NBA Rumors: Dwyane Wade To Sign Deal With Cleveland Cavaliers

Veteran guard Dwyane Wade appears close to completing a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, with an announcement possibly coming as early as Wednesday. The potential deal, which was reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, would reunite Wade with his former Miami Heat teammate LeBron James.

Wade agreed to a contract buyout from the Chicago Bulls on Sunday and will become an unrestricted free agent upon clearing waivers. Wade returned $8 million of his $23.8 million 2017-18 salary, which finalized the buyout.

Wade, 35, can ink a one-year, $2.3 million veterans minimum contract with the Cavaliers. Wade and James have been longtime friends and secured two NBA championships on four Finals trips with the Heat. Wade would join a Cavs squad that will start the season without injured All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas.

James tried to recruit Wade to Cleveland in the 2016 offseason but the Cavs didn't have the cap space.

The two often spoke regarding Wade’s future destination, ESPN reported. Besides the Cavs, the Miami Heat, the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder were among teams that pined over Wade.

Wade left the Bulls after just one season. During a press conference, he criticized his teammates for not playing hard enough after a Jan. 25 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Former teammate Rajon Rondo took to social media a day later and divulged his feelings about Wade’s actions in an Instagram post.

During a team meeting, several young players aired their grievances about how Wade openly called them out. Veteran forward Taj Gibson explained that Wade’s lack of practicing bothered the younger players, which led to dysfunction in the locker room.

"At the end of the year, you sit back and see what the team is, what direction they're going in," Wade told ESPN. "I would be a liar to say that I want to play on a team with all 21-year-olds. And be a part of the future building. I would be a fool to say that. But you also want to be in the best position for what you think is for you at that time."

To have played for his hometown Chicago was a childhood dream, Wade said.

"As the people around me knew, if I ever left Miami, playing in my hometown was something I needed to do before my career ended," Wade told ESPN. "So I am thankful to the Bulls for that opportunity to live out a dream I've always had as a kid.

Wade looked to put the past behind him and hopefully join a championship contender.

"Now I'm excited about what's next,” Wade told the Associated Press Sunday. "I wanna get back to high expectations and competing at the highest level there is in our sport."

The three-time NBA champion averaged 18 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 60 games for the Bulls last season. In 14 seasons, Wade has averaged 23.3 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.