Dwyane Wade will play for the Chicago Bulls next season, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski who reported Wade’s decision Wednesday night.
Dwyane Wade has informed the Bulls he plans to sign a deal with them, sources tell @TheVertical. Bulls sending out contracts now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2016
Chicago still needs to unload a couple of contracts before they have the space to sign Wade and had reportedly been trying to trade both Jose Calderon and Mike Dunleavy, Wednesday. No trade had been completed prior to Wade committing to Chicago, but the Bulls and Wade are confident they can get a deal done in the next couple of days.
The Vertical is also reporting that Wade is signing a two-year, $47 million contract with Chicago, roughly $5 million less than Denver offered. The Nuggets offered Wade a two-year, $52 million deal and apparently never went up to the third year that Wade was wanting.
ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst is also reporting that Wade has told those close to him the only place he could see himself playing other than Miami was Chicago.
Sources: The Bulls are working to complete deals to trade Jose Calderon and Mike Dunleavy to help clear space for Wade.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2016
The Bulls & Sixers had talks on Jose Calderon, but didn’t make a deal, per league source. Philly has Jerryd Bayless/Sergio Rodriguez at PG.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 7, 2016
Wade comes to his decision after a free agency saga that saw the 34-year-old turn sour on the Heat after Miami lowballed the three-time World Champion with a $10 million per year offer, then watched him take meetings with the Nuggets, Bucks, and Heat, Wednesday in New York. The Bulls, oddly enough never got a face-to-face meeting with Wade, as the front office called off their efforts to get to New York after their flight was continuously delayed out of Chicago.
The Nuggets didn’t end up with Wade, but should be proud of the effort they gave in pursuing the 12-time All-Star. The fact that Wade was reportedly taking Denver seriously throughout the process will bode well for the Nuggets and future free agents down the line.
