Re: Wade's three-year deal official.... <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>HEATWade's three-year deal officialDwyane Wade signed a contract that, with a fourth-year option, could be worth $62 million, then deflected speculation that the short-term pact means he will leave Miami. 'I'm a Heat,' he said.BY BARRY JACKSONbjackson@MiamiHerald.comExpressing a desire to stay with the Heat beyond his new contract, Dwyane Wade on Wednesday signed a three-year extension with a fourth-year player option, instead of a five-year deal. His rationale was to give himself flexibility to sign his next contract at age 28, instead of 30, and negotiate that future deal under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement.The value of the new contract, which begins after next season, won't be determined until the 2007-08 salary cap is set next summer. But it's expected to be worth around $44 million for three years and an estimated $62 million over four years. He was eligible to sign a five-year deal worth an estimated $80 million.Wade, who already was under contract for next season at $3.84 million, indicated his decision should not be interpreted as any uncertainty about the organization.''I'm a Heat, man,'' he said via conference call from Los Angeles, where he planned to attend the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night. ``I was drafted by the Heat. There have been a lot of moments with Miami that I love.``I'm looking forward to when I retire, still being a Heat. This is not me looking to get out of Miami. [There's] no reason for me to look to get out of Miami. I'm a Heat and I'm going to continue to be a Heat as long as they want me.''Wade, who was MVP of the NBA Finals, said the shorter deal ``gives me flexibility, me being 28 instead of me being 30 when this contract is coming to an end. It was a great business move. After this deal is up, [I'm] looking forward to signing back with the Heat again.''LEBRON CONNECTIONWade said the decision to sign a shorter deal always was a consideration and not in response to friend LeBron James' decision to do the same with Cleveland.''We're getting a lot of crap about it because we're young guys and we made decisions for ourselves and we didn't follow the path of everybody else,'' Wade said. ``Everyone is thinking LeBron made everybody do this. With LeBron and [Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh], we all make our own decisions. We all talk because we're friends. But no one makes a decision for another person.''Wade can opt out of his contract in the summer of 2010, when Shaquille O'Neal's five-year, $100 million contract also expires.Henry Thomas, Wade's agent, said if Wade had signed a five-year deal, ``He may have been looking at another contract under an unknown set of terms under a new CBA. That definitely was a factor.``It made a lot of sense for him to have the opportunity a little sooner to have a chance to, honestly, get another contract with the Heat, which he fully expects to do.''Thomas said coach Pat Riley ``was very, very understanding of the position that Dwyane . . . wanted to take. They never pushed for Dwyane to accept the longer deal.''In choosing the shorter contract, Wade indicated he doesn't worry about the possibility of injury: ``If you try to play the game worrying about injuries, you will not be as effective as you need to be.''BUSY SCHEDULESince The Finals ended June 20, Wade's schedule has included, among other things, appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, Regis and Kelly and Jimmy Kimmel Live; parades in Miami and Disney World; and running his basketball camp in Chicago. Next Wednesday, he will go to Las Vegas to begin practicing with the U.S. national team, which will play in the World Championships in Japan later this summer.''I can't say it's exhausting because I'd be kicking myself in the butt if we didn't win the championship and I was seeing other guys on TV doing the tour of winning the Finals,'' he said. ``I've been having a great time traveling with my family there by my side the whole time.'The best thing about the whole media circus is to hear the words, `Congratulations to the world champions.' I will never get tired of it.''Wade, who averaged 34.7 points in the Finals, said he did not know whether Riley would coach or Alonzo Mourning would play next season.''I don't need to bother [Riley] in Africa,'' Wade said. ``We'll talk in the next couple of days.''</div>I think that even though the 5 year deal talked out earlier would have kept Wade in Miami longer, this deal keeps Wade here for 3 years and a possible fourth, while at the same time giving him a chance to stay within the current collective bargaining agreement. As far as I'm concerned, as long as we keep him happy, he might be here to stay, for now. Plus, we could use the money that we would have given him in the 5 year deal to sign another player for the long term. I don't know, what do you guys think about it?
Re: Wade's three-year deal official.... It's fine, Carmelo and LeBron have similar contracts. Wade probably signed 3 years with an option because he knows after Shaq retires it's not gonna be to good so he might want out. Now that this is out of the way I want to see what Pat will do with our bench situation.
Re: Wade's three-year deal official.... When Shaq retires the Heat will have a whole bunch of cap room to re-sign Wade and put some nice free agents around him to make him want to stay in Miami. This deal is good, and I expect Shaq to retire probably with 1 year left on the deal, and Wade will see how he does on his own carrying the franchise on his shoulders.
Re: Wade's three-year deal official.... I just read about why he signed a 3 year deal and it's all about business. If the max deal increases when the CBA comes up he will be able to get more money, otherwise he will probably use the option on his player contract. It's fine with me as long as Shaq isn't on the team when and if the max contract increases.
