Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade tries to clear the air

Dwyane Wade's recent public criticism of the Heat's lack of roster moves so far this summer was in response to a painful stance team president Pat Riley took last month regarding the guard's contract status.

Wade reiterated Thursday that no rift exists between the two, but he also said he did not agree with Riley's decision to hold off on any major roster upgrades until Wade commits to a long-term extension.

'Coach Riley opened up the wound when he said, `Until Dwyane signs back, we can't do anything,' '' Wade said Thursday during a charity golf tournament as part of The Summer Groove events he is co-sponsoring with Alonzo Mourning. ``But me and Pat Riley are not against each other. We both want the same thing. We're just in two different positions.''

And those positions have been clearly -- and publicly -- defined over the past three weeks since Riley divulged his position in a June 18 meeting with reporters in his office at AmericanAirlines Arena.

It was then when Riley said his top offseason priority was to re-sign Wade to an extension -- then address the team's other roster needs to build on a 43-39 finish.

Riley also said he needed to protect the team's spending flexibility next summer, when the Heat could be in position to re-sign Wade should he reject an extension this summer and add another top-tier free agent from a potential star-studded class that could include LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh.

But a fast-track approach could not be taken unless Wade was on board and locked in for the long haul.

''There can't be any major franchise changes made without his commitment,'' Riley said last month. ``He knows this. I'm going to do the best sales job I can. Whatever we do going forward is going to be predicated on that.''

Miami has the $5.8 million mid-level exception, a $4.3 million trade exception and a

$2 million veteran's exception it could use to improve the roster. But the Heat already is above the league's $69.9 million luxury tax, which results in a dollar penalty for every dollar in excessive payroll.

IVERSON AN OPTION

The Heat is exploring sign-and-trade options and is in talks with several free agents, including former MVP Allen Iverson, who has listed Miami among his preferred destinations.

Riley has not addressed Wade's contract status since he made those comments and has declined recent interview requests. But Wade has responded repeatedly and adamantly, and he has countered that he wants to see key roster upgrades before he commits to anything beyond the final guaranteed season of his contract.

During promotional appearances earlier this week, Wade said he would stay in Miami only if the team was a championship contender. Miami has not advanced past the first round since Wade, 27, led the Heat to its only NBA title in 2006.

Wade also questioned the readiness of the Heat's young players to take the next step in order to keep up in the East, where the Heat was the fifth seed last season but lost in seven games to Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.

Wade said his patience has been tested in recent weeks with the Heat's inactivity at a time when Detroit, Cleveland, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Orlando and Toronto all have made bold moves to remain or climb into contention.

The Heat's front office is believed to be concerned if not displeased with the public-venting approach. Wade even acknowledged Thursday that his comments in response to Riley's might have created a perception that he is at odds with the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in 2003. But any such perception should not be considered the reality, Wade said.

''I sense that, and it makes for good headlines,'' Wade said. ``I had to answer [questions], and I answered them -- to say I just want to make sure we build a winning team here. We both want this organization to build to win a championship now. He has to deal with the money side of it. I have to deal with the playing side. That's the difference.''

Mourning, who recently accepted a job as the Heat's vice president for player development, said Wade has been effective in his approach.

''The only way for people to understand what you're thinking is for you to communicate,'' Mourning said Thursday. ``So now, I think the Heat knows exactly where Dwyane's heart is.''

WADE CAN SIGN SUNDAY

Wade, coming off the best statistical season of his six-year career in Miami, becomes eligible Sunday to sign an extension that would tack three seasons and about $60 million onto his current contract.

Wade is set to earn $33 million over the next two seasons, but appears to be leaning toward opting out of his deal next summer for free agency. Should he opt out after the 2009-10 season, Wade could re-sign with the Heat for about $120 million over six years or take a five-year deal for about $90 million with another team.

''I think people look at it and see it's not about the money,'' Wade said. ``If it was, I'd sign back [with Miami]. The Heat can pay me more money than any other team, so it's all about winning for me. And that's what I'm expecting more than anything.''

Source: Miami Herald

There are no temporary solutions

Among the responses in my interview this week with Dwyane Wade, one, in particular, resonated.

When I asked about possibly buying time this season with players on one-year contracts, he replied, "I'm looking for us to be in a position where we put guys around me that we can win with for the long haul. And I'll wait until that happens."

Allen Iverson vs. Heat And that's where this Allen Iverson discussion should end. Would Iverson help the Heat over the short run? Certainly. He would provide the offense the team so lacked in those first-round blowout losses to the Hawks.

