Heat reportedly need to re-recruit Dwyane Wade if they want to retain him

Miami and its aging star are not on the same page just yet

By Zach Harper

Jul 4, 2016 at 9:58 am ET • 3 min read

The offseason hasn't been a disaster for the Miami Heat but it's been a bit of a nightmare within the public perception. They almost instantly agreed to re-sign Hassan Whiteside mere hours into free agency. That was a big win for them. Then they got a meeting with Kevin Durant, and while it doesn't seem like he'll be choosing them this offseason, it may have laid the groundwork for next summer. The saga with Dwyane Wade is tough though because he's both their franchise player and not a priority at the same time.

Wade has been reportedly upset with the Heat's initial offer to re-sign him, which included a huge pay cut and a number that Wade felt wasn't market value. So he's tried to force the market a bit by flirting with the idea of taking meetings with other teams to put a scare into Pat Riley. Not a lot of people believe it will lead to Wade leaving but as Ethan Skolnick of the Miami Herald writes, they're going to have their work cut out to keep a franchise star who is likely sick of having to make way for other players in the name of being a "Heat Lifer."

Now, it's clear the Heat needs to re-recruit Wade. According to multiple team and league sources, he was given some preliminary potential parameters but was essentially asked to wait for specific figures until the Hassan Whiteside and Durant situations played out.
That was likely largely logistical. Dallas and Portland made it known they would pursue Whiteside, and the center declared he wanted his situation settled quickly; that's exactly what happened, as he struck a deal with Miami seven hours after free agency opened.
So, yes, you can understand why the Heat hoped Wade would stand by. It just might not have been wise, another odd misread of someone with whom the organization should be intimately familiar after 13 years. Wade hasn't just given up money. He has repeatedly given up rank. He is the franchise face, for all time, and yet frequently seems to be sacrificing his standing for someone else.

The re-recruiting process will be something Riley has to do, but it's unlikely Wade is going to get a contract that makes up for the money and role he's sacrificed since 2010 when the franchise formed their Big Three. Still, there has to be some middle ground in both maintaining the flexibility of the organization's ability to be competitive in the East and pleasing a guy who is still one of the best at his position. There is a need for Wade, but they also can't treat the soon-to-be 35-year old like he's the future of their franchise.

There is a danger making Wade the Kobe Bryant of the East, where you tie up progression of the franchise and serious cap space in the name of thanking a player for what he's been instead of paying a player for where he'll take you next. With the cap jump, keeping Wade's salary around the $20 million it was last season becomes much more palatable for the books, but it's still a lot of money to throw his way when you're trying to set yourself up to grab the next big star.

The Heat have found themselves in the same position for three straight summers now. Wade is relatively flexible but still wanting to feel respected. He'll take less money and shorter years if push comes to shove, but the only way to truly snap the Heat in his direction is to push for a new team. It's once again a game of negotiating chicken.