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Dwyane Wade has decided to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers and reunite with LeBron James, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press on Tuesday night.
Wade is expected to clear waivers on Wednesday and then join the Cavaliers, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be completed until the 12-time All-Star goes through the waiver process.
In Cleveland, Wade will be reunited with James, his close friend, former Miami teammate, and a player he confided in before signing with his hometown Bulls last year.
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Wade and James won two NBA titles together during four seasons with the Heat and will now chase another one with the Cavaliers, who have been revamped after losing to Golden State in last season’s Finals.
On Monday, James said he would love to play with Wade again.
‘‘He brings another championship pedigree, championship DNA,’’ James said at Cleveland’s media day. ‘‘He brings another player to the team who can get guys involved, can make plays, and also has a great basketball mind. . . . I hope we can bring him here. I would love to have him.’’
Once Wade completes the waiver formality, he'll be the latest high-profile player to join the Cavs, who traded for All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, signed former league MVP Derrick Rose, and added two strong wing defenders in Jae Crowder and Jeff Green, who could help them defend the Warriors if those teams get back to a fourth straight Finals matchup.
Thomas isn’t expected to play until January because of a hip injury, but until he returns the Cavaliers have plenty of firepower in James, Wade, Rose, and All-Star Kevin Love, who could thrive as Cleveland’s No. 2 scoring threat now that Kyrie Irving is in Boston.
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Wade agreed to a contract buyout earlier this week with the Bulls, who signed him before last season as a free agent. He'll get a veteran’s minimum contract worth $2.3 million with Cleveland, which now has a surplus of shooting guards with Wade, J.R. Smith, Kyle Korver, and Iman Shumpert on the roster.
Warren, Suns agree to extension
T.J. Warren signed a $50 million, four-year contract extension with the Suns.
The 6-foot-8-inch forward, nicknamed ‘‘Tony Buckets’’ by teammates, is entering his fourth season. He averaged career highs of 14.4 points and 5.1 rebounds over 66 games last season. After the All-Star break, he averaged 17.6 points and shot 56 percent from the field.
Warren was the 17th overall pick out of North Carolina State in the 2014 draft after earning ACC player of the year honors and breaking the school’s season scoring record, set 39 years earlier by David Thompson.
Kings give Williams a shot
The Kings signed guard Marcus Williams on the first day of training camp.
The 31-year-old Williams is attempting a comeback after last playing in the NBA during 2009-10 season for Memphis, averaging 4.3 points in 14.1 minutes.
He played parts of the past five seasons in Europe and also has competed internationally in Puerto Rico, Russia, China, Spain, and Serbia.
Williams was the 22nd overall draft pick by New Jersey out of Connecticut in 2006.
Sacramento has missed the playoffs in 11 straight seasons.