WADE: MIAMI OR NOTHING

ORLANDO— Pat Riley said last month he was hoping to find out around mid-August if Miami Heat legends Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem were going to return for their 16th season with the team.

As the calendar continues to inch closer to the middle of the month, it’s clear Wade, 36, still hasn’t made his mind up and is in no rush to do so.

Another thing Wade made clear: If he does play it will not be overseas in China or for another NBA team.

“Heat only,” the 12-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion responded Saturday when asked at the NBA’s Jr. World Championships at Disney’s Wide World of Sports if he would consider playing overseas in China this coming season after signing a lifetime contract with the shoe and apparel company Li-Ning.

“If I play the game of basketball this year it will be in a Miami uniform,” Wade continued. “If I don’t, I’ll be living in Miami and somewhere else probably.”

The Heat, which has 13 players under contract and is roughly $4 million over the league’s $123 million luxury tax line, can only offer Wade a $5.3-million luxury tax exception or the veteran league minimum of $2.4 million for next season.

The Heat has been holding two roster spots open for Wade and Haslem until they decide if they are returning. Wade said Saturday he’s in no rush to reach a decision.

“It’s no clock for me,” Wade said. “I let my agent handle the stuff with Pat and them. It’s not my job to be going back and forth in the meeting with them. When the time is right for both sides to make a decision on what that is, if it’s right, if it’s wrong, I think it will be made.”—