twix2500 wrote:That was after denying the Heats offer. That was the most the Heat could offer per year. The market was drying up, that is what he was looking for from other teams at that point, that was the 6th day into free agency. The most another team offered was 23 per year, so he took it. Initially he wanted the max and wanted to be treated like the Heat was recruiting him. He stated himself, he felt hurt that the Heat didnt pursue him with the red carpet and be the first person at midnight, and that he wanted the max deal going away gift like Kobe. But he hurt himself by opting out the fifth year and losing his bird rights. The Heat couldnt sign him over the cap.
I think it was around the 3rd day into free agency, that Pat was saying he is letting Arison negotiate with Wade. Wade also confirm this and said he felt hurt that Pat stayed out of the negotiations because of their relationship. Arison should have offered Wade something off the books, IMO, which happens a lot but not talked about......
Pat Riley says Heat should have given Dwyane Wade max contract in 2014
If this had happened, he would almost certainly have finished his career in Miami
In mid-July, Miami Heat president Pat Riley said he regretted not doing more to re-sign Dwyane Wade, instead leaving contract negotiations to owner Mickey Arison and CEO Nick Arison. On Thursday, with Wade returning to Miami as a member of the Chicago Bulls, Riley told TNT's David Aldridge that he had another regret: not signing Wade to a maximum contract in the summer of 2014.