But consider where that would leave the Heat, should it field a starting five with Iverson and Jermaine O'Neal: With a lineup of two prime contributors who would have to go if a true makeover were to be undertaken next summer.

It was one thing when Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant were summarily cast aside in the 2004 offseason for Shaquille O'Neal. None of those three knew they were out the door as soon as that magical run to the second round was over. They played as if there was a South Florida future.

But to go into a season asking the best of O'Neal and Iverson while also acknowledging there is little wiggle room for a return, what type of atmosphere would that create? Having one rental player is tough enough. But two? And with a second-year coach?

If Wade needs a stop-gap scorer for when he exits games, someone along the lines of Hawks free-agent guard Flip Murray might make more sense. Asking a journeyman role player to be a journeyman role player is a different story than asking a former All-Star to give his best and then get the heck out of the way. Times two. Source: SunSentinel.com

Iverson might be the answer to Miami Heat keeping Wade

His nickname was ''The Answer'' back before that became a question. At age 34, he is no long-term solution for the Heat or any other NBA team. But here, at least, he might just be something worthy of a new nickname.

Allen Iverson: ``The Gesture.''

Miami signing the free agent Iverson, and the interest is mutual, could be the pacifier that serves to mollify superstar Dwyane Wade, who has gone public -- though tactfully -- with his displeasure over his team being passive so far this summer while Eastern Conference rivals are making moves to get better.

Heat architect Pat Riley's focus has been on planning for the much-anticipated, bounteous free agent summer of 2010, which is fine except that standing pat now surrenders Miami to one more season of so-so. Of barely getting into the playoffs and quickly getting out of them.

It's hard to blame Wade, 27, for impatience with that idea when, all around him, he sees the Cavaliers giving LeBron James a little gift called Shaquille O'Neal; sees NBA finalist Orlando adding Vince Carter; sees recent champion Boston getting Rasheed Wallace; sees Detroit adding Ben Gordon; and sees Toronto landing Hedo Turkoglu.

Miami wants to hold on to Wade every bit as much as Cleveland wants to keep James when both can become free agents in 2010, but while the Cavs are offering their superstar incentive to re-sign by getting better now, Wade so far sees he is still holding up a roster that is not good enough and stagnant.

Like Shaq in Cleveland, Iverson in Miami would be an aging star, but a gesture, a good-faith effort to make it harder for Wade to go elsewhere rather than commit long-term to Miami.

Who knows? It might even be a start in somehow persuading Wade to extend his contract now (he is eligible to do so beginning Sunday) rather than wait a year and entertain outside offers.

By the way, Wade revealed on Twitter on Tuesday that his Pinecrest home is on the market for $3.3 million, but don't take that to mean he's leaving. He wants to stay with the Heat. But he wants reasons to stay.

Iverson is attainable and affordable as the free agency signing period opens Wednesday. More important, popping the 10-time All-Star into the guard rotation makes Miami clearly better, right away. He would bring the play-making experience at point guard that rookie Mario Chalmers cannot yet offer. He also would bring more pop with the ball to a team that still needs an offensive complement to Wade. Iverson can still create his own shot; he averaged 17.5 points last season.

The one concern with signing Iverson is that Miami would be pairing a veteran who can be tough to handle with a still-unproven second-year coach only five years older than Iverson.

Yet, within that concern would exist a good opportunity for Erik Spoelstra to prove to Wade that he can handle it all and become a championship coach, so that Wade isn't inclined to engineer a behind-the-curtains overthrow of Spoelstra, the way Shaq did with Stan Van Gundy in 2006.

Besides, Iverson would be a nice fit here as Chalmers continued to develop at a less pressured pace with substantial minutes off the bench. Criticism of Iverson has rarely centered on his effort on the court. There aren't many guys who will hustle more or fight harder for the basketball.

Miami taking steps to get better now is important if Wade says it is. That is the truth Riley must accept. The colloquialism ''Ain't nobody happy if Mama's not happy'' sort of applies here. Wade's happiness and confidence in the team's move back toward championship contention are what will cause him to re-sign or depart.

As D-Wade said this week: ''I want to make sure we're on track to where I want us to be on track before I sign back.'' And: ``Build me a team.''

Mollifying and keeping Wade work in tandem with Miami also adding a major free agent in 2010 -- ideally, Chris Bosh, 25, a 6-10 do-everything forward/center who has declared he will not re-sign this summer with Toronto.

Miami would be safer to try a sign-and-trade for Bosh this summer rather than risk competing for him in free agency, but that gets complicated because Toronto's interest in Miami's big trade bait, Michael Beasley, might be lukewarm.

Consider that Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo is the son of the Team USA chairman (Jerry) who just left Beasley off his 25-man developmental list for the 2012 Olympics.

