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It appears that the end of an era is actually going to happen.
Dwyane Wade, who has played his entire career with the Miami Heat and won three titles, has reportedly told the Chicago Bulls he will sign a two-year, $47 million deal with them.
Dwyane Wade is on the verge of a deal with the Bulls, who are nearing trades to clear needed cap space, sources told ESPN
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 7, 2016
Bulls have traction a deal to move Jose Calderon & working on separate deals for Mike Dunleavy, sources said. Would clear about 25M in space
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 7, 2016
Wade has told those close to him the only place he could see himself playing other than Miami was Chicago
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 7, 2016
Dwyane Wade has informed the Bulls he plans to sign a deal with them, sources tell @TheVertical. Bulls sending out contracts now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 7, 2016
Sources: No team offered Wade a guaranteed third season, including Miami.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 7, 2016
Wade, who was born in Chicago and grew up idolizing the Bulls and Michael Jordan, has been seeking more money and years instead of the two-year, $40 million offer the Heat made. In order to create more salary, the Heat had reportedly found it difficult to simply unload Josh McRoberts' contract and they appeared to be unwilling to unload draft picks or a young asset to facilitate a trade. There would be little, if any, cap space left after a Wade signing either, which may be the reason Pat Riley held fast to his offer.
The Heat did not increase their offer to Dwyane Wade, to compete with other teams.
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) July 7, 2016
Chicago subsequently traded Mike Dunleavy to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jose Calderon to the Los Angeles Lakers in order to carve out enough cap space to meet Wade's price. The Bulls are in the midst of rebuilding their roster and traded away former MVP point guard Derrick Rose this offseason. Another longtime Bulls player Joakim Noah left for the New York Knicks in free agency, as did Pau Gasol to the San Antonio Spurs, and they recently signed former All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo.
Wade is actually leaving the Heat after 13 seasons. Can you believe it? How do you feel and what do you think Miami's next steps should be?
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