Report: Dwyane Wade misled by Chicago Bulls of team’s direction

Dwyane Wade would not have opted into the final year of his contract had he known Jimmy Butler was going to be traded, according to a report.

Many expect the Chicago Bulls and Dwyane Wade to come to a buyout agreement sooner rather than later, but it seems that, since Wade signed last summer, the two sides haven’t agreed on much of anything.

According to a report by HoopsHype’s Alex Kennedy, Wade was led to believe that if he opted into the final year of his contract, that his teammate and close friend Jimmy Butler wouldn’t be traded.

Wade opted into the final year of his contract on June 21 and Butler was traded the next day the Minnesota Timberwolves in a move that unmistakably signaled a rebuild.

As Kennedy writes, Wade is frustrated that the front office misled him.

"As his June 27 deadline to opt-in to the final year of his contract approached, the veteran shooting guard wanted assurances from the front office that the Bulls would field a competitive team during the 2017-18 season. Wade didn’t want to opt-in and then watch the franchise enter a rebuilding period."

Wade last summer left the Miami Heat–where he spent the first 13 years of his career–and signed a two-year deal with the Bulls with a player option for the final season worth $23.8 million. It’s hard to imagine Wade passing up that sort of money in any case, but he has a track record of giving up money to play for a contender.

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Chicago made the playoffs last season and are coming off an impressive first-round series effort against the top-seeded Boston Celtics–a series they may have won if Rajon Rondo didn’t get hurt.

The Bulls, however, are going into a new direction. A rebuild centered around Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markannen.

That has led to reports from ESPN that a buyout agreement is imminent between Wade and the team. It’s unclear how much Wade would be willing to leave on the table, or how much the Bulls are willing to pay him to leave, but it does seem to be in the best interest of both parties.

If Wade is bought out, it’s been reported that he’d be open to Cleveland, Los Angeles and Miami as possible destinations. In Cleveland, he could compete near the top of the conference with his former teammate and close friend LeBron James. A return to Miami, of course, would be a feel-good story all around.

He can make that decision, however, when he and the Bulls come to an agreement–something that has seemingly been elusive during Wade’s short tenure.

Next: Pros and cons of a potential Wade buyout

If this report is true, it’s a big mistake by GarPax. Rather than Wade walking away of his own accord–and for free–they’ll have to pay an expensive price to part ways. It’s the sort of mistake an owner may not have much patience for.