FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ The stalemate with guard Dwyane Wade comes in the wake of a two-year, $40 million offer from the Miami Heat.
The Heat offer, which remains on the table, was confirmed to the Sun Sentinel according to a party close to the free-agency negotiations.
According to the party familiar with the negotiations, the Heat offer, which is for a flat $20 million for each of the two seasons, would allow Wade to opt out after the first of the two seasons and re-enter free agency again next summer, when the NBA salary cap is again expected to make another quantum leap.
Wade earned $20 million on a one-year deal this past season, but salaries for commensurate players have exceeded that figure since Friday's start of NBA free agency.
Wade apparently is seeking additional years at such a rate or higher from the Heat.
Wade, 34, previously had been linked to free-agent interest from the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls. The Knicks, however, instead utilized cap space on Charlotte Hornets free-agent guard Courtney Lee, while the Bulls utilized their cap space on Sacramento Kings free-agent guard Rajon Rondo.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets continue to remain linked to interest in Wade, although it is not known if any outside team would be willing to go to three years at $60 million total, with the NBA salary cap again expected to flatten after 2017 free agency.
At issue with Wade is that a contract at $20 million next season would put him third on the Heat's payroll.
Forward Chris Bosh, who remains hopeful of returning from the blood clots that have sidelined him over the second half of each of the past two seasons, is due $23.7 million next season, with $76 million due over the next three seasons. Center Hassan Whiteside on Friday agreed to a four-year, $98 million free-agency contract that will pay $22 million next season. Beyond that, guard Goran Dragic will earn $15.9 million next season, still due $70 million over the next four seasons.
It is that backdrop that the Heat are negotiating against.
A possible resolution between Wade and the Heat could be either a partial guarantee for Wade in a third season or a future guarantee date for such a third season.
Free-agent contracts cannot be finalized until Thursday, at the end of the NBA's signing moratorium period.
