The Chicago Bulls have apparently entered the Dwyane Wade sweepstakes big time.
According to a report from The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Chicago is calling teams around the NBA in an attempt to unload salary in order to cater to Wade’s contract demands.
Sources: In last few hours, Bulls calling teams to unload contracts, trying to create space to sign Dwyane Wade. Wade is serious about them.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2016
The most-interesting aspect of this report is that Wade is apparently “serious” about the Bulls as a potential destination.
This comes on the heels of the future Hall of Fame guard reportedly set to sit down and meet with multiple teams on Wednesday. It also comes at a time when his return to the Miami Heat is nowhere near a foregone conclusion.
Miami has reportedly offered Wade a two-year deal worth $40 million. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have bested the Heat’s offer by a reported $10-plus million (more on that here).
After landing Rajon Rondo earlier in the summer, the Bulls would need to cut some fat from their cap in order to make a competitive offer for Wade.
The good news here is that Chicago has some attractive contracts to offer other teams should it come to that.
Taj Gibson is set to earn nearly $9 million this season and is considered one of the better low-post defenders from the power forward position in the NBA. Meanwhile, the Bulls can also shop Nikola Mirotic and his $5.7 million salary should it come to that.
Though, it remains to be seen exactly where Wade would fit in here. After signing Rondo earlier this summer, the Bulls’ backcourt appears to be set with him teaming up with Jimmy Butler.
As it is, Chicago seems to be doing everything possible here to bring back its native son to close out his career.