The Chicago Bulls are expected to be one of the most desirable free-agent destinations this summer, creating speculations that the team could sign another superstar to play alongside injured point guard Derrick Rose when he returns next season.
Fox Sports insider Sam Amico reported that the Bulls could make a strong push to sign Dwyane Wade this summer if the Miami Heat superstar guard decides to opt out of the final year of his contract.
According to Amico, Wade could be offered less money should the Heat secure long-term deals with LeBron James and Chris Bosh, who could also hit free agency this summer.
Sources said that if the Heat offer less money to Wade compared to James and Bosh, the superstar guard might consider bolting out of Miami and sign with a team willing to offer a max contract in the offseason, and Amico believes that the Bulls could be that team.
"The possibilities are endless with Miami, but the early scuttlebutt is James and Bosh will get the max, and the breaking-down Wade will take less. That's all speculation, of course, and even if true, Wade may feel differently if someone (read: the Bulls) overpays him based on what he once was," Amico noted.
The Bulls previously tried to sign Wade when he became a free agent in 2010. The Bulls wanted to pair Wade, a Chicago native, to Rose, but he opted to stay in Miami and recruited his good friends James and Bosh to play with him, which led to two championships in their first three years together.
However, it should be noted that the 32-year-old guard has not been the same player as he was three years ago.
Wade has been in and out of Miami Heat's roster this season due to several injuries, including his ailing knee. The 11-year-veteran has missed 15 games this season and his point production is down from 21.2 points last season to 18.8 this season.
Wade's current status could discourage the Bulls from committing a long-term deal with the former Marquette standout. It remains to be seen whether or not Wade is also willing to leave Miami, which has been his team since being selected as the fifth-overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
"It's frankly hard to see either the Bulls overpaying for Wade or Wade deciding to leave Miami knowing that both LeBron and Bosh are coming back. Miami is Wade's team and it will always be that way, and if he refused to bail once than he likely won't revisit that idea this summer," FanSided noted.
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