What is Dwyane Wade's loyalty worth?
Dwyane Wade played in 74 games last season, his most since 2010-11, and led the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Toronto Raptors.
His contract situation is a repeat: He and the Heat are again at odds upon the expiration of the deal Wade signed last summer.
Why Wade wants to get paid
“Compensation to a player is about recognition and respect and a place. And so, we know where he belongs.” — Pat Riley on Wade
Wade, 34, ranks first in Heat history in points, assists, steals, games and minutes. He has never been Miami’s highest-paid player, though, in his 13 seasons with the team.
Wade has become synonymous with the Heat. Elias Sports Bureau research shows he is one of six former top-five picks to win three or more titles with the team that drafted him.
That list includes Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Kevin McHale and Magic Johnson.
Why Wade’s stance presents the Heat problems
When the Heat’s Big Three — LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Wade — united during the summer of 2010, each player took less money to team up. Wade sacrificed $16 million over those four years, most in the group.
When James opted out in 2014, Wade sacrificed again by opting out as well and eventually taking even less money, resulting in about $7 million less than what his original 2010 contract would have paid him over the past two years.
Those financial sacrifices helped lead Miami to two titles and four NBA Finals appearances. This offseason, Riley, the team’s president, made clear who their top free-agent target is:
“Hassan Whiteside is our No. 1 priority,” Riley said. “He’s a game-changer.”
The Heat reportedly have agreed to terms to keep Whiteside, 27, the NBA’s leader in blocks, with a contract for the maximum they could offer. With Bosh on the books for $23.7 million next season, nearly half of Miami’s available cap space would go to Bosh and Whiteside if he chooses to re-sign.
The Heat are left with $20.2 million and cap exceptions — for a team that would still need to fill six roster spots for next season, make decisions on two other starters who are also unrestricted free agents (Joe Johnson and Luol Deng) and meet with Kevin Durant.
Wade is not the same player
Wade ranked 39th among shooting guards in real plus-minus last season, and two of his teammates, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson, ranked better.
Wade was fifth in the NBA in usage rate, but he had the second-worst player efficiency rating among players in the top 10 (only Kobe Bryant had a worse efficiency). His PER of 20.3 was his lowest since his rookie year.
Heat’s offseason in 2017 could hinge on Bosh’s health
Bosh’s salary would come off the books if health forces him to retire. This would take effect on the one-year anniversary of his last game (in this case, if he doesn’t play again it would be Feb. 9, 2017).
This would not help the Heat this summer, but it would clear the $25.3 million he is owed in 2017-18 as well as $26.8 million in 2018-19.
That would essentially give the Heat another max contract slot next summer on top of the cap increase projected at $13 million more than the 2016-17 figure.
This possibility could make it more likely for the Heat to offer Wade another one-year deal this season.
The free agent class of 2017 could include two-time MVP Stephen Curry as well as Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. It would also include James and Durant if they sign one-year deals this offseason, as expected.
If Wade is unwilling to follow the one-year strategy, his time with the Heat could be over.
