Wade's NBA future remains unclear: 'I wish I had an answer'
Dwyane Wade won't make a formal decision on whether he'll play a 16th NBA season until he's absolutely ready to do so, and not a moment sooner.
"I wish I had an answer for you. I don't have it today," Wade said Thursday, according to the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman. "A lot goes into it. We've kind of talked about it over the course of my career. So you guys can play the tape back and hear the same answers over and over again. But a lot goes into it."
The 36-year-old Wade rejoined the Heat midway through last season after being shipped away from the Cleveland Cavaliers at February's trade deadline. He averaged 12 points and 3.1 assists across 21 appearances as a reserve to close out the campaign, and boosted his production in the playoffs to 16.6 points and 3.6 assists during Miami's first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
While his status remains up in the air, the 12-time All-Star has been clear that he'll either re-sign with the Heat or call it a career.
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"It's not a Part B to it," Wade added. "I think I've been very open and honest to my loved ones and to everybody when I spoke about some of the process. I always said that when I got traded back to Miami, that was it for me. I said it in the first interview and I don't want to pack my bags to go nowhere. My family's here, my kid are growing, so definitely if I'm not wearing a Miami Heat jersey next year, I'll be wearing it under one of my sweaters or jackets."
Miami has one spot remaining on its 20-player training camp roster, and can offer Wade either the veteran's minimum worth $2.4 million or a taxpayer mid-level exception worth $5.3 million.
Wade is the Heat's all-time franchise leader in games played, minutes, points, free throws, assists, steals, offensive and defensive win shares, and value over replacement player.