Dwyane Wade is expected to reach an agreement for a buyout with the Chicago Bulls before the NBA season begins. Even at age 35, Wade is one of the top shooting guards in the league. There would be a frenzy for his services especially this late into the offseason.
The 12-time All-Star is owed $24 million by his hometown Bulls. It is unclear how much Wade would relinquish in the agreement that would allow him to test free agency. If the three-time NBA champ wanted to mentor younger players he would stay in Chicago. That doesn’t appear to be the case so Wade will probably only consider serious NBA contenders.
Either way, Wade should earn some part of that salary which means he could take a bargain deal to join whatever NBA team he desires. Here are five places that make sense for D-Wade.
Miami Heat
David Santago/El Nuevo Herald via AP Photo
This is the obvious destination since Wade played every season of his career for the Heat except the 2016-17 season. A return to Miami would rejuvenate a young Heat team as well as the entire city. Surely Wade is attached to the city he played for from 2003-2016.
Hassan Whiteside seemed to co-sign the potential move with a cryptic tweet. However, would the Heat’s president Pat Riley embrace Wade a year after the shooting guard left in free agency for more money?
The Heat would definitely be on the cusp of a playoff spot with the addition of Wade as they made the show in the 2015-16 season. Still, the 35-year-old Wade might opt for a better team.
L.A. Clippers
The Clippers are desperately recovering from Chris Paul’s departure this offseason. However, shooting guard JJ Redick also bounced. Redick joined the 76ers via free agency which left a void at shooting guard.
Louis Williams and Austin Rivers are expected to play that position, but neither is anything close to Wade. Wade has thrown lobs to Whiteside and LeBron James in his career. Imagine the highlights he would have with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan catching his passes at the rim?
Wade could start for the Clippers and push L.A. back into that elite team conversation in the Western Conference. Williams and Rivers are also great backups so Wade does not have to play a ton of minutes every night. The Clippers would be foolish not to make a push for Wade.
Houston Rockets
Wade is… um. He’s…
Chris Paul is the banana boat to Dwayne Wade’s LeBron. pic.twitter.com/7fkrVCDzLf
— Matty C (@Turkus2) July 21, 2017
Remember that infamous Banana Boat photo a few summers ago? Chris Paul was on that boat with Wade as they share a friendship. Therefore, Wade may consider joining the super team that is brewing in Houston.
The Rockets are already loaded at the shooting guard position with James Harden and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon. Regardless, head coach Mike D’Antoni loves playing small ball. Adding Wade would mean D’Antoni can get more creative with him or Harden at the small forward position.
Wade might get frustrated getting less touches with Harden and Paul handling the ball most of the time. On the other hand, he played with Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo last season so he should be used to playing with ball-heavy players. Wade had no problem letting LeBron James handle the rock when those two played together. The Rockets could become one of the best teams in the West with Wade on-board.
San Antonio Spurs
Outside of signing Rudy Gay, the Spurs stayed relatively quiet this offseason. It is unclear if Gay’s addition is enough to surpass the moves that the Golden State Warriors, Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder made at the top of the Western Conference.
Nonetheless, the Spurs adding Wade would give them the star power to compete with those contenders. San Antonio is already loaded at the wing with Gay, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. However, Wade has shown ability to play point guard during his time playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal and James. The Spurs could use some help at point guard when Patty Mills and Tony Parker are injured or resting.
The Spurs could use Wade as a utility player much like they used Manu Ginobli over the past decade. He could start or come off the bench because everyone wants to play for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Popovich is one of the most respected coaches in NBA history so Wade might gamble on playing for him with the Spurs. After all, San Antonio was one of the best teams in basketball last season thanks to Leonard and Pop.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Another obvious one here. Cleveland employs LeBron James who is one of Wade’s best friends. James has a big say in personal moves so he should call his long-time friend and former teammate to join him in Cleveland.
Cavs starting shooting guard J.R. Smith was up and down last season, so Wade might be a little consistent. Adding the Flash might also help James get over the fact that Kyrie Irving might get traded soon.
Plus, Wade would get to stay in the Eastern Conference where he has played his entire career. It is much easier to get to the NBA Finals via the Eastern Conference, especially with James on your team. You have to expect Wade to at least consider the Cavaliers if he has not already.
Ultimately, Wade still has a lot to offer an NBA team. He averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 60 games last season. Any number of teams could utilize one of the greatest shooting guards of all-time.
Would Wade take his best chance at another ring by accepting a small role on the Warriors? Does Wade think his best shot at beating Golden State comes by way of joining reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and All-Star Paul George in Oklahoma City? Should Wade give the Denver Nuggets another chance as they were a team courting him hard in 2016 free agency?
Will the Memphis Grizzlies try to sell the shooting guard on a playoff push with the duo of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol? What if an Eastern Conference contender like the Toronto Raptors or Boston Celtics offers Wade a reserve role?
At the end of the day, we will not know where Wade ends up until he is free to talk to other teams. Wade must reach an agreement on a buyout with the Bulls first. For all we know, Wade might end up being in Chicago when the NBA season starts in October.
The post Dwyane Wade Buyout: 5 destinations for the veteran shooting guard appeared first on ClutchPoints.
