Nobody outside Wade's inner circle knows his intentions

One person who has spoken to Dwyane Wade – as well as a Heat person - has the impression that Wade seems inclined to play this season, but neither believes it’s definite and nobody outside his inner circle definitively knows his intentions -- according to a report from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Wade is an unrestricted free-agent and will only sign with the Heat if he decides to play in his 16th season in the NBA. If Wade returns to the Heat, he will most likely sign the team’s $5.3 million exception.

Heat president Pat Riley wants Wade to come back, as he feels the future Hall of Famer can still play at a high-level.

“I want Dwyane back as a player, a guy who wants to have the greatest year he’s ever had as a player,” Riley said in July. “If he plays, he’s going to want to do it. We don’t want him back as a placemat holder or someone who’s going to be a veteran in the locker room. Dwyane is a great player, a great talent. He can make a big difference for us.”

Wade averaged 12.0 points in 21 regular season games with the Heat last season. He began the year with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was traded to Miami at the 2018 February trade deadline.

The Chicago native posted 16.6 points and 3.6 assists during the postseason and shot 44.3 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from three. Wade turned back the clock a few times during the Heat’s first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored 28 points in the Game 2 win and 25 in the Game 4 loss.

Wade recently hosted an NBA training camp of sorts in San Clemente, Cal. this week. C.J. McCollum, Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell and Jahlil Okafor were in attendance.