--G Dwyane Wade could negotiate a contract extension during the offseason, something the Heat would love. Or Wade could negotiate after next season, when he has an opt-out clause, joining the star-studded free agent class of 2010. Or Wade could wait until his contract expires after the 2011 season, something that almost assuredly won't happen. Either way the Heat clearly wants Wade to return.
"He's our franchise player," Heat president Pat Riley said. "We've spent (six) years together. We won a world championship with him. We love him to death. The fans love him. He's irreplaceable ... but we also understand he has the right to wait (to re-negotiate)." Wade said he's thinking about negotiating an extension this summer, something that would allow the Heat to immediately select a path for future trades and free agent spending. But he didn't commit.
"The first thing I want to do (in the offseason) is go watch my son play baseball," Wade said.
--Rumors will fly with the Heat, from draft night all the way until the February trade deadline. F Udonis Haslem is in the final year of his $7.1 million deal, C Mark Blount is in the final year of his $7.9 million deal and C Jermaine O'Neal is in the final year of his $23 million deal.
Coach Erik Spoelstra expects his current group to return intact. "With that being said, always expect the unexpected with (president) Pat (Riley)," Spoelstra added.
The big prize out there could be Toronto F Chris Bosh. His contract expires at season's end and there's speculation he doesn't want to return to the Raptors. Going a step beyond that, some suspect the Raptors might want to deal Bosh before the trade deadline so they can get something in return rather than allowing him to leave for nothing via free agency.
G Dwyane Wade said he's confident the Heat will do the right thing, whatever that entails.
"We have one of the best presidents in the game at going out and finding the right guys," Wade said.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Don't get me wrong. Everybody wants to be The Man, quote, unquote ... The 30 points (per game), is that something I want to so every year? Not really." --G Dwyane Wade on getting offensive help for next season.
