Latest On Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade was “strongly considering” retirement last week before Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and a few other people were able to convince him to change his mind, according to an Associated Press report.

Wade, 36, held off on announcing a decision all summer before releasing a Twitter video on Sunday in which he revealed his intention to play one more season. There was personal and family business to sort out, Wade explained, as well as negotiations with the team to reach an agreement that was agreeable to both sides. He goes into detail in the video to lay out the lifestyle considerations that influenced his decision.

“Can I physically do it? Can I physically get out of bed every day to do this? Can I deal with every step hurting in the morning? Can I deal with the travel? Can I be away from my family? Is it selfish for me to want to continue to be away from my family?” Wade asked.“These things to you guys may seem small. But to me, they’re real. I feel like my family have put me first for so many years, for good reasons. But there comes a point in time when we’ve all got to think about someone else, especially the ones around you that have supported you, supported your dreams, supported your journey like my family have.”

Wade is the most popular and accomplished player in Heat history, leading the franchise in career points, assists, steals and games played. He spent 13 years in Miami before leaving for Chicago in 2016 because he was unhappy with what the Heat were offering him in free agency. Wade later moved on to Cleveland, then received a hero’s welcome from Heat fans when he was traded back to Miami in February. He became a valuable reserve, averaging 12.0 points per night in 21 games while helping the Heat reach the postseason.

Wade made it clear in his announcement that there won’t be another decision to make next summer. He plans to retire once this season is complete, saying, “I’ve given this game everything that I have, and I’m happy about that, and I’m going to give it for one last season, everything else I have left.”

There’s more Wade-related news to pass along:

  • Wade opted to accept a $2.4MM veteran’s minimum contract rather than demand any of Miami’s $5.3MM taxpayer mid-level exception. The financial implications of that decision are huge for a team already in luxury tax territory, tweets salary cap expert Albert Nahmad. With tax payments figured in, the total cost of re-signing Wade will be about $4MM. If he had demanded the full MLE, the price would have risen to between $14MM and $17MM. Wade will be the team’s 14th guaranteed contract, raising the total salary to about $130MM. That projects to a $9.7MM tax bill that could rise to $11.7MM or fall to $7.3MM depending on bonuses that the league considers likely [1,700 minutes plus making the playoffs for Kelly Olynyk] and unlikely [70 games played for Dion Waiters].
  • Wade’s return will make it harder for any of the Heat’s younger players to earn a roster spot, Nahmad adds (Twitter link). The 14 players with guaranteed contracts are considered virtual locks to make the club, while the 15th spot could be kept open. Duncan Robinson and Yante Maten enter camp on two-way contracts, but they will get competition to keep those deals from Briante Weber, Marcus Lee, Malik Newman and Jarnell Stokes, who all have Exhibit 10 contracts.
  • Wade wants to continue to have a significant role with the Heat in his final season, but he will be facing a different environment than he did at the end of last season, notes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. The Heat aren’t sure if Waiters will be physically ready when training camp starts next week, but he will return at some point after having ankle surgery last year. That creates a huge logjam at shooting guard, where Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson, Rodney McGruder, Derrick Jones, Wayne Ellington will compete with Wade and Waiters for playing time.
  • Wade’s return could help put the Heat in contention for Jimmy Butler if the Timberwolves opt to trade him, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel, although he downplays the effect their friendship might have with Wade entering his final season. Winderman suggests an offer of Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow and an unprotected 2019 first-rounder.
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