Wade won’t talk contract
MIAMI SHORES — Saturday was about getting a read. And about Dwyane Wade. But it wasn’t about getting a read on Dwyane Wade. Such is the current lack of clarity regarding the Miami Heat.
Amid uncertainty about his contract status, the All-Star shooting guard went ahead with his scheduled appearance at the “Reading Playoffs” at Miami Country Day School.
But when it came to his contract situation, he declined to take questions on the subject, even from the youths attending the event.
At one point, it sounded as if Wade told those at the event on the public address, “I’m not going to say anything, even though I want do.” One of his staffers later clarified that Wade, while holding the wireless microphone, was saying, “I am not going to sing anything, even though I want to.”
That wasn’t quite what those assembled wanted to hear.
The event brought together 100 middle-school students from Broward and Miami-Dade counties participating in four rounds of competition. They were selected by Wade’s World Foundation and 10 participating organizations. Pop R&B singer/songwriter Rob Allen performed the national anthem.
Wade also spent time at the event with Carlos Oset, a 15-year-old from North Carolina dealing with Wilms Tumor.
During a question-andanswer session with the youths, Wade revealed his is taking an upcoming fourday class at Harvard on the business of sports media and entertainment.
“I’m going to class,” Wade told the students. “I haven’t been to school in a long time.”
While Wade addressed the students, he did not discuss his impending opt-out decision, which must be made by the end of the month.
Despite Wade’s agent, Henry Thomas, confirming ongoing discussions regarding Wade’s contract status, neither Wade nor the Heat have commented publicly. Wade is due $16.1 million next season on the final year of the two-year contract he signed last summer in the wake of LeBron James’ free-agent departure to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That contract included the right to terminate the deal by the end of this month and become a free agent July 1.
There could be greater clarity from Wade in his scheduled Sunday appearance on ABC’s pregame and halftime programming for Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.