Top Reasons For Dwyane Wade To Remain With The Heat
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One of the biggest storylines in the South Florida sports world this summer is the contract situation between Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Since being selected fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, Wade has spent his entire 12-year career with the Heat. During that time he has helped lead Miami to the NBA Finals five times, coming away with three championships.
Last summer Wade signed a two-year deal with the Heat worth just over $31 million, which is about $10 million less than what many expected him to be paid. It was a team-first move by Wade, as he was giving Miami some flexibility to sign players in the wake of LeBron James leaving the team for Cleveland. But now Wade seems to be singing a different tune. He has until the end of the month to decide whether he will opt out of that contract, which pays him $16.1 million next season, and become an unrestricted free agent.
There have been multiple reports that suggest Wade will do just that. He took a pay cut in 2010, when the Heat originally signed James and Chris Bosh, and then again last summer. Now he seems to want a pay rise. It's a stark contrast from the way he's approached these financial situations during his career, but at this point everything is still very much up in the air. Here are some of the top reasons why Wade should remain with the Heat.
Heat Know How To Build A Winner
As we've seen over the years, especially in the past decade, the Heat knows how to build a winning team. Pat Riley and co. has done a great job keeping Miami as a playoff contender and bringing in players that should sustain them as a top team.
Legacy Of Staying With One Team
Not many players in any sport end up staying with the team that drafts them for their entire career. Wade has been one of the best players in the NBA since coming into the league in 2003 and remaining with the Heat for the rest of his career would add to his already sparkling resume.
More Future Money In Miami
One thing that is for sure is that Wade will more likely than not make more money staying with the Heat than if he left for somewhere else. Players can get greater contract offers from their current team then they would elsewhere, and while Miami isn't looking to pay Wade in a max contract they more likely than not will be extremely fair and generous while keeping an eye on the future.
Heat Take Care Of Their Own
The Heat franchise is known as one of the best in not only the NBA but in all of sports. They have been extremely loyal to their employees and there is every reason to suspect that the same will be said about Wade.
Family Settled In South Florida
Over the past several years Wade and his family have become quite settled in South Florida. His sons are becoming young adults and are involved in youth basketball leagues, and after splitting time between Miami and Chicago in the past, staying in the same place with the friends and relationships that have been established would certainly be better for them in both the short and long term.
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