Wade says he ' ll stay if Heat a title contender
Wade
Dwyane Wade will remain in Miami on one condition: He wants the Heat to become a championship contender again.
The reigning NBA scoring champion  who can opt out of his Heat contract after the 2009-10 season  said Monday that simply getting to the playoffs "is not enough" to satisfy him anymore  and that his long-term commitment to Miami hinges entirely on the franchise getting back into the mix for the title trophy he hoisted just three years ago.
"I'm going to listen. I owe the Miami Heat that much. I'm going to listen to what they have to say and I'm going to think about it " Wade told The Associated Press. "But right now  the way I feel  I want to make sure that we're on track to where I want us to be on track to before I sign back."
Wade made clear that he would like to stay with the Heat  reiterating something he's said countless times in recent months. There's no acrimony between the 2006 NBA finals MVP and Heat president Pat Riley either  and Wade said that the jump Miami made this past season -- from 15 wins and the league's worst record in 2007-08  to 43 wins and the No. 5 seed in the East in 2008-09 -- was thrilling.
"I'm good with that " Wade said  "for one year."
"I've told coach Riley this: All my life  all I've ever wanted to do is win and be put in a position where I can win and succeed " Wade said. "Build me a team. Put the pressure on me to win a championship. Give me a team and say 'All right  you've got to go do it ' and I'll take that pressure. Give me guys that we feel can compete every year to win a championship. I don't want to go anywhere else."
Wade's contract status is the biggest issue facing the Heat this summer. He could sign an extension as early as next week.
His destination after next season has been an oft-discussed topic  especially since he and good friend LeBron James structured their last contracts the same way to have the flexibility to become free agents in 2010.
"I want to make sure that we stay competitive and we have an opportunity to win championships  like I've done before " Wade said. "I don't want to be content with winning games. I don't want to win games. I want to win championships. That's what I'm all about."
Already this summer  the Heat have seen plenty of teams in the East make big moves. Shaquille O'Neal -- Wade's former superstar teammate -- was traded to Cleveland to play alongside James. Orlando landed Vince Carter  Boston reportedly agreed with Rasheed Wallace  Detroit picked up Ben Gordon and Toronto seems poised to sign Hedo Turkoglu.
"D-Wade wants what's best for the Miami Heat  period " former Heat center Alonzo Mourning said last week. "Obviously  he wants more help for the Heat to get to that next level again. He feels like we've got good pieces around us. We just need a little bit more."
Wade sees it the same way.
"My talents can help a team compete for a championship " Wade said. "I've proven that."
[TGT] will remain in Miami on one condition: [TGT] wants the Heat to become a championship contender again.
The reigning NBA scoring champion  who can opt out of [TGT] Heat contract after the 2009-10 season  said Monday that simply getting to the playoffs "is not enough" to satisfy [TGT] anymore  and that [TGT] long-term commitment to Miami hinges entirely on the franchise getting back into the mix for the title trophy [TGT] hoisted just three years ago.
"I'm going to listen. I owe the Miami Heat that much. I'm going to listen to what they have to say and I'm going to think about it " [TGT] told The Associated Press. "But right now  the way I feel  I want to make sure that we're on track to where I want us to be on track to before I sign back.[TGT] made clear that [TGT] would like to stay with the Heat  reiterating something [TGT]'s said countless times in recent months. There's no acrimony between the 2006 NBA finals MVP and Heat president Pat Riley either  and [TGT] said that the jump Miami made this past season -- from 15 wins and the league's worst record in 2007-08  to 43 wins and the No. 5 seed in the East in 2008-09 -- was thrilling.
"I'm good with that " [TGT] said  "for one year."
"I've told coach Riley this: All my life  all I've ever wanted to do is win and be put in a position where I can win and succeed [TGT] said. "Build me a team. Put the pressure on me to win a championship. Give me a team and say 'All right  you've got to go do it ' and I'll take that pressure. Give me guys that we feel can compete every year to win a championship. I don't want to go anywhere else."
[TGT]'s contract status is the biggest issue facing the Heat this summer. He could sign an extension as early as next week.
His destination after next season has been an oft-discussed topic  especially since he and good friend LeBron James structured their last contracts the same way to have the flexibility to become free agents in 2010.
"I want to make sure that we stay competitive and we have an opportunity to win championships  like I've done before " [TGT] said. "I don't want to be content with winning games. I don't want to win games. I want to win championships. That's what I'm all about."
Already this summer  the Heat have seen plenty of teams in the East make big moves. Shaquille O'Neal -- [TGT]'s former superstar teammate -- was traded to Cleveland to play alongside James. Orlando landed Vince Carter  Boston reportedly agreed with Rasheed Wallace  Detroit picked up Ben Gordon and Toronto seems poised to sign Hedo Turkoglu.
[TGT] wants what's best for the Miami Heat  period " former Heat center Alonzo Mourning said last week. "Obviously  he wants more help for the Heat to get to that next level again. He feels like we've got good pieces around us. We just need a little bit more.[TGT] sees it the same way.
"My talents can help a team compete for [TGT] said. "I've proven that."