Written by Mike Chiari at Bleacher Reports.com
Veteran guard Dwyane Wade is reportedly leaning toward exercising his player option to remain with the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18.
According to ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne, Wade has until June 27 to make a decision, but league sources indicated he favors picking up the $24 million option.
The 2016-17 season marked Wade’s first with the Bulls after he spent the first 13 years of his career with the Miami Heat.
Wade put up respectable numbers last season with 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, but he missed 22 contests due primarily to a fractured elbow
The 35-year-old veteran wasn’t named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team, which ended a 12-year streak for D-Wade as well.
Per Shelburne, Wade told Bulls management that he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuild, but she added he is leaning toward picking up his option regardless of what happens in the coming days.
Dwyane Wade has until June 27 to inform the Bulls of whether he’ll pick up his $24 million player option. https://t.co/CLbsyMBRyD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 20, 2017
ESPN’s Marc Stein reported Monday that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been trying to create a package to pry superstar forward Jimmy Butler from the Bulls.
Chicago squeaked into the playoffs last season with a record of 41-41, and it had the top-seeded Boston Celtics on the ropes with a 2-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs before dropping four straight.
Although Wade’s production has dropped off in comparison to his peak years, he and Butler still form a dynamic duo capable of carrying the Bulls players in the Eastern Conference if they remain together.
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