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After going to four straight NBA Finals with LeBron James in the fold, the Miami Heat went 37-45 during the regular season and missed the playoffs this year. Dwyane Wade had a bit of resurgent season though, finishing 11th in the league in scoring (21.5 points per game) while also averaging 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 62 games played. But he also missed at least 20 games for the third time in four seasons, and at 33 years old injury concerns will not be going away.
Wade has a $16.1 million player option for next season, with rumors surfacing that he will opt out with an eye toward getting a new three-year deal worth $50 or $60 million. Wade hasn’t exactly put speculation about his future to bed, suggesting he’ll worry about his contract situation in July, and it’s likely he is at least considering finishing his career elsewhere.
If Wade does decide to opt out, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald suggested earlier this month that Goran Dragic could also choose to hit free agency on July 1. Luol Deng also has a player option for next season, and it’s possible he will opt out if Wade and Dragic choose to do so.
Losing three key veterans would set the Heat on a course they have not been on in quite some time, with an eye toward the future beyond a short window to contend for championships. With the 10th overall pick in the upcoming draft Miami can add a future building block, and if Wade leads an exodus by veteran players a rebuilding process should start.
Chris Bosh will still be around for Miami, with four more seasons and around $98 million left on his contract, but he is young enough (31 years old) to be part of a rebuilding effort and he is not a ball-dominating offensive player that can’t co-exist well with other players.
The Heat should not overpay Wade into his mid-30s based on sentiment over his past contributions, and that’s what they would be doing by giving him a three-year deal. It’s safe to assume Miami would be on the fringes of playoff contention for three more years by giving Wade the new contract he apparently wants, which would keep the franchise stuck in neutral with no clear plan for the future.
Wade leaving Miami would signify the end of the most successful era in franchise history, and fans may not be behind a decision to let him go. Even at the potential expense of a losing season in 2015-16, setting a plan for the future has to be a priority for the Heat right now. With president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra leading the way, Miami would not stay down for long.
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
