Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul could switch teams in the summer of 2017, with the former joining LeBron James in Cleveland, while the latter heading to New York to team up with Carmelo Anthony.
Rumors about possible destinations of top players who could join the pool of free agents in 2017 are already rife with the 2016-2017 regular season yet to start. Wade and Paul are among the potential stars who could explore free agency next summer, and recent speculations may have already figured out the team they would join.
After getting disgruntled with how the Heat handled him in this year's free agency, Wade parted ways with the franchise that drafted him back in 2003, ultimately signing with the Chicago Bulls on a two-year $47 million contract. Wade's deal includes a player option in the final year, which means the three-time NBA champ could be a free agent next year.
While it remains to be seen whether Wade would leave the Bulls and join another team, there already seems to be a hint where the 12-time All-Star would end up. In an interview with Leo Sepkowitz of Slam, Wade revealed he considered the Cavs in free agency, but admitted he is not a fit playing in Cleveland.
"It didn't come down to the money. I thought about Cleveland, but I didn't fit there. You don't just do something because, Oh, I could win the ring there. I have three rings. I don't need to chase the ring. This is what I wanted to do. I couldn't fight it. If you fight it, you're gonna always be like, You shoulda, or, What could've-I don't like to live my life like that," Wade said.
But anything can still happen, and if the Bulls do not yield good results this season, there is a chance Wade could consider one final shot at a championship somewhere else. Wade is also close friends to James, which makes such move realistic in the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, Paul, who has an early termination option in his five-year $107.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, is also expected to become a free agent in the summer of 2017.
The Clippers have been insistent on keeping Paul long-term whatever it may cost the franchise, but it is still possible Paul decides to take his talents elsewhere, especially if the Clippers fail to win an NBA title this season.
According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, the Knicks could consider shopping for a point guard next summer, with the team uncertain about Derrick Rose as their long-term solution at the said position. Among the players the Knicks could include in their bucket list next summer is Paul, who is close friends with Carmelo Anthony.
"It's far too early to tell if both sides want to make this a long-term relationship but based on Rose's injury history and the possible fallout from his current civil trial, it's a good bet that the Knicks will be in the market for a point guard yet again next summer," Isola wrote.
There is no guarantee joining the Knicks would give Paul a better shot at winning his first championship, although heading to the East gives him a better shot at reaching the NBA Finals. But if the Knicks could attract another star next summer, Paul playing in New York may become an option for the Knicks.
Video courtesy: YouTube/FreeDawkins