Wade’s frustrations
It’s easy to see from where Dwyane Wade’s frustrations are coming. Without even taking into consideration the ridiculous sums that other National Basketball Association players with much thinner resumes have been getting since the free agency sweepstakes officially started on July 1, he feels the Heat are lowballing him, and with reason. After all, he has been the face since it drafted him fifth overall in 2003, and yet in no instance has he been its highest-paid stalwart. In fact, he was twice asked to take significant pay cuts; he sacrificed $15 million in order to get LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join him in 2010, and then left $14 million on the table in an attempt to keep the Superfriends situation in 2014.
It isn’t really a matter of money, of course. It’s a matter of respect. Wade just put the finishing touches on a campaign that saw him suit up for the most number of games in five years and post his best playoff stat lines in three, and he wants his efforts, if not his overall worth, to be duly recognized. Heck, he isn’t even angling for a max contract; he just wants $20 million, the same figure that was handed him over the last season, as a sign that the value of the relationship goes both ways. Instead, he is being enjoined to take a step back for the good of the collective yet again.
Make no mistake. The Heat aren’t out to dis Wade. On the contrary, they want to shower him with the love they, too, believe he deserves. Unfortunately, they’re cash-strapped after locking in Hassan Whiteside, and given their continued courtship of Kevin Durant and possible retention of Tyler Johnson, they’ve offered him half his sticker price. Nonetheless, he can’t be faulted for deeming it an insult; as far as he’s concerned, there’s a will if there’s a way. If they have to make a trade to open up the cap space necessary to accommodate him, then they should. Meanwhile, he’ll be going around the block gauging interest in his services.
By all indications, Wade is POed that the Heat don’t look keen on meeting his demands, and, worse, are again taking a hardline stance. His experience last year was bad enough, and he isn’t happy that an intervention from franchise owner Micky Arison may well be required anew. And so he’s — or, to be more precise, agent Henry Thomas — going shopping, and such notables as the Bulls, Bucks, Nuggets, and, yes, Mavericks are said to be extremely interested.
Only time will tell if Wade will defend his position to the point of abandoning his oft-stated desire to start and end his career with the Heat. At this juncture, the safe bet is still on the two sides coming to terms. But if they don’t, it will not be because they didn’t try. And, frankly, he will be no more or less of a Hall of Famer no matter what jersey he hangs up when all is said and done.
Only time will tell if Wade will defend his position to the point of abandoning his oftstated desire to start and end his career with the Heat. At this juncture, the safe bet is still on the two sides coming to terms. But if they don’t, it will not be because they didn’t try.