Heat offer Wade 2-year, $40 million deal to stay

Hours after Kevin Durant agreed to terms with the Golden State Warriors, the Heat offered guard Dwyane Wade $40 million over two seasons, the second season being at Wade’s option.

The Bulls agreed to a two-year deal with Rajon Rondo and the Knicks agreed to a four-year deal with Courtney Lee.

Last season Wade’s salary was the same $20 million that Miami is offering him again.

The Heat prioritized resigning center Hassan Whiteside, who returned to the team on the first day of National Basketball Association free agency by agreeing to a four-year, $98 million contract, and are attempting to lure free agent Kevin Durant. He has been mulling retirement after completing his 19th season.

Wade apparently is seeking additional years at such a rate or higher from the Heat.

Free-agent contracts can not be finalized until Thursday, at the end of the NBA’s signing moratorium period. Milwaukee would need to make room to pay Wade with only about $12 million in cap space remaining, but the Nuggets have more than enough with $28 million in cap space to sign Wade. The 34-year-old signed a one-year, $20 million deal prior to that campaign. He’s spent his entire National Basketball Association career – all 13 seasons of it – with your team, becoming part of the fabric of your city. Those moves will give the Mavericks more flexibility next summer with expected strong classes in free agency and the draft.

A 12-time All-Star and three-time National Basketball Association champion, Wade averaged 19.0 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds last season. But Durant announced on Monday he was leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors, making the Western Conference even more daunting for the Spurs and the rest of the contenders.

Gasol has been one of the league’s most talented and versatile big men for the last 15 years.