That was a hard slap of a snub that underlines what a project Beasley still is perceived to be, and it's hard to think Toronto's personnel guy would be in love with a player his father has serious doubts about. That makes waiting a year for Bosh most likely, at which time neither money nor the famous lure of South Beach will be as crucial in enticing Bosh as the certainty he will be paired with Wade on a championship contender.

For the Heat, it has never stopped being about the one absolute priority: keeping Wade.

That starts with keeping Wade happy.

And if signing Iverson is part of The Answer there, well, do it. Source: The Miami Herald

Allen Iverson: Pat Riley, Dwyane Wade make Miami Heat `great situation'

HAMPTON, Va. -- Dwyane Wade's public campaign for the Heat to soon add play-making help to the roster resonated up the Atlantic on Tuesday, when free agent guard Allen Iverson placed Miami atop his wish list of potential destinations.

Iverson, one of several free agents the Heat had preliminary contact with last week, said playing alongside Wade and under the leadership of team president Pat Riley would be an intriguing option.

Speaking in one of his first interviews since the end of a tumultuous one-season stay in Detroit, Iverson also said he would be open to signing a one-year deal.

''The fact that Dwyane is there and Pat Riley has something to do with personnel, it seems like a great situation,'' Iverson said after his charity foundation presented scholarships to students from his hometown. ``I just want a situation where I can win and be happy. Being that those two guys are there, man, it just seems it'll be a good deal.''

Just how willing the Heat is to make a deal with Iverson remained in question heading into Wednesday, when free agents can sign contracts.

Riley has adamantly said he doesn't plan to take on any contracts that extend beyond next summer, when Wade and other marquee players such as Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire could become unrestricted free agents.

Riley also said he wouldn't make any major roster moves this summer unless Wade were to commit to a contract extension, which he becomes eligible to sign Sunday.

The Heat has the $5.5 midlevel exception, a $4.2 million trade exception and a $2 million veteran exception it could use to bolster the roster. But the team also is over the projected luxury tax and would have to pay a dollar-for-dollar penalty.

Iverson -- or any other potential free agent -- likely would have to accept less than the full midlevel amount and closer to the veteran's exception on a one-year deal in Miami.

''Some offers are on the table and discussions are ongoing,'' agent Leon Rose said. ``That's all I can really say at this point about that.''

Wade, who has made the media rounds this week for The Summer Groove charity events, has said at every stop that he would like to see the Heat make significant upgrades before he signs a long-term deal.

Wade has experienced highs and lows in his six seasons in Miami, which won a championship in 2006 but stumbled to a league-worst 15-67 record two seasons ago after injuries to Wade and key players.

Miami rebounded to go 43-39 last season, but was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Wade said this week that Iverson was the type of dynamic scorer who could help.

''With AI, you look at a guy who is one of the best guys to ever put on an NBA jersey,'' Wade said in a radio interview Monday. ``A guy who can still score in the right offense, in the right flow. So you can never turn your nose up at a guy like Allen Iverson. I hear a lot of people that love and want to come to Miami, but it hasn't happened yet.''

Informed of Wade's comments, Iverson, a former league MVP and 10-time All-Star, said the respect between he and Wade is mutual.

''He's looking for a guy who can take some of the pressure off him and he can take some pressure off me,'' Iverson said. ``It's sort of like Denver, when me and [Carmelo Anthony] had each other's back.''

Iverson also addressed issues ranging from his rocky season in Detroit that ended with a mysterious back injury before the playoffs, the role he expects to play for his next team and his desire to reclaim a spot among the league's elite.

Miami, Memphis and Charlotte have been mentioned among teams that have varying interest in Iverson, who averaged career lows in points (17.4) and minutes (36.5) last season. He was voted an All-Star starter last season in Detroit, which traded Chauncey Billups for him.

But Iverson said the situation was never right with the Pistons, who demoted him to a reserve role, a first in his 13-year career. He left the team to treat a back injury April 3, a day after he said he would rather retire than come off the bench.

''I thought it was the right situation when I got traded, but it was a bad situation,'' Iverson said of the Pistons, who fired coach Michael Curry after one season and overhauled the roster. ``You know it's bad when they fire the coach after one year. I'm not saying it was on him. It was wrong for me.''

On Tuesday, Iverson downplayed the back injury and said he is ''totally healthy and ready to go'' for next season. But he's dealing with another pain.

''My shoulder is hurting [badly] now because of the chip I'm carrying around on it,'' he said. ``I can't wait.''

He amended his demands to start, but said being asked to play 15 or 20 minutes a game would be a waste.

