Report: Heat, Dwyane Wade to meet next week to talk contract impasse
The clock is ticking for the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade. Fortunately, a meeting of the minds has been scheduled. Whether some common ground and a solution can be found remains to be seen.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windorst report that Wade and the Heat plan to rendezvous sometime next week to talk about Wade's contract status. Miami still hopes that Wade will opt into his player option for next season or perhaps even sign a new contract at a smaller cap figure than the $16.1 million he'd be due next season under his current contract. That would give the Heat maximum salary cap flexibility for this season and next to rebuild the team into a championship contender. The deadline for Wade to opt in is midnight ET on June 30.
No one knows for sure how far apart the two sides might be, but the report doesn't paint an encouraging picture for Heat fans:
"Wade and the Heat sit far apart on their desires; the Heat would prefer for Wade to opt into the deal and Wade would prefer a new, richer and longer-term contract, sources said.
"The sides have not formally spoken in some time. They had discussed a new contract for around $10 million per year for up to three years beyond his current deal, sources said."
Shelburne and Windhorst report that Wade would prefer to finish his career in Miami, but that he is "disappointed" with the team's initial contract offers.
(h/t ESPN.com)
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