NBA News: Wade, Heat Far Apart In Contract Talks; Star Guard Could Leave Miami

There is a “significant difference” between what Dwyane Wade demands and what the Miami Heat offers in contract negotiations between the two parties. Wade, who has been with the Heat for 12 seasons, is reportedly open to leaving the team if both sides can’t agree to a deal.

According to Barry Jackson, the Heat beat writer for the Miami Herald, Wade and the Heat front office are negotiating the veteran guard’s contract extension but Wade will consider other NBA teams’ offers “if the Heat does not raise its offer.”

Wade has a player option in his current deal, which means that he can opt out of the contract worth $16.1 million by June later this year or decide to stay in Miami for another season.

At 33 years old, Wade is expected to be demanding a long-term contract extension of about three more seasons that will provide him financial security as he enters the final years of his NBA career. Wade has missed 20, 13 and 28 games in each of the last three seasons because of various injuries.

Wade opted out of the final two years of a contract worth $41.6 million before the start of the 2014-15 NBA season and settled for a $31 million deal to help out the Heat’s finances in chasing free agents both in their own and in the market. However, that move appeared to have backfired after LeBron James chose to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now Wade now has a cheaper short-term deal.

“With the amount of time he has spent with the organization, every effort will be made to try to work something out," Wade’s agent, Henry Thomas said in the article. "The five times he played for a championship, resulting in three championships, is a significant accomplishment for any professional. We are continuing to talk about a resolution that would be satisfactory to both sides.”

Wade averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 62 games for the Heat the past season.