With Wade entrenched at shooting guard and Mario Chalmers having started a franchiserookie-record 82 games last season, the Heat would have to creatively work Iverson into a prominent role in the rotation.

''Any coach, GM or player in the league knows what I'm about,'' said Iverson, who has a career scoring average of 27.1 points. ``With 15 or 20 minutes, I may as well stay home and play with my kids. I can help a team way more than that. I'm not saying I have to start. I want people to know you should earn that. Beat me out. Let's go to [training] camp, and may the best man win. I promise that you won't.''

Source: The Miami Herald

Extension economics may leave Wade no choice but to wait

The possibility of guard Dwyane Wade signing an extension with the Miami Heat might be out the door even before the door opens.

While Wade can sign an extension beginning Sunday, a league source confirmed Tuesday than an arcane NBA rule would limit that extension to a maximum of three seasons beyond the two Wade already has on his current contract, the $14.4 million he is due this coming season and the $15.8 million he is due in 2010-11 in his option year.

Yet if Wade instead waits until next summer and opts out of that 2010-11 season to become a free agent, he can sign a new six-year contract with the Heat.

In effect, by extending his contract this summer, Wade can sign only through the 2013-14 season. However, if Wade plays out this coming season and enters 2010 free agency, he would be eligible to sign with the Heat through 2015-16. That would put him under contract through age 34.

"That's a big part of it. I'm in the prime of my career," he said. "You've got this window from 27 to 33, 34, normally, where you're as good as you're going to get."

Those extra two seasons could be worth about additional $50 million, money Wade might have trouble otherwise recovering at such an age.

In addition, should Wade sign when his extension window opens Sunday, his salaries for 2014-15 and 2015-16 would then have be negotiated under a new collective-bargaining agreement, which is expected to be far more restrictive, considering the current economic climate.

The NBA is scheduled to move to a new working agreement in the 2011 offseason.

Either way, a quick decision is not necessary. By rule, Wade can extend any time between Sunday and June 30, 2010. Sunday merely opens the negotiation window, since it is the third anniversary of Wade's rookie-scale extension.

One advantage for the Heat in the current collective-bargaining agreement is a rule that encourages free agents to remain with their current teams, with an extra $30 million available in such instances. A player moving to an outside team in free agency can only sign for five seasons, instead of six with his current team, and for smaller allowable raises.

However, the extension rules would seem to work against the Heat locking Wade up before next July, since it would require the NBA's 2009 scoring champion to yield significant future earnings by signing now rather than later.

For his part, Wade said the process has been grating.

"I know that one of the selling points is going to be, 'Sign now, you won't have to go through it,' " he said, as he promoted the upcoming Summer Groove charity week that culminates with Sunday's all-star game at AmericanAirlines Arena. "But, at the same time, you're talking about your future here. You get one opportunity to be a free agent. Your next deal is a long-term deal and you're with that team for a long time.

"So, if you've got to deal with those questions for a year, then you've got to deal with the questions for a year. But this is about the future, your future."

Like Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh, another potential 2010 free agent who already has said he would not entertain an extension, and like Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, who also is expected to bypass an extension, Wade said such a decision should not take the focus off the coming season.

"I'm not going anywhere in 2009-2010," he said. "This season, I'll be in Miami, and this is where I want to be." Source: SunSentinel.com

Wade says he’ll stay if Heat a title contender

MIAMI (AP)—Dwyane Wade(notes) will remain in Miami on one condition. He wants the Heat to become a championship contender again, the quicker the better.

Otherwise, he might need moving trucks next summer.

The reigning NBA scoring champion, who can opt out of his Heat contract after the 2009-10 season, said Monday that simply getting to the playoffs “is not enough” to satisfy him anymore, and that his long-term commitment to Miami hinges entirely on the franchise getting back into the mix for the title trophy he hoisted just three years ago.

“I’m going to listen. I owe the Miami Heat that much. I’m going to listen to what they have to say and I’m going to think about it,” Wade told The Associated Press. “But right now, the way I feel, I want to make sure that we’re on track to where I want us to be on track to before I sign back.”

Wade made clear that he would like to stay with the Heat, reiterating something he’s said countless times in recent months. There’s no acrimony between the 2006 NBA finals MVP and Heat president Pat Riley either, and Wade said that the jump Miami made this past season—from 15 wins and the league’s worst record in 2007-08, to 43 wins and the No. 5 seed in the East in 2008-09— was thrilling.

“I’m good with that,” Wade said, “for one year.”

Another season around .500, though, won’t be as enticing.

