This offseason hasn't exactly gone smoothly between Dwyane Wade and the Heat. The veteran free agent wants to get paid, and has scheduled visits with teams this week. Clearly getting Miami's attention, the team offered him $40 million over two years Monday after reportedly low-balling him with a previous offer. Perhaps things will end up just fine between both parties, after all.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Wade reportedly cancelled his upcoming free agent meetings.
Dwyane Wade has canceled some free agent meetings with teams he'd set up with this week, sources said.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 5, 2016
Wade was expected to meet with the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets. There was a chance the Chicago Bulls could also get involved for a homecoming for Wade. But now we have to wait and see if Wade is willing to forego his demands of over $20 million per season just to stick it to Riley for not paying what he's asking. That would mean taking a much smaller contract from the Cavs or another team if they're a contender without cap space.
The Heat and Wade have been at an impasse with negotiations this whole time to the point that Wade has been seeking out another team to put pressure on Pat Riley. In the wake of Kevin Durant's decision on Monday, the Internet started buzzing with whispers from connected Miami people saying the city would be sick soon, likely over Wade's decision. Then Cleveland Cavaliers twitter started tracking a private jet going from Ft. Lauderdale to Cleveland, much like they did in 2014 when Dan Gilbert flew to recruit LeBron James to come back to Ohio. We don't know if Wade was on this plane.
We also had a luxury private jet company tweet "Happy 4th" to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, LeBron, and Wade -- probably in an effort to troll the Internet.
It's all speculation at this point, but Wade seems intent on proving a point to the Heat one way or another. It might be time for Micky Arison to step in once again, get the agent and executive out of the picture, and try to find some common ground with his Heat Lifer.
We'll soon find out if Riley and Co. do enough to keep their star content and remain in Miami.
