Bulls 'willing to work with' Dwyane Wade on buyout, John Paxson says

The Bulls are "willing to work with" Dwyane Wade if he's interested in a buyout of his contract, team president John Paxson says, but there has been no direct contact with him regarding a deal.

"We haven't heard directly from Dwyane ... but we understand where he is at this time in his career. We're more than willing to work with him," Paxson said Thursday on 670 The Score in Chicago, adding that Bulls GM Gar Forman has talked with Wade's representatives "several times in the last few weeks."

Wade picked up his $24 million option for the 2017-18 season only days before the team traded Jimmy Butler, all but assuring that the Bulls would be in rebuilding mode in the foreseeable future.

If Wade, 35, is intent on playing for a contender as his career winds down, then he'll have to agree to a buyout that would be beneficial to the Bulls, too, Paxson hinted.

“If he doesn’t want to be here, then we want to do (the buyout,)” Paxson said. “But again, the bottom line is always — and has to be — that we have to do what’s in our best interest.”