The Miami Heat and face of the franchise are starting what looks like a bad blood feud. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Heat initially offered star shooting guard and their original No. 5 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft a paltry $10 million to stay in South Beach. It came with the understanding that there would be a counter, but that is absolutely ludicrous.
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The Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks have started a courtship process that has included offers in length of two and three years and upward of $20 million a season - a salary the Heat so far have been reluctant to offer, league sources said.
The Heat's initial offer would have been a pay cut of 50 percent —- surely something Wade was not interested in —- and Wade has made it clear the last few years that he wants to recoup some "losses" he took when he took a pay cut so the team could sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
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Wade is currently on an overseas trip and has been insistent on starting to explore the market once he returns. Wade averaged 23.7 points per game and showed that his knee problems are a thing of the past. The Heat have also re-signed Hassan Whiteside for $98 million and are still trying to lure Kevin Durant to Miami as well.
There's no reason the Heat shouldn't try to keep Wade and give him a good deal considering all he's done for the franchise and how was the only shining light during the dark years after Shaquille O'Neal left to go on his NBA team tour. He was also there for the good times in 2006, 2012 and 2013 when they all won the Finals.
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[h/t The Vertical]
