Last summer, Dwyane Wade terminated a contract that would have paid $20,164,000 this season and $21,655,000 next season.

He signed a new deal that pays $15 million this season and $16,125,000 next season.

Both contracts included player options for next season, and Wade initially said he wouldn’t opt out. That likely pleased the Heat, who’d prefer to maximize their cap room in 2016 – when the salary cap skyrockets, Hassan Whiteside hits unrestricted free agency and other premier free agents (ahem, Kevin Durant) explore the market.

But Wade is considering opting out, presumably to recoup some of the money he gave up last summer.

So, he and Miami are discussing a new contract. It’s apparently not going well.

No wonder why.

Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report:

Wade’s value is difficult to discern.

He’s 33 and has missed 20, 28, 13 and 17 games the last four years. But when on the court, he produces like an All-Star.

He’s also not a great shooter, which suggests he won’t age exceptionally well. Even now, if he has slipped to the point a team can’t rely on him for big usage, his skills don’t translate well to being a complementary player.

Contenders could use him, but many of them lack the cap room to make a big offer. Younger teams with cap room probably won’t throw money at Wade at this point.

And that’s just now. Even with the cap shooting up, Wade might not like his prospects in free agency at age 34 next season.

The Heat have plenty of leverage.

But Wade has some, too. He needs to find just one team willing to pay him, and the Lakers serve as a believable threat.

I can understand why Wade wouldn’t want to accept fewer than $10 million per year. I also understand why the Heat would offer so little.

If he signs for multiple years, that cuts into their precious 2016 cap space. Of course, if Wade opts in and counts on them to pay him in 2016, this is a strong signal they won’t. What they give Wade for 2016-17 is money they can’t spend on other free agents like Durant.

In theory, Miami’s can lowball Wade for now and adjust their offer if he actually opts out. The Heat’s goal seems to be convincing him to opt in.

But they also run the risk of upsetting him to the point he wants to leave.

But I think this is actually all just posturing and negotiations. All five Heat fans would crucify Riley if he let Wade walk.

WaltLongmire wrote:Did he terminate those two years and take less so the Heat could have more flexibility this year?

If true, that would mean he took less to be with the big three, and then gave up $10M over two years to help the Heat.

And now they would low ball him?

So much for loyalty.

I believe he opted out last off-season so they'd have flexibility to retain Lebron at a higher level. When Bron left, Wade took less so they could Max Bosh and add Deng. The assumption was that Riley would take care of him on the back end. Knicks fans can tell Wade how that last part works out.

holfresh wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:Did he terminate those two years and take less so the Heat could have more flexibility this year?

If true, that would mean he took less to be with the big three, and then gave up $10M over two years to help the Heat.

And now they would low ball him?

So much for loyalty.

I believe he opted out last off-season so they'd have flexibility to retain Lebron at a higher level. When Bron left, Wade took less so they could Max Bosh and add Deng. The assumption was that Riley would take care of him on the back end. Knicks fans can tell Wade how that last part works out.

Yeah he got taken care of on the back end, all right..

Zing! At least he didn't fax it to him

I never thought he was a good shooter - and always got the benefit of the doubt from the officials to get to the line - a step or two or three slower, and that will stop and he'll be left to whine while the play goes the other way (like Melo has here recently)!

As for him and the knicks- if he would be willing to sign for 8-10m I'd think about it because he He would be my pg/scottie Pippen. Sounds crazy but Wade can pass and when his usg is down he is an efficient player.

GustavBahler wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

holfresh wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:Did he terminate those two years and take less so the Heat could have more flexibility this year?

If true, that would mean he took less to be with the big three, and then gave up $10M over two years to help the Heat.

And now they would low ball him?

So much for loyalty.

I believe he opted out last off-season so they'd have flexibility to retain Lebron at a higher level. When Bron left, Wade took less so they could Max Bosh and add Deng. The assumption was that Riley would take care of him on the back end. Knicks fans can tell Wade how that last part works out.

Yeah he got taken care of on the back end, all right..

Zing! At least he didn't fax it to him

This falls under "When I call it a game you call it a business, when I call it a business you call it a game."

I call it back stabbing- Wade recruited, took less and then took less again.

yellowboy90 wrote:Cleveland and LAC could go after him. Cleveland probably will stay young though and I doubt he would go to Cle but LAC could trade Crawford, S&T w/big baby using his early bird rights. The contract has to be 3 yrs but yr 2-3 doesn't have to be guaranteed(Keith Bogans/Nets &Celts trade). So miami gets Crawford, team option '15 and Big baby, $5m+ only guaranteed 1st year. This would get Wade more than 10m a yr plus he is in LA(Gabriel).

As for him and the knicks- if he would be willing to sign for 8-10m I'd think about it because he He would be my pg/scottie Pippen. Sounds crazy but Wade can pass and when his usg is down he is an efficient player.

For the Knicks, there would have to be a third big name player(Aldridge) to make it worth doing..Or he could just stick with his 16 mil deal..

Riles would love the Knick move..

wargames wrote:

holfresh wrote:Wade, Aldridge and Melo....Add Stein in the middle...Maybe groom Winslow to spell Wade..I'm going to let that play for a while in my head...

The fact that is a possible lineup (though really unlikely).... idk how to feel about that.

I know the 17 win season is pretty heard to tear yourself away from...

holfresh wrote:Wade, Aldridge and Melo....Add Stein in the middle...Maybe groom Winslow to spell Wade..I'm going to let that play for a while in my head...

Aldridge may be possible... Wade... there's just no way in hell... unless Riley REALLY effs up.