Report: Wade chooses Cavaliers
Veteran guard, 35, seeks best shot at another NBA title.
BOCA RATON — Dwyane Wade is hoping to rekindle his glory days with the Heat ... in Cleveland.
According to The Vertical, Wade reached an agreement on a one-year, $2.3 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday afternoon, where he will team up with his former Heat teammate, LeBron James.
Wade, who was placed on waivers Monday after reaching a buyout with the Bulls, will sign his deal today after he clears waivers. Wade, 35, reportedly was deciding between Cleveland, Miami, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and, according to a late report, Golden State, which reached out to the 14-year veteran. The Heat could have offered Wade their $4.3 million exception.
Heat captain Udonis Haslem, who joined Miami the same year as Wade (2003) and remains one of Wade’s closest friends, has campaigned for Wade’s return to South Florida.
“Nothing changes whether he comes or not,” Haslem said Monday following the Heat’s first day of training camp at Florida Atlantic University.
“I would love to have him. He’s my brother, he’s one of my best friends. Priorities are different sometimes.”
Haslem was asked how special those games against Cleveland will be this season. Miami travels
to Cleveland on Nov. 28 and Jan. 31 while the Cavs come to Miami once, March 27.
“I will put my special request in with (coach Erik Spoelstra) for minutes in that game,” Haslem joked “I definitely got six fouls. ... probably three on each and a flagrant for Dwyane.”
Wade’s decision to join Cleveland is not surprising. He told the Chicago Tribune he preferred a spot where he could compete for a championship and told the Associated Press he would make a “pure basketball” decision. Which meant taking the emotion out of returning to the city where he spent his first 13 seasons and where he owns a home and his children attend school.
Although Cleveland is much closer to a title than Miami, the Cavs have more of a need for a two guard whereas the Heat are set with Dion Waiters as the starter and a group of reserves — Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, Wayne Ellington, Rodney McGruder — who can play the position.
“There’s a lot of things that come into play,” Haslem said. “We got a lot of young guys. JRich has got to play. Justise (Winslow) has got to play. Dion’s got to play. There’s a lot of bodies at that spot.”
Wade’s decision comes seven years after James (and Chris Bosh) joined Wade in Miami and triggered a fouryear run in which the Heat played in the Finals each year, winning the 2012 and 2013 titles. The era ended in 2014 when James decided to return to Cleveland.
Wade gave back approximately $8 million of his $23.8 million contract with the Bulls to become an unrestricted free agent. He averaged 18.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 60 games in his lone season in Chicago.
The Cavaliers, who return shooting guards JR Smith and Iman Shumpert, clearly remain one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference and to most the favorite to return to the Finals for a fourth straight season.
Spoelstra, limited to what he can say, hinted its more about where Wade finishes his career.
“Whatever Dwyane does it’s not ever going to change how I feel about him,” Spoelstra said. “It’s more about our hopes for where he ends up eventually.
“Everybody knows how I feel about him. Read between the lines. South Florida is a great place.”