Chicago Bulls: Any chance Dwyane Wade declines $23.8 million option?

The Chicago Bulls should hope that Dwyane Wade declines his $23.8 million player option. We all know that’s unlikely, but is there any chance of this scenario playing out?

Dwyane Wade leaving the Miami Heat to play for his hometown Chicago Bulls always made for a great story. Wade is one of the best players of his generation and seeing him come home was great. That being said, it was never a strong basketball decision by the Bulls’ front office.

Wade was once an incredible player who could single-handily take over a game. However, that time is long gone. He is clearly not the same player that he once was and that was never more clear than last season with the Bulls. The two-year, $47.5 million contract that the Bulls signed him to last offseason looks terrible at the moment but Wade does have a player option that could potentially work in the Bulls’ favor.

Wade has $23.8 million from the Bulls on the table if he wants to come back to the team for the 2017-2018 season. Considering he would never get that kind of money on the open market, Wade is widely expected to accept his player option and come back to the Bulls.

In a recent Q&A, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune mentions that the Bulls believe that Wade will accept his player option and return to the team next season.

"Can you really see any way Wade walks away from $24 million and leaves the Bulls?Well, it’s $23.8 million, as mentioned above. But you’re on it. And all I can tell you is most everyone associated with the Bulls believes Wade will pick up the option and remain in Chicago for a second season. More surprising things have happened in league history, though. So stay tuned. Wade’s player option decision is due by June 27 according to The Vertical’s Bobby Marks. Most previous reporting pegged it to June 30."

As Johnson points out, Wade opting back into his contract is far and away the most likely scenario. However, I cannot give up the pipe dream that he declines the option and looks to test the free agent market.

Where else could he go?

If Wade agrees with this assessment, perhaps he would take less money to go to an actual contender? Pairing back up with Lebron James in Cleveland would obviously be the most enticing scenario and would also make a ton of sense.

I could also see the San Antonio Spurs showing some interest. Couldn’t you see Gregg Popovich getting the most out of Wade for a season or two as he tries to keep pace with the Warriors? Wade coming in as a veteran leader for an upstart team like the Milwaukee Bucks or the Utah Jazz could also make some sense. Plus, I would never rule out Wade swallowing his pride and heading back to South Beach.

Any of these scenarios should be more enticing to Wade than the Bulls in a basketball sense. However, he is never going to see anything close to the $23.8 million that he has coming to him.

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In the end, Wade is extremely likely to sign his player option and take the Bulls’ money; but nothing is guaranteed. Maybe the Chicago Bulls will get lucky. We could all envision a scenario where Wade would want to chase another ring before he hangs it up. It’s probably a pipe dream, but you never know.

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