How Will D-Wade's Situation Play Out?
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Henry Abbott, TrueHoop: Wade has complained openly about wanting to play with better teammates. The Heat have schemed blatantly to get major cap room. They are required to sign about a dozen more players. And there are tons of free agents on the market. It's a lock the Heat will add lots of new talent. It's not at all a lock, however, that one of those new players will be LeBron James or Chris Bosh. James, I think, will be in Cleveland, and deep-pocketed front offices in Chicago and New York will be pushing hard to add top-shelf talent. Most likely is that the Heat convince Wade to stay with a revamped roster in which he's the only superstar ... unless New York or Chicago can talk Wade into leaving.
J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: Wade will weigh the chance to play with his buddy LeBron James in New York, or return to his hometown of Chicago. But would the Knicks be able to surround them with enough other good players? Isn't his game too similar to that of Derrick Rose, the star he'd be joining in Chicago? Ultimately it will come down to the one thing that rules all: He can make the most money staying in Miami.
Chris Broussard, ESPN The Magazine: I think Dwyane Wade is the most likely superstar to stay put. There's no reason for him to leave Miami, since it's a great city, with a great front office and the cap room to sign another max free agent. I think Miami will sign Amare Stoudemire to play next to Wade, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's Bosh instead. Wade will likely visit Chicago and New York, just for fun, but I think he's definitely with the Heat next season.
John Hollinger, ESPN.com: I see Wade checking out his options until he's confident the Heat can lure in another star, and then joining the recruiting pitch and both players announcing they've agreed to terms in unison. That player will almost certainly be a 4; we just don't know if it's Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer or David Lee.
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: In talking to him about free agency back in training camp, Dwyane came across as very comfortable with the concept of playing a long, long time in Miami, but he also wants them to hit the jackpot to a certain degree in free agency this summer. But I also think he and Riley are on the same page more than people realize regarding the franchise's plans for the future, and I honestly cannot envision him leaving a place where he is so comfortable -- especially with what Miami has to offer to those living the bachelor lifestyle that D-Wade is now living.
I expect Wade and Riley to try to recruit LeBron James to come to Miami on a four-year deal with a third-year opt-out, making the argument that they can team up for a three-year stint in the sunshine together, then opt out and do their long-term max deals in 2013 if they so choose. Also, depending on where the cap comes in, Miami can also add another nice free agent (perhaps Carlos Boozer) if it can clear Daequan Cook's salary off its cap before July 1. If LBJ is not in the cards, I think Boozer will be the Heat's top target.
Marc Stein, ESPN.com: D-Wade doesn't want to leave Miami, but he doesn't want to be first-round fodder anymore, either. So the Heat have to deliver in free agency to keep him, because the threat from Chicago is real. The good news? Pat Riley has a history of making personnel splashes when he has trade assets or funds available.
The combination, furthermore, of Riley's determination to score a power play and the resurgent Amare Stoudemire's fondness for Florida have established Stoudemire as Miami's top target. You just hear too much chatter on the front-office grapevine about Amare winding up in Miami to ignore it. The Suns definitely don't want to lose him without compensation, so maybe this ends up as a sign-and-trade, but Miami has the requisite cap space and interest to steal Stoudemire outright. I also think Amare and D-Wade are pretty good pals, more than maybe we realized when the season started.
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