The start of NBA Free Agency is nearly here and one of the bigger names that could end up on the market is Dwyane Wade. The Miami Heat guard has spent his entire career with the Heat, but it appears he's on the verge of hitting the open market.
Teams can start negotiating with Wade, or any other free agent, on July 1st. However, no free agent can officially sign with a team until July 8, with the week between being known as the "July Moratorium." Here are all the latest rumors and news surrounding Wade's free agency.
Could Dwyane Wade Actually Leave?
Wade is an unrestricted free agent and is threatening to leave Miami, reports ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Dwyane Wade's initial contract discussions with the Miami Heat have not produced a common ground between the parties, which has the All-Star guard preparing to field outside offers when free agency opens on Friday, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that Wade's representatives have made it known to multiple teams over the last several days that he will be on the market, sources said. Some teams have been skeptical, wondering if Wade would seriously consider leaving the franchise where he's played 13 seasons and won three titles.
This could be a leak to convince the Heat to pay up for Wade, who wasn't happy with contract negotiations last year. He's an aging player, but showed in the playoffs he can still play. Two teams in particular have come up as potential landing spots for Wade, if he does elect to leave.
Wade's Camp Reached Out To Mavs, Spurs?
In an interview on 790AM, Windhorst reveled that Wade's representatives have reached out to the Spurs and Mavs, among others.
"Over the last 24, 72 hours, Dwyane’s representatives have been calling around the league to several teams," Windhorst said. "Not to every team, not to 29 teams, but to a few teams and have said to them, 'Hey, Dwyane is going to be available and is going to take offers.' I know San Antonio is one of the teams that’s been contacted. I know Dallas is one of the teams that’s been contacted."
Whether or not Wade actually leaves is still a major question mark. It's also unclear what other teams Wade's camp has reached out to, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the Cleveland Cavaliers were one of them. Heading to Cleveland would allow Wade to reunite with good friend LeBron James.