Dwayne Wade's reported contract impasse with the Miami Heat is a major storyline to watch out heading into the free-agency period, because the mere presence of the perennial All-Star shooting guard can change the current free-agency landscape.
According to NBA writer Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com, the Knicks should pounce on every opportunity given to them to acquire Wade the moment he becomes an unrestricted free-agent. Having loads of cash space (estimated at $30 million) this offseason would certainly favor the Knicks in their pursuit of Wade, who is reportedly unhappy with the progress of his contract negotiation with the Heat.
Shorr-Parks believes signing Wade to team up with fellow All-Star and Team USA mainstay Carmelo Anthony and whoever they pick at no.4 overall would be a huge boost to the Knicks rebuilding effort, since a proven winner like D-Wade has the experience to take a team to another level.
"Although the cap number for next season has not been set, it is expected to be somewhere around $67.1 million. Assuming that, the Knicks, who have only $32 million committed in salaries for next season, should have around $30 million in salary cap space.
The Knicks have plenty of holes to fill, and the argument can be made that giving the majority of it to Wade isn't a good idea. As the Knicks rebuild, however, it might be worth the investment."
Wade might have already lost a step due to nagging knee problems, his 2014-15 numbers showed that he's still one of the best two-guards in the league, averaging 21.5 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 62 games.
Moreover, Shorr-Parks opined that Wade could play a big role in recruiting more elite players similar to what he did in 2010, when he served as one of the masterminds behind the biggest free-agency coup in recent memory by luring both LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Beach.
It might be too early to tell if Wade is really going to leave the Heat, the team he played for the entirety of his career. On the other hand, the spoil of playing under the bright lights of New York and with another big market franchise is sure tempting. Thus, it's also safe to assume the Knicks as favorites to land Wade in case he hits the market this summer.