“That’s not enough for me,” said Wade, who set career-bests last season in scoring average (30.2 per game), 3-point goals (88, three more than his total from his first five NBA seasons combined), steals (2.2 per game), blocks (1.3 per game) and games played (79).

At 27, he feels like he’s just entering his prime—and doesn’t want to miss any opportunity for more titles.

“I’ve told coach Riley this: All my life, all I’ve ever wanted to do is win and be put in a position where I can win and succeed,” Wade said. “Build me a team. Put the pressure on me to win a championship. Give me a team and say ‘All right, you’ve got to go do it,’ and I’ll take that pressure. Give me guys that we feel can compete every year to win a championship. I don’t want to go anywhere else.”

Wade’s contract status is the biggest issue facing the Heat this summer. He could sign an extension as early as next week.

His destination after next season has been an oft-discussed topic, especially since he and good friend LeBron James(notes) structured their last contracts the same way to have the flexibility to become free agents in 2010.

“I want to make sure that we stay competitive and we have an opportunity to win championships, like I’ve done before,” Wade said. “I don’t want to be content with winning games. I don’t want to win games. I want to win championships. That’s what I’m all about.”

Already this summer, the Heat have seen plenty of teams in the East make big moves. Shaquille O’Neal(notes)—Wade’s former superstar teammate—was traded to Cleveland to play alongside James. Orlando landed Vince Carter(notes), Boston reportedly agreed with Rasheed Wallace(notes), Detroit picked up Ben Gordon(notes) and Toronto seems poised to sign Hedo Turkoglu(notes).

The Heat have yet to make a splashy move, hoping young players like Michael Beasley(notes), Mario Chalmers(notes), Daequan Cook(notes) and Dorell Wright(notes) can help Miami made more strides this season.

“D-Wade wants what’s best for the Miami Heat, period,” former Heat center Alonzo Mourning(notes) said last week. “Obviously, he wants more help for the Heat to get to that next level again. He feels like we’ve got good pieces around us. We just need a little bit more.”

Wade sees it the same way.

“My talents can help a team compete for a championship,” Wade said. “I’ve proven that.” Source: Yahoo! Sports

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade unclear about future

Dwyane Wade isn't sold on a South Florida future yet, and with less than a week remaining before he is eligible to sign an extension, the Miami Heat guard appreciates the anxiety that is creating.

"It's going to be a touchy time," Wade acknowledged Monday.

So touchy, that even as he promotes his charitable work during the week's worth of events that culminate with Sunday's Summer Groove all-star game at AmericanAirlines Arena, the subject continually returns to whether he will extend this summer or become a free agent next July.

"This is where I want to be," he said during a radio interview on WQAM. "But I'm a winner and I want to make sure the future of me and of where I play, we're going to win."

While last season's NBA scoring leader cannot sign an extension until Sunday, which is the three-year anniversary of his previous extension, the negotiating window already is open, and has been for a while. Wade, however, did not make it sound as if substantive talks are under way with Heat President Pat Riley.

"I have to look at it from a business decision and see what's best for myself and see what's best for the future," he said. "We're talking. I'm sure Coach Riley will call us one minute after the time he can and we'll go from there."

Making the media rounds the past few days, Wade, on 790-The Ticket, addressed personnel gains made by the Heat's Eastern Conference competitors, such as the Orlando Magic adding Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors adding Hedo Turkoglu.

"Well there is a lot going on and there are a lot of teams that are shaking a lot of things up, and these are teams that feel that they need to do it now," he said. "Some teams feel that they need to win championships now, and you have to respect what they're doing."

Wade indicated he has not pushed Riley to make moves.

"He just said what he wanted and I said what I wanted," Wade said. "And you can respect that from both sides. I want to win, and he wants to win. And he wants me to be here to win."

Wade said he retains faith that Riley will position him for success.

"One thing I've come to realize is that Miami can never count out Pat Riley," he said. "You never know what he can cook up in the lab. So we're going to be patient and I'm not going to worry about it. I'm going to let him do his job."

Wade, though, did acknowledge that it has been difficult being on a team that so far has been a free-agency bystander.

"I'm patient at certain times," he said, "and at certain times I'm not."

For Wade, victory in the personnel game can come either by recruiting players this summer, or by convincing them to wait until the 2010 offseason, when the Heat has the salary-cap space to commit to both Wade and an overhaul.

"I understand that Coach Riley does have a hard job," he said. "But I have job, as well, to go out there and try to sell people to come down here and maybe take a little less or wait." Source: SunSentinel.com

NBA Free Agent Tracker

The NBA Free Agent Tracker is available at www.NBA.com

Find out who's available for your team.