Report: Bulls, Wade reach buyout agreement
It appears Dwyane Wade will begin the 2017-18 season in a new uniform.
The Chicago Bulls and the 35-year-old shooting guard have reached an agreement on a buyout, sources told The Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson.
Wade appeared to confirm the signing on social media shortly after:
A Dream was fulfilled!!! Thank you Chicago!!!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) September 25, 2017
Wade surrendered roughly $8 million of his $23.8-million salary in order to secure the buyout agreement, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
"It was a dream for me to play in Chicago," Wade told Johnson. "We made playoffs. But org decided to go in new direction. I respect that."
It had been speculated the 12-time All-Star would begin the upcoming season with a new team after Chicago traded All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler during this year's draft - signalling the beginning of a rebuild.
Reports surfaced last month that the Bulls' younger players couldn't stand Wade during last year's up-and-down season. Many of the team's youngsters were angered after the 6-foot-4 guard publicly questioned his teammates' desire to win.
The former fifth overall pick averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks on 43.4 percent shooting during his lone season in Chicago.