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Jul 13, 2009 8:12 am US/Eastern
No Surprise: Wade Gets Extension Offer From Heat
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat takes a breather against the Phoenix Suns on March 4, 2009, at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fla.
Victor Baldizon/Getty Images
The Miami Heat has acted quickly in order to try and keep Dwyane Wade.
The reigning NBA scoring champion says he received a text from Heat president Pat Riley regarding a contract extension shortly after midnight Sunday, the first day the team could make such an offer.
Wade said he will have more formal talks with the team later this summer.
"There's no rush," he said Sunday night, before he and Alonzo Mourning hosted a charity basketball game in Miami.
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 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).
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."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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