Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade has reportedly made the organisation aware that he would be open to accepting a new contract that paid $20m annually on average for three years.
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Contract negotiations between the two parties have reportedly reached an impasse, with Wade less than happy about the terms on the table after taking two consecutive pay cuts.
After helping the Heat create additional cap space to improve the roster by opting out of a better deal last summer, the veteran had hoped to be rewarded down the line.
However, those terms haven’t been forthcoming which in turn has led to suggestions that he could opt out of his contract and consider his options as he looks for a long-term partnership that protects him in the final few years of his career in the league.
Miami aren’t on the same page as of yet, and so it threatens to result in a stand-off that causes the three-time NBA champion to look elsewhere with the Heat hoping to put together a team that is capable of competing for a championship in the coming years.
“A Wade associate has told people that Wade would welcome a contract averaging $20 million annually over the next three years. If that’s true, it would be understandable, considering the year 13-15 pay ranges for Duncan and Nowitzki. Wade’s agent, Henry Thomas, politely declined to confirm that or anything regarding Wade’s specific financial expectations,” the Miami Herald reported.
“We’ve heard the Heat would prefer Wade opt in for $16 million next season, then take a very significant pay cut over the following two years.”
Wade averaged 21.5 points per game this season, but injuries are increasingly becoming a concern for the organisation as he continues to miss time consistently and shows natural signs of ageing.
As a result, the Heat need to figure out whether or not they will reward him or put that money to better use elsewhere in the years to come and even though it is more than likely he will remain, it could go the other way.
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