Clippers Rumors: Could Dwyane Wade leave Heat for L.A.?

Mar 22, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) brings the ball up the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

This is certainly just pure speculation at the moment, but is there any way that Dwyane Wade could join the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason? Apparently, there’s a chance. Even if it’s minimal.

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According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, there are two possibilities for Dwyane Wade if he somehow decides to leave the Miami Heat: the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Clippers. But whilst Wade may have struggled to stay healthy in recent years (he hasn’t played more than 70 games in season in four years) and the Heat have had a dramatic fall to the depths of the Eastern Conference since LeBron James’ departure, would he actually consider leaving the franchise he’s been with his entire career?

It seems very unlikely. Even if the Knicks are ready to splash out with their potential $27.2 million cap space.

This is what Isola has to say about the matter:

"“If Dwyane Wade does the unexpected and leaves Miami he could end up in one of two places; Los Angeles (Clippers) or New York.For Wade to join the Clippers and his good buddy Chris Paul it would take some creativity since the Clippers are over the salary cap. The Knicks and Carmelo Anthony have the cap space but would Wade want to join a team that won 17 games last season?After giving the Heat financial flexibility in recent years to sign, among others LeBron James, the All-Star guard is looking for a big pay day. The biggest drawback is that Wade will turn 34 next season and hasn’t played more than 70 games since the 2010-11 season. He’s missed 48 games over the last two seasons.”"

If it is a pay day Wade is looking for, he won’t find it in Los Angeles. As Doc Rivers has already expressed his eagerness to keep DeAndre Jordan with a max contract, which leaves little room to acquire a lot of expensive talent in free agency when you consider the contracts of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, too (who combine to earn $40.37 million next year).

Currently, the Clippers have around $5 million in cap space for next season, which leaves them well shy of being able to accommodate a player such as Wade. He made $18.67 million this season, and unless he wants to take less than a third of his pay, it seems more likely that he’d consider the high budget team of New York.

However, that’s if he wants to leave Miami at all.

Mar 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) looks on during their defeat by the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Heat 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

He’s been with the Heat ever since he was drafted in 2003-04, and except for his rookie season, he’s been an All-Star every year. Since emerging as “Flash”, becoming one of the best shooting guards in NBA history, averaging 24.1 points per game for his career and winning three championships, it’s looked as though Wade would aways intend to spend his entire career in Miami.

Even when LeBron left before the start of this season, and Wade lost his true friend and running mate, the Heat legend has still managed to average 21.5 points and 4.8 assists per game this year. And when you remember that he’s already 33 years old and has dealt with numerous knee issues, you can’t say he isn’t still an important player.

He may not be what he once was in his twenties, but he’s still the face of his franchise. Which is why no matter how much he may want to win another championship or earn a big pay check somewhere else, it seems unlikely that he’ll leave the Heat to spend a few seasons with the desperately struggling Knicks or the strapped-for-salary-cap Clippers.

And when rumours have already began to circulate that the Clippers may look to bring in Paul Pierce (read more details here) who could be acquired for less than $3.7 million and already has a great relationship with head coach Doc Rivers, it doesn’t seem too plausible that L.A. will go after Wade instead.

Of course, anything can happen in free agency, but it’s pretty safe to say that Dwyane Wade joining the Clippers won’t happen.

Next: Paul Pierce to the Clippers? It all comes down to The Truth