The Miami Heat fell just short of returning to the conference finals this year, but they are facing major questions this offseason with the free agency of Dwyane Wade, Hassan Whiteside and Luol Deng. Check out all the latest Heat news and rumors below:
Wade will be back
Miami went through a contract dispute with Wade last offseason, but he ultimately re-signed with the team after flirting with the Lakers. The two sides could be headed for a similar dilemma this year, but president Pat Riley told the Palm Beach Post that won't be the case:
“We’ll sit down and we’ll talk about that with Dwyane,” said Riley. “He wants to win, I think, as much as he wants to do anything. Compensation to a player is not just a way to get paid and to live your life. Compensation to a player is about recognition and respect and place. We know where he belongs…He’s a lifer. What he’s done in this city over the last 13 years is irreplaceable and so we’re going to do the right thing. There’s no doubt.”
Wade also told the newspaper that he has no plans to sign anywhere else.
“I don’t want to be on the market at all," he said. "I’m not curious at all. I want to get to it [with the Heat]. I want to be able to sign my deal and move on and not have to deal with any rumors, any free agency, any this, any that. This is where I want to end my career. So we’ll figure it out.”
Riley said that Wade had his best season since the Big 3 era this year. Wade averaged 19.0 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Heat to let Deng walk?
Miami is in a difficult place with Deng, given his age (31) and the fact that he made over $10 million last year, and as a result, they may be willing to let him walk in free agency if he won't agree to a cheaper deal. Via the Miami Herald:
Luol Deng would be the internal preference over McRoberts. But the Heat privately must gauge from Deng whether cap space left after signing Wade and Whiteside and hypothetically dealing McRoberts –– perhaps $8 million or more — would be enough to persuade Deng to re-sign, and whether Deng would be willing to accept a one-year deal.
Deng averaged 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds last season. If he leaves, Justise Winslow would be expected to permanently take over the starting role.
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