Pat Riley lauds Dwyane Wade, won't discuss possible Heat return

MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade is under contract with the Chicago Bulls, meaning other NBA clubs cannot openly talk about signing him until he is a free agent. As such, Heatpresident Pat Riley was cautious Friday when asked about Wade's future.

Wade spent his first 13 seasons in Miami before leaving in the summer of 2016 and going to the Bulls, his hometown team. But Chicago appears to be in full rebuilding mode after trading All-Star forward Jimmy Butler -- someone Wade was close with -- to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason. Since Wade is in the final year of a deal that will pay him nearly $24 million this season, buyout speculation has been rampant for months.

If Wade gets a buyout, he would be free to join any team.

"I feel great about our relationship that we had over the 13 years," Riley said. "And anything that happens from a personnel standpoint down the road, or any opportunities that are there, we're always going to approach that. But right now he's under contract. He's under contract with Chicago, and I wish him the very best."

Some Heat players, including longtime close friend Udonis Haslem, have made it clear that if Wade becomes a free agent they would definitely want him to consider a return.

"He knows how I feel," Haslem said this month.

Riley -- and every other NBA executive -- has to be much more guarded. But Riley made no secret of the affinity he still has for Wade, even raving about his wife, actress Gabrielle Union.

"She was stunning at the Emmys," Riley said. "And to see him sitting in the seat next to her at the Emmys, I said, 'Man, we both have come a long way.'"

The Bulls hold their media day Monday, with camp opening Tuesday. Wade spent at least part of this week in Miami, where he kept his home and worked out at least once at the University of Miami.

Bulls president John Paxson told CSN Chicago on Thursday that he and general manager Gar Forman sat down with Wade when the season ended and plan to do so again when he returns to Chicago in the coming days.

"We were honest with him. We told him that we don't know what's going to happen," Paxson said. "At that time we were not shopping Jimmy. But we also said all along that if a deal would come along that would allow us to rebuild, we'd have to look at it. We've said that to everybody.

"So with that said, Dwyane's under contract. He has been a professional through and through. We want to talk to him when he comes in town, and we will."

Wade is Miami's franchise leader in several categories, starred on all three Heat championship teams and has kept close ties with several people within the organization since his departure. He was the MVP of the 2006 NBA Finals.

"Probably one of the greatest series that any player has ever had in a Finals," Riley said.