Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat fell short of their goals of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals this Playoffs after getting eliminated by the Toronto Raptors in-game 7 of the East Semi Finals. Now more uncertainty looms for the Heat as they have a number of free agents going into this summer that they want to re-sign, including Hassan Whiteside, Loul Deng, and last but most definitely not least Dwyane Wade.
Wade really found his touch during the Playoffs, averaging 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, along with about 1 steal and a block. Wade has struggled to stay consistent for the Heat in the regular season, but that does not matter to Heat President Pat Riley or to future hall-of-famer Dwyane Wade, when it comes to free agency. Riley spoke to Dave George of the Palm Beach Post about the Heat’s busy offseason, including re-signing Dwyane Wade:
“He wants to win, I think, as much as he wants to do anything. Compensation to a player is not just a way to get paid and to live your life. Compensation to a player is about recognition and respect and place. We know where he belongs…He’s a lifer. What he’s done in this city over the last 13 years is irreplaceable and so we’re going to do the right thing. There’s no doubt.”
Wade also spoke on what his intentions were for the offseason and how he’s looking to avoid the frenzy caused by free agency at all costs this summer:
“I don’t want to be on the market at all,” Wade said two days after the Heat’s season ended with a Game 7 loss to Toronto in the Eastern Conference semifinals. “I’m not curious at all. I want to get to it [with the Heat]. I want to be able to sign my deal and move on and not have to deal with any rumors, any free agency, any this, any that. This is where I want to end my career. So we’ll figure it out.”
That’s good news for Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, and it seems that a deal will get done between both sides this summer. The bad news is that Wade will probably take up a good chunk of money that would have probably gone to Hassan Whiteside, Deng or any other free agents the Heat are targeting like Thunder Forward and All-Star Kevin Durant. Pat Riley will have to work his magic this summer, but he does it every year, so I wouldn’t be surprised.
