Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons Dwyane Wade’s summer matters

NBA superstar Dwyane Wade has a big choice to make this summer: either stay with the Chicago Bulls and earn almost $24 million, or start a new chapter somewhere else.

It seems like lately, every offseason yields an important decision for Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade. This summer is no different.

Having come home prior to the start of the 2016-17 season after 13 years in South Beach playing for the Miami Heat, the veteran has a $23.8 million player option for next year. This means he can choose to remain with the Bulls and collect the remainder of his contract, or leave and find a new deal somewhere else.

For now, it is unclear where Wade’s head is at.

Shortly after Chicago was eliminated by the Boston Celtics from the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, Wade had this to say to ESPN’s Nick Friedell about his future:

"“I don’t need to ring-chase, but I can. It’s a great luxury to have if I want to do. Or I can be a part of passing down my knowledge to younger players. It’s either way. Whatever I decide, I’m going to embrace whatever role I have on a team. That’s sometimes being the second option. Sometimes I’m going to be the first. And sometimes this season, I had to be the third or fourth. It all changes, and you want to be the best at whatever role is presented to you. I’ve always been that way.”"

Naturally, this could be read as Wade returning to the Bulls. Or Wade going back to the Miami Heat. Or even Wade joining LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 35-year-old is in no rush to make a decision either.

"“I’m in a very good situation to where as a player you can decide what you want to do. And I have a lot of money to decide whether I want to take it or not. It’s not a bad thing — because I’ve worked my butt off for it over my career. But no rush in my mind. I don’t have to think about that right now. I got at least a month before my mind starts going there. So I’m just going to get away and let my hair grow a little bit, get a tan.”"

Spoiler alert: he has already done both.

Wade has until June 27 to decide what the next chapter of his life will look like, but many are already on the edge of their seats waiting for his announcement. This, of course, very much includes Chicago’s front office.

So how exactly does Wade’s summer impact the organization?