No surprise: Heat tell Wade they want him to stay

[July 13, 2009]  MIAMI (AP) -- When Dwyane Wade checked his cell phone shortly after midnight Sunday, he got perhaps the most predictable text message of his life.

After all, it hardly classifies as stunning news that the Miami Heat want to keep him.

Wade said Heat president Pat Riley texted those sentiments very early Sunday, in what amounts to a largely ceremonial move. The Heat had to wait until 12:01 a.m. on July 12 before they could formally offer an extension to the reigning NBA scoring champion, and Wade said Riley didn't wait too long before pressing the send button.

"It's no rush," Wade said. "We all know that."

Wade didn't reveal specifics of what the text message said, other than confirming the obvious, that Riley was reaffirming Miami's hope that the 2006 NBA finals MVP sticks around for many years to come.

"Something like that," Wade said, moments before he and Alonzo Mourning capped the five-day Zo's Summer Groove fundraising series with a charity game featuring other NBA standouts like Caron Butler, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Wade's Miami teammates Udonis Haslem, Michael Beasley, Daequan Cook, Mario Chalmers and Dorell Wright.

Wade's agent, Henry Thomas, and Riley both confirmed that the Heat formally extended an offer. Both declined further comment.

Wade, who can become a free agent after this coming season, essentially has two options: Accept an extension that would keep him under contract in Miami through the summer of 2014, or opt out of his deal next year and seek a contract through 2015-16, one that would likely be worth up to $45 million more.

Later this summer, Wade said he and Riley will talk more about the particulars, but nothing has been scheduled. Wade is still formulating his plans for the remainder of the offseason, and is likely headed to China for some business meetings in the coming weeks.

"We'll get it set up when we all can get together," Wade said.

His future has been the subject of much discussion, particularly in recent days, after Wade did a series of interviews promoting the charity events he and Mourning were hosting. Wade has repeatedly said he is happy in Miami, but merely wants to see the team get better and an assurance that Miami will perennially try to be a championship contender before re-signing.

"Like I said, I'm good here. I'm happy here," Wade said. "This is where I want to be and we'll go from there."

Wade set career bests last season in scoring average (30.2 per game), 3-point goals (88), steals (2.2 per game), blocks (1.3 per game) and games played (79).

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Thomas said he and Wade will weigh "a number of options" before deciding which course of action makes the most sense.

"It's great and I feel very honored and blessed, first of all, to make it to the NBA but then to be in position where I'm on my third contract now and have a team want you and be a big part of the future," Wade said. "That's a testament in itself. It's phenomenal."

NOTES: Reigning MVP LeBron James apologetically canceled plans to play Sunday, despite Wade's best efforts. Wade said James, who had commitments this weekend in Idaho, let him know that he tried to get to Miami in time. "He's taking care of business, taking care of his family," Wade said. ... Darius Miles, Roger Mason Jr., Rasual Butler and former Heat guard Tim Hardaway also were among those playing Sunday, as was Heat draft pick Pat Beverley.

[Associated Press; By TIM REYNOLDS]

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