Despite weeks of rumors and posturing that suggested otherwise, it appears Dwyane Wade will remain with the only franchise he’s known in his storied NBA career. According to Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, the Miami Heat are “progressing” in talks with their future Hall-of-Famer on a deal that will keep him in South Beach for the long haul.
Free agent Dwyane Wade and Miami are progressing in talks on a likely multi-year deal, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2015
It was initially reported early last month that Wade was disenchanted by the early stages of contract negotiations with Pat Riley and company. His subsequent thinly veiled threats at leaving the Heat this summer only added fuel to the fire, as did whispers that he was interested in joining both the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers. When Wade officially opted out of his contract last week, many assumed his days with Miami were numbered.
Irrespective of this latest momentum, that thinking was always premature. The market for a 33-year-old with creaky knees and no consistent three-point range was always going to be much drier than Wade’s name recognition indicates, and his legacy would suffer a blow by switching teams so late in his career, too. And considering the imminent and loud public backlash the Heat would no doubt face upon his departure, the two sides coming to an agreement has remained the most likely outcome of so much worry.
After the Heat locked up Goran Dragic, it now appears cooler heads of both Wade and the team will prevail. Might the future Hall-of-Famer receive the max contract from the Heat that he reportedly seeks? Doubtful, but that starting point should still lead to a compromise that could keep Wade in South Beach until the end of his career.
We’ll keep you updated as news on this developing story becomes available.
[Via Adrian Wojnarowski]
