Last week, ESPN’s Nick Friedell wrote in a piece on the Bulls’ outlook for 2017/18 that the team is expected to reach a buyout with Dwyane Wade within the next few months. Friedell’s story was edited later to back off that stance a little, suggesting now that “nobody would be surprised” if Wade and the Bulls reach a buyout agreement in the not-too-distant future.
Appearing on ESPN’s The Jump (video link) this week, Friedell once again addressed the Wade situation, calling a buyout “inevitable.” According to Friedell, it’s a matter of “when, not if” the Bulls and Wade will part ways this season.
Here’s more on Wade, the Bulls, and his possible landing spot if he becomes a free agent:
- While the Bulls and Wade figure to get serious about a buyout after the trade deadline if it hasn’t already happened by then, Friedell said during his appearance on The Jump that he wouldn’t be shocked if the two sides work something out in December or January. However, Friedell doesn’t expect a buyout agreement to be finalized before the season.
- Friedell also suggests that the young players on the Bulls’ roster aren’t overly fond of Wade, who last season challenged his teammates’ dedication to winning despite missing practices himself. In Friedell’s view, that potential friction may motivate both sides to get a buyout done sooner.
- The Bulls have no reason to buy out Wade unless he eventually meets their terms and gives up a significant chunk of his $23.8MM salary, according to David Haugh of The Chicago Tribune, who hears that the two sides haven’t yet engaged in buyout talks.
- If Wade is bought out by the Bulls, will he end up reuniting with his good friend LeBron James for the Cavaliers? According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, people close to James are indeed “fairly confident” that Wade will land in Cleveland. As Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk details, before making that assertion, Vardon said earlier in his podcast that only a small handful of people – including agent Rich Paul, LeBron himself, and three others – should truly be considered “close” to LeBron. So Vardon’s info likely came from one or more of those sources.
If the Cavs add Wade they actually did a decent job this offseason despite all the hate they took. Adding the Nets pick is very underrated too
I agree, the Nets pick is their safety net if they don’t retain LBJ or IT after this season. They could hit the reset button and draft the next big thing. That doesn’t mean they will win but it will give them a chance to move forward and start fresh
Yeah that pick could be the first pick cause I don’t think Mosgov, Russell, and carrol make that much of a difference for the nets. And if it becomes a one, they could get Michael Porter. (If you don’t know who he is just wait for the college season to start and you will. He’s a star in the making)
Wade to the Cavs, it’s been set since they dealt Butler. Just When not IF. I’d explore a trade though with the Cavs.
If he goes to the Cavs, it’s not happening via trade. The money wouldn’t work at all.
They’d have to do Shumpert and JR or find a 3rd team. Really depends on the bulls wanting to just buyout or not.
The numbers work with those two. But those salaries cannot be knocked down like Wade’s can.
But what are the Bulls saving their money for? Shumpert’s shooting numbers are still rising, and Smith’s should bounce back after being miscast as a stopper.
And Shump has an option so his contract is tradeable in a year as an expiring deal.
Cavs with wade and others still have no chance. Roster is aging and not much depth outside of the starting 5. Might go 5/6 games instead of 4/5
People are assuming that the cavs roster they have know is the final product they could possibly use that pick to get boogie or marc gasol
I didn’t think LEMMINGS leaders GARPAX could look any worse than they are, but Irving trade to celts makes bulls lack of a haul for butler more idiotic than it actually is