Dwyane Wade Opts Out of Heat Contract: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
Longtime Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade opted out of his contract Monday. While the decision allows him to keep his options open, staying with the only franchise he's ever known is still very much in play.
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN first reported the decision, with a Wade spokesman confirming the news to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
Wade is coming off another solid season in Miami. There were questions about what type of role he would take on following the exit of LeBron James. He did see a spike in shot attempts, but his overall impact was in line with recent years.
The 33-year-old guard averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds while setting a new career low in minutes per game (31.8). The Heat have made a concerted effort to keep him healthy by cutting back his playing time and giving him some games off to rest.
Staying with the Heat seemed like the most logical option. He told the Associated Press (via CBS Miami) after the season that no final decisions had been made, though.
"I signed my deal the way I did for a reason...and the organization did it for a reason," Wade said. "It's my option. I'll decide when the time is right. Everyone knows I always try to do what's best for the organization, but I also have to do what's best for Dwyane Wade as well."
Those comments obviously added more uncertainty to the equation. Check out Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick weighing in on the situation below:
Now that he's decided to opt out, the question becomes what's going to happen next. There are a few different options on the table.
He could re-sign with the Heat for one season—or two with another player option for the second year—and go through the process again. That would allow him to hit the open market next summer, when contracts will rise thanks to the new television deals.
If he wants to stay in Miami but eliminate the uncertainty, he could sign a new long-term deal. He's still effective enough that it would make sense for the Heat to lock him up and virtually ensure he remains a member of the franchise for his entire career.
Or Wade could explore what the market has to offer. While there probably aren't many teams on which his role would increase, he may prefer a situation where the title chances are higher, even if he's not the focal point. It depends on what he's looking for at this stage of his career.
It's a situation that warrants watching in the weeks ahead.
