Of all the big-name stars eligible for free agency next summer, I've always considered Dwyane Wade the most likely to stay exactly where he is. Unlike LeBron James in Cleveland, Chris Bosh in Toronto and Carlos Boozer in Salt Lake City, Wade already resides in one of the most popular destinations among visiting NBA players. And when push comes to shove and offers start pouring in, the Miami Heat will be able to offer the longest contract for the most money (especially when you consider Florida doesn't charge a state income tax).
But even if all signs point to the Heat holding onto their superstar, Wade is keeping his options open -- and putting pressure on Miami's front office to improve his supporting cast.
"I'm going to listen. I owe the Miami Heat that much. I'm going to listen to what they have to say and I'm going to think about it," Wade told The Associated Press. "But right now, the way I feel, I want to make sure that we're on track to where I want us to be on track to before I sign back."
It sounds reasonable enough, right? Unfortunately, Pat Riley has already indicated that he won't pursue any major changes until after Wade commits. From the Miami Herald last month:
"There can't be any major franchise changes made without his commitment," Riley said of Wade, who could become a free agent on July 1, 2010. "I'm going to do the best sales job I can. What we do going forward is going to be predicated on that."If this turns into a staring contest, Riley better blink first or risk seeing his homegrown superstar find greener pastures elsewhere. Miami improved from 15 wins in 2007-08 to 43 wins in 2008-09, but it'll be nearly impossible to keep improving at the same rate without a significant influx of talent.
Making matters worse, the top three teams in the East last year have already made significant moves to bolster their chances of unseating the Lakers next season -- the Cavaliers traded for Shaquille O'Neal, the Celtics rolled the dice on Rasheed Wallace and the Magic acquired Vince Carter. Heck, even teams that didn't make the playoffs have made up ground on the Heat, with the Wizards adding Mike Miller, Randy Foye and an ostensibly healthy Gilbert Arenas, and the Raptors inking Hedo Turkoglu.
The Heat? So far, their most significant moves were extending qualifying offers to Jamario Moon and Joel Anthony. With Jermaine O'Neal exercising his $22.9 million player option, this team is pressed so close to the luxury tax that Riley doesn't anticipate making any free agent offers, even though he has the mid-level exception available.
Thanks to a 2007 trade with the Timberwolves, the Heat didn't have a pick in the first round, missing out on a chance to add a point guard like Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague or Eric Maynor -- all three of whom could have pressed Mario Chalmers for the starting job.
All things considered, it's a near certainty the Heat will open this coming season with virtually the same roster that was booted out of the first round of the playoffs. If Wade is comfortable treading water for a season, the Heat will have crazy cap space to make things happen in the summer of 2010, but it's hardly a given Miami makes the playoffs in the interim, let alone builds on last year's improvement.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Miami is not going to be a major contender, D. Wade is gone, he's just preparing Miami fans.
Basically,Wade is telling the Heat to upgrade his supporting cast THIS year,or he will consider leaving.The problem here is that Wade KNOWS that demand is next to impossible given their financial constraints.They had better at least start considering trying to sign a PG with their MLE money.Andre Miller is still available.I know he isn't young,but he could improve their team for THIS year.
You're right G, Jermaine O'neal really has them strapped earning 23 mil a year, I don't know who paid him that, but to me, Miami should just go ahead and rebuild. With the exception of D Wade, they have a lot of really young players like Beasley and Chalmers to start over. Let Wade go, ride out O'neal get some draft picks and start over. I don't know why, but I suspect Wade will end up in New York.
I kinda agree that Miami should'nt resign Wade, they're not gonna compete for a title so they should just start over and build around their young players. They had a good run with Shaq, they just don't have enough talent now.
Next summer the Thunder will only have 13 million on their books FOR THEIR ENTIRE TEAM , and that includes having Durant, Westbrook, and Green under contract. So listen to this and let it sink in, they are the only team that will have more then enough money to offer 2 superstars max contracts (Lebron and Wade have joked about playing with each other left and right the last 2 years) AND even have money for one more smaller star!!!!! So they have the cap room to add Lebron and Wade and have Durant,Westbrook, and Green. Im sorry but if Lebron and Wade are has smart as they act and want RINGS they KNOW this would be an instant franchise and they would all be in their mid to lower 20's.
I would like to see Heat use MLE for IVERSON. Over an 80 game season at least 60 games come down to the 4th quarter .... a backcourt combination of DWADE and AI will be very difficult to stop. Then, in 2010 ... with JO and BLOUNT off the payroll, the Heat will have $$$$ to sign FA BOSH .... and extend WADE
In two years .... here this is a championship roster
BOSH
BEASLEY
J.JONES
DWADE
AI
Nice of Dwayne to clue everyone in, including his wife, to the fact he`s a sunshine patriot. He wants the team to carry him to victory, not him carry the team. But he`ll accept the mvp award if the win despite him. Fortunately, Miami has lots of sunshine. Jermaine was paid the big bucks by InDiana, when he was rebounding more than twice as well as he is now, then traded to Toronto then Miami. Memphis drafted rookie 7`3 center ThaBeet, so maybe a Marc Gasol for Udonis Haslem trade is possible, which might then permit an O`Neal and Blount for McGrady trade. Wade can play point, and is better at that than perimeter shooting. Iverson is a possibility, as is Nate Robinson. Fans love Krypto Nate, management thinks he is too small to have blocked Yao`s shot, the way he did. Management can`t see what`s in front of them, most any management. Which is why the jobless rate is up again, gas/oil prices are, a mixed blessing, down again. Not just sports management is deaf, dumb, and blind. Iverson is still about as good as Jameer Nelson, who shouldn`t have been picked an all star, especially when the team violated its own rules to go without a back up center, to lose all the more readily. Iverson is not my fave celeb, nor is Burno or Ru Paul or Mango, and he is not a good perimeter shooter, so he`d be a smaller version of Wade, wouldn`t blend well until after Wade deserted, but a near all star at the MLE is worth considering. Wade carried the Heat to their championship when Shaq drew triple coverage, but otherwise, like Bosh, hasn`t done much, just gunned on a weak, losing, team. I`d prefer Cook starting to Chalmers, but both play.