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A career-long marriage can't just end without a fight.
With that in mind, the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade are set to sit down and try to hammer out an agreement about his future within the next week, according to a report from Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
It's been widely reported that Wade will decline his $16.1-million player option for next season. It was originally believed it could be to sign another long-term deal with the club he's played for since being drafted fifth overall in 2003, but the two sides are said to be miles apart on the matter of annual salary. That's led to an impasse of sorts, and to Wade being linked to other teams in the event he leaves South Beach.
There remains a chance Wade could opt in for 2015-16, giving the Heat another season to go all-in to compete and pushing off these discussions until the salary cap explodes in 2016. The Heat would reportedly prefer that route, but at age 33, Wade is said to want a new long-term deal.
The discussions will be the first time the sides have spoken in a while, according to ESPN, while the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman reported late Monday that no such meeting has been scheduled.
It's believed Wade wants to stay in Miami, but the gap in proposed salary - as much as $10 million annually - has "led to acrimony" and "cast doubt" on Wade's future.
Wade has a bit more leverage than the Heat do, since he owns the option and the Heat wouldn't have a clear means to replace him. Should he walk, he's said to have his sights set on the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers. The Cleveland Cavaliers won't have cap space, but Wade's relationship with LeBron James keeps them in the conversation, and they have some trade flexibility.
The Lakers make some sense if they're going to swing for the fences to get Kobe Bryant one last championship this year, or even if they want to ensure the next era begins with someone possessing a championship pedigree.
The Clippers may be a bit of a pipe dream, as the on-court fit seems odd, and even if DeAndre Jordan leaves in free agency, they couldn't offer Wade more than what the Heat reportedly have without unloading salary.
The most likely scenario remains the Heat and Wade coming to an agreement, but Miami may need to unload some salary to lessen their tax bill if they're going to re-up Wade and Goran Dragic. Chris Andersen and Mario Chalmers are said to be firmly on the trading block to help increase flexibility, but the value of each seems somewhat tenuous.
The potential luxury tax complications - and the status of Dragic and Luol Deng - are why the Heat prefer to wait on a new deal, but they may bend rather than risk losing their leading scorer and face of the franchise.
Wade averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 62 games last season, but saw his efficiency decline some with heavier usage in an offense without James. He remains a star, and a quality scorer, playmaker, and off-ball threat, even if he does require the occasional off day and closely managed minutes.
