The Dwyane Wade era in Miami appears to be over. Per The Vertical, Wade will sign a 2-year, $47.5 million deal with the Bulls.
Wade met with Heat owner Micky Arison on Wednesday, where Wade allegedly wanted a third year on their 2-year, $40 million offer. Miami did not budge, so Wade made his decision to move on.
This move basically comes down to money and respect. Wade has never been the highest paid player on the Miami Heat in his 13 years there. That’s an unfathomable stat. to put that into perspective, Chris Bosh has been the highest paid Heat player 6 times. But in fairness, Wade didn’t do himself any favors along the line, either. When he opted out in 2014, in hopes of making room for LeBron staying, he cost himself $10 million when LeBron ultimately decided to leave. Either way, a new era begins for Wade and the Bulls.
To clear salary-cap space for Wade’s homecoming, the Bulls traded guard Jose Calderon to the Los Angeles Lakers and forward Mike Dunleavy to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources said.
Wade’s agreement includes a player option that will allow him to return to free agency in 2017, sources said.
Dwyane Wade will return to his childhood home, where he idolized Bulls icon Michael Jordan as a young boy and moved on to become an All-American at Marquette and a 12-time NBA All-Star with Miami.
