Wade is opting out, but he wants to stay in Miami. The only problem is the money, according to ESPN, Wade wants $50 million over next three years and Pat Riley is hesitant to give it to him.
Wade is believed to be seeking a deal that would average at least $16 million over the next three seasons. The Heat had preferred for Wade to opt in for 2015-16 and then work with the team on a new contract after next season that would give the Heat salary-cap flexibility going into the 2016 free-agency period, when Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant are likely to highlight a deep group of available stars on the market.
Heat president Pat Riley wants no part of seeing Wade bolt for another team, but Riley is adamant about also maintaining salary-cap flexibility moving forward.
So, what happens now?
A lot depends on if another team is willing to give Wade who is on the downside of his career the type of money he wants.
It only takes one serious suitor to possibly force the HEAT’s hand. Will be an interesting couple of weeks.