Wade to join Cavaliers, reunite with LeBron

No more heavy leaning for Dwyane Wade. He’ll sign with the Cavaliers when he clears waivers on Wednesday.

Wade, 35, a 12-time All-Star and close friend to LeBron James, is joining Cleveland’s talent-laden roster for his 15th season on a one-year contract, according to multiple sources.

He’ll make $2.3 million from the Cavs, the veteran’s minimum, sources said, after securing an approximately $16 million buyout of his $23.8 million contract from the Chicago Bulls.

Wade was in Chicago as of Tuesday afternoon. Cleveland was to practice twice on Wednesday but it remained to be seen if Wade could clear waivers, sign, and be in Ohio to work out for the afternoon practice.

Earlier Tuesday, a source with knowledge of Wade’s thinking said that Wade “has no intention of going anywhere else” besides the Cavs. Wade received interest from at least three other teams – the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Miami Heat (his old team), and the San Antonio Spurs.

Wade averaged 18.3 points and shot 31 percent from three-point range for the Bulls last season. He and James won two titles and went to four consecutive Finals together with the Miami Heat from 2011-14. Wade holds career averages of 23.3 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds.

The Cavs will have Wade, J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver as shooting guards. Iman Shumpert, once a staple of Cleveland’s rotations, is also on the roster.

James, who worked out with Wade for a week this month in Los Angeles, did not speak to reporters after practice Tuesday – Cleveland’s first of the 2017-18 season. On media day, he said Wade “brings another championship pedigree, championship DNA. He brings another playmaker to the team who can get guys involved, can make plays and also has a great basketball mind.”

Wade, who also won a title with the Heat in 2006 (playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal), counts only $1.47 million against the Cavs’ salary cap, which saves them money in tax penalties.

James was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavs in the 2003 draft; Wade went fifth.

In his first season as GM, Koby Altman will have signed Wade, Derrick Rose (2011 MVP) and Jeff Green to league-minimum deals, and traded Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and two picks, including the 2018 Brooklyn first rounder.