LeBron James and Dwyane Wade spent four seasons together with the Miami Heat, and the Cleveland Cavaliers were evidently interested in reuniting the two studs when Wade was an unrestricted free agent over the summer.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, James revealed why the Cavaliers weren't able to lure Wade to Northeast Ohio before he inked a two-year, $47 million deal with the Chicago Bulls in July.
"We couldn't afford him," James said, according to ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin. "It's that simple."
He's not kidding.
The Cavaliers owed the league $54 million in luxury tax payments last season, and Wade would have had to take a significant pay cut in order to sign with the defending champions. Specifically, Cleveland only had the taxpayer mid-level exception of $3.5 million to offer.
To put that number in perspective, Wade will earn $23.2 million with the Bulls this season and $23.8 million the following year if he doesn't decline the generous player option, according to Spotrac.
Financial restrictions may have made a possible Wade-James reunion ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Alec Nathan
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