Wade’s China offer: $25M, three years
Zhejiang Golden Bulls reported as the team
While clarity has yet to come from Dwyane Wade regarding his basketball future, we now at least have perspective on what constitutes a reported “monster deal” to play in China.
Three days after the report of such an offer for Wade to continue his career with a shift to the Chinese Basketball Association, a report by a journalist in China has the offer from the Zhejiang Golden Bulls to Wade at $25 million over three years.
As a matter of perspective, Wade sought such a figure for a single season during his ugly 2016 free-agency departure from the Heat to his hometown Chicago Bulls.
The Heat, who are operating above the NBA salary cap, are limited either to an offer of the $5.3 million taxpayer midlevel exception for 2018-19 to Wade or the $2.3 million minimum salary for a player of Wade’s 15-season NBA tenure.
Saturday’s report out of China, where Wade was conducting his annual tour for his Li Ning-branded sneaker line, had Wade being contacted by Xinjiang of the Chinese Basketball Association.
The Zhejiang Golden Bulls, who play in a 6,000-seat arena,
have attracted a variety of American players over the years, including former Heat players Eddy Curry, Jarnell Stokes, Mike James, as well as Americans J.R. Smith, Josh Boone, Quincy Douby, Kirk Snyder, Ivan Johnson and Lorenzo Brown.
Wade, 36, said at season’s end that his decision ultimately would come down to continuing his Heat encore that began with last season’s February trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers or a move into post-basketball ventures.
Wade was accompanied during his marketing tour in China by Udonis Haslem, who last month said he would consider playing overseas, possibly in China, as a means of securing additional playing time. Like Wade, Haslem is a free agent.
The Heat have three open roster spots for next season, enough to accommodate Wade, Haslem and an additional player. Already under contract to the Heat for 2018-19 are Hassan Whiteside, Kelly Olynyk, Bam Adebayo, James Johnson, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Dion Waiters, Tyler Johnson, Goran Dragic, Wayne Ellington, Derrick Jones Jr. and Rodney McGruder. Undrafted Michigan forward Duncan Robinson is on a two-way contract and does not count against that total.
Among the reasons Wade cited for his return last season to the Heat and ongoing preference to remain in South Florida was to spend more time with his sons amid their burgeoning basketball careers.
The Heat open training camp in late September, with the regular season opening a month later.