Miami Heat Rumors: Dwyane Wade Reportedly Offered $36 Million Over Three Years

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CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 11: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 11, 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

Whether Dwyane Wade finishes his career with the Miami Heat has once again been called into question with news that he and the Heat are reportedly as much as $24 million apart in contract negotiations.

That information was reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, who wrote that a friend of Wade’s has been passing along the Heat’s alleged offer to others recently.

According to Jackson, Wade’s friend stated that the Heat are offering $36 million during the next three seasons: $16 million this coming year, and $10 million in each of the following two campaigns. In contrast, Jackson indicated last week that Wade is seeking $60 million over that same time frame, a figure that few people expect him to receive.

Last year, Wade opted out of a guaranteed $41 million in order to make room for what he hoped would be the return of LeBron James to Miami. When that failed to materialize, Wade ended up signing a new two-year deal worth $10 million less with an opt-out out clause after one year.

In an attempt to get back that money, all indications are that Wade will exercise his opt-out clause. Negotiations for him to close out his career with the Heat will begin in earnest on July 1.

Miami (i.e. Pat Riley) is likely reluctant to carve out so much of its payroll for the 33-year-old Wade for at least two reasons. One, his health status has prevented him from playing more than 70 games in each of the last four regular seasons. Two, the Heat needs as much payroll flexibility as possible in the next few years for their likely pursuit of Kevin Durant next year.

This topic will continue to be heavily debated over the next month, given the apparent gulf that exists. The main issue will boil down to how much Wade’s previous loyalty to the franchise is worth.
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Brad Sullivan is a freelance writer for HeatNation.com, having been an avid fan of NBA basketball for more than four decades. During that time, he's watched the Heat evolve from gestation period to expansion team all the way to three-time NBA champions. He'll follow their quest toward again reaching those lofty heights, and do so by offering some perspective along the way.