Amid buyout rumors, Wade plans to be at Bulls training camp
It's looking more and more likely that Dwyane Wade won't end the 2017-18 season with the Chicago Bulls. As far as his immediate future goes, though, the 12-time All-Star is going to be where he's supposed to be come Sept. 25.
"The only thing I'll say is right now my plan is to be in training camp," Wade told the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson prior to receiving the Mannie Jackson Human Spirit Award on Thursday night at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Bulls have previously stated that buying out Wade - who's set to make $23.8 million next season - would need to be "advantageous" for the team.
No buyout discussions have taken place between the two parties since Jimmy Butler was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which came two days after Wade exercised his player option. There have been reports, though, that Wade will be bought out in the coming months.
"It's the world we live in," he said of the rumors. "Everyone's going to speculate.
"When the time is right for me and the Chicago Bulls organization to sit down and talk about the future, we will do that," he later told TNT's David Aldridge. "Hopefully, we get an opportunity to sit down and talk about the direction and go from there. I'm 35 years old. I'm a grown man. I can definitely sit across the room from you and listen to your truth and hopefully (you) hear mine."
Chicago's younger players reportedly couldn't stand Wade last season, with the 14-year veteran calling out some of his teammates in January when the team dropped seven of 11 games.
The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be the favorites in the Wade sweepstakes should a buyout transpire, although he also reportedly views the Los Angeles Lakers and a reunion in South Beach with the Miami Heat as possible destinations, as well.
In 60 appearances during his first season in the Windy City, Wade averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals on 43.4 percent shooting. Chicago finished with a 41-41 record and was bounced in the opening round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics.