NBA Rumor: Dwyane Wade interested in L.A. Clippers
By Tom West
Mar 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) looks on against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Heat 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dwyane Wade is leaving the Miami Heat? Paul Pierce to the Los Angeles Clippers? DeMarcus Cousins to the Los Angeles Lakers? Now that the 2015 NBA offseason is well under way, the trade rumors are starting to fly around the internet.
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The Clippers have already kicked off the summer by trading Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes for Lance Stephenson of the Charlotte Hornets, and Doc Rivers has said he is by no means finished carrying out his plan to rebuild for the future. And one of the most recent developments is that Dwyane Wade is reportedly interested in leaving the Heat.
The immediate problem is that the Clippers are extremely limited in terms of cap space. They did remove the salaries of Barnes and Hawes which combined for a total of just over $8.6 million this season, but with Stephenson’s three-year $27 million contract, they’re essentially back where they started.
Let’s put financial details aside for a second, though. Because if Dwyane Wade is interested in joining the Clippers, he’s the kind of player who needs to be talked about — regardless of whether or not there’s a realistic chance of it happening.
That’s just the kind of attention you can demand when you’re one of the top few shooting guards of all time.
According to a report by Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, league sources have suggested that Wade is interested in the New York Knicks, Lakers, Clippers and even the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although, the chance of Wade reuniting with his Miami Heat running mate LeBron James is incredibly unlikely. Simply because the Cavs have already used up an awful lot of money by splashing out on LeBron, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving’s $90 million contract extension, and a host of other talent over the past year.
In terms of the Clippers, though, Shelburne and Windhorst have reported the following on Wade’s interest in the team:
"“Wade also is interested in the Los Angeles Clippers, sources said, but they are as limited by their commitments and the salary-cap rules as the Cavs. Getting to the Clippers would take either a massive pay cut or the Heat’s unlikely cooperation in a sign-and-trade.”"
Precisely as is stated above, it won’t be remotely easy for the Clippers to arrange their cap situation to bring Dwyane Wade onboard. And considering the lack of players at their disposal, a sign-and-trade also seems very unlikely.
Wade made $15 million this year, and seeing as the Clippers would only be able to offer him a possible contract of around $3.4 million for next season, it doesn’t seem as though he’ll be very tempted to leave Miami for L.A.. So it’s hardly surprising that Shelburne and Windhorst added to their report that “many league executives expect Wade to ultimately work something out with the Heat”.
May 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) celebrates with Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) after making the game-winning basket against the Atlanta Hawks as time expired in the fourth quarter in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 103-101. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
However, when Paul Pierce has already opted-out of his current contract with the Washington Wizards, will the Clippers even be that interested in Wade?
Los Angeles is Pierce’s hometown, he won a championship with Doc Rivers in 2008 for the Boston Celtics, and the Clippers have more talent than the Wizards, with their three All-NBA players in Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. He hasn’t made his decision yet, but Pierce is expected to choose between either the Wizards or the Clippers (for more detail, read here). And considering all those factors, he’s certainly going to be very tempted by what the Clippers have to offer.
Not to mention, with the acquisition of Stephenson already, Pierce would be able to add even more depth and veteran leadership to help remedy the Clippers’ primary weaknesses.
So, unfortunately for the Dwyane Wade fans who’d like to see “Flash” suit up for their Clippers, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. But even if that’s the case, he may still offer Doc Rivers another option to consider alongside Paul Pierce — albeit a far less tempting one.