade would make on behalf of team that he evidently would now like reimbursed.

▪ Miami’s Big 3 would have never gotten together if Pat Riley had originally gotten what he wanted. Riley was busy offering millions in 2009 to Lamar Odom, fresh off a championship in Los Angeles. Odom was having something close to a nervous breakdown trying to decide between the Lakers and Heat, but eventually settled on L.A. before marrying a Kardashian and spiraling into addiction. If Riley had closed Odom — and Odom couldn’t be reached for days at deciding time — Miami never would have had the money to pay James, Wade and Bosh.

▪ Miami’s Big 3 would have never gotten together if Shawn Marion, of all people, had gotten what he wanted. Marion was so stubborn about wanting a max contract back in 2007 that his insistence helped blow up a three-team deal that could have sent Kevin Garnett from Minnesota to Phoenix. That deal would have prevented Garnett from ever teaming up with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to win a championship in Boston. But Marion wouldn’t re-sign with a trading team that wasn’t offering the max, so he was instead sent to Miami for a disgruntled Shaquille O’Neal. Miami offered Marion a four-year contract that would have also kept Miami’s Big 3 from uniting, but not at the max. So Marion asked to be traded … and had to settle in Dallas for a five-year, $39 million deal that was far less than the max.

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Too many "What if" questions right there.

[NovU]

one of the sacrifices Wade would make on behalf of team that he evidently would now like reimbursed.

I think the biggest sacrifice came last year when LBJ totally fucked him up. It's a common decency as a friend to tell or give at least a hint so that your so-called one of the best friend doesn't get screwed by 10s of millions dollars.

Let's see what Heat's management do for him.

[Andrew]

Definitely some interesting what-ifs there, some things that could've completely changed the face of the NBA, or at least thrown a few spanners in the works around the league.

As it stands, I can appreciate where Wade is coming from. Sure, no one likes to hear millionaire athletes talk about missing out on extra millions here and there, but they're all entitled to their share of the pie. Wade sacrificed his spot as top dog on the roster and a significant amount of money for the team to win two titles in four straight NBA Finals appearances, and this is probably his last chance to get a big payday. If the money's not going to be there in Miami, if they're not going to compensate him a little for his loyalty and sacrifice...all other options probably start looking equal.

[Jackal]

Wade didn't sign a fatter and longer contract because he can get a huge contract once more after proving he's still one of the best in the league. There's good motivation for him this season without LBJ and I believe in him. He'll lead the Heat to the Finals for the fifth straight time. QMIJ or not.

Wade's not a money firster for sure. He never took or demanded max that he could get in his career but took willingly less constantly so the team could accommodate better talent. Kinda rare these days. And he gave up a lot this time by opting out, a LOT.

Second year is player option. He could opt out for a bigger contract if he wants next season.

You realize how much money he could have gotten more by opting in right? Wade is in the league of Duncan when it comes to team first mentality. It's a rarity now days.

Persuading LBJ was also for the franchise. He got screwed indeed. Even the franchise wasn't nice enough to give him his contract back. His loss is 10 million. It was said to be bigger if LBJ opted in. That is a rarity now days in this league in all angles.

You provide good laughs man.

If Wade had known Lebron is gonna bolt to Cleveland, he would've signed a big ass contract. Now that he has no Lebron, he wants his money. Good on him.

[NovU]

If Wade had known Lebron is gonna bolt to Cleveland, he would've signed a big ass contract.

He probably would have opted in, instead of losing 10+ mil for no good reason.

Now that he has no Lebron, he wants his money. Good on him.

Yeah, what a treacherous bastard. He probably should keep on taking paycuts to death for no good reason.





But it's only 10s of millions in loss for his teammates and franchise for a guy with hundred of million dollars. I Know Right. I mean Kobe probably has done more for his team and teammates as a billionaire. Right? What douche is Wade for wanting money now that LBJ is gone. Absolute garbage. Good on him.





At the end of the day, Wade's asking money worth of Kobe's goodbye contract, with 1 more year of service at much younger age. It's funny how few people here argued against me to death that Kobe wasn't being overpaid but rather was taking a paycut, lel. If that was the case, I don't know why those same people aren't praising Wade for asking ridiculously discounted contract. But LAL fans are "real" fans so I wouldn't know, IKR

[Jackal]

I actually meant it's a good thing he's getting his money. Had nothing to do with Kobe or his horrid contract.

Don't be so butt hurt.

[shadowgrin]

lol someone got pwned so bad because of eating their own shit. Loyalty, sacrifice, and team player my ass.

[Sauru]

people act like he is not still very wealthy. he took pay cuts to play with better players, less money is the downside of that. do not act like he took a pay cut for the team because that is not true. he took a pay cut to have a better chance at winning it all. the paycut was for him not the team. the man is not hurting for money, he made his choices and he must now deal with the fact that he is not worth what he once was

[Andrew]

To win it all, the team needed to get better, so in the long run he did take a paycut for the good of the team. That was his choice and his risk to take, but I can't fault him for asking the Heat to compensate him now for it; like I said, everyone's entitled to their slice of the pie, and this is his last chance for a big payday. Might as well try for it.

[Sauru]

i am saying his paycut to win was more for him than the team. the team benefit was a by product of his wanting to win. if he could win with the team making no money at all he would.

[Andrew]

Sure, but it's still splitting hairs in my opinion. The situation obviously benefited him and that would've been a big part of his motivation, but he still made sacrifices for the good of the team at the end of the day.

In any case, it'll be interesting to see if playing hardball gets him the payday he's after, or whether he'll either have to either compromise to at least get what he can, or go elsewhere for less out of spite.

[air gordon]

That would be bad for the organization. Personally I think it would be a classless move if Pat Riley let wade walk. The guy retired a player's number who didn't even wear a heat jersey

[Sauru]

my point of view is this. everyone is saying the team should pay him now as a loyalty contract since he kept taking pay cuts to win. well if the team was horrible and he was still a max player would anyone say he should stay with the team out of loyalty? it feels like peoples opinions are very 1 sided with this.

i am just saying that it my opinion that the heat only "owe" him what he is currently worth.