For the Chicago Bulls to have any sort of meaningful cap space this summer, they need at least one of Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade to be suiting up elsewhere. And we already know Rondo’s non-guaranteed deal probably isn’t going anywhere, so that leaves Wade.
Except he’s not going anywhere either.
From the Chicago Tribune‘s K.C. Johnson:
Can you really see any way Wade walks away from $24 million and leaves the Bulls? — Darnell Green, Annapolis
Well, it’s $23.8 million, as mentioned above. But you’re on it. And all I can tell you is most everyone associated with the Bulls believes Wade will pick up the option and remain in Chicago for a second season. More surprising things have happened in league history, though. So stay tuned. Wade’s player option decision is due by June 27 according to The Vertical’s Bobby Marks. Most previous reporting pegged it to June 30.
There’s no question the Bulls braced themselves for this. With the way Rondo, Wade and Jimmy Butler came together for a minute during the first round of the playoffs, they might have even been hoping for things to unfold this way.
Or maybe the Bulls knew Wade’s $23.8 million salary wouldn’t be coming off the ledger, so they’re electing to retain Rondo as well. Their books are almost squeaky clean in 2018, when both Rondo and Wade would be free agents, and getting rid of only Rondo doesn’t give them that much flexibility.
As for Wade, there are better situations he could join. But there’s no way he comes close to matching next year’s take home. It’ll take two, maybe three, years for him to recoup the $23.8 million he’d be leaving on the table. And while he’s made enough money on the basketball court—$179.5 million following this season—walking away from that much money at the age of 35 isn’t something players typically do.
