The Chicago Bulls are willing to work with Dwyane Wade on a buyout agreement.

"First of all, we haven't heard directly from Dwyane," said John Paxson. "We've talked to his representatives. Gar's been on the phone with his guy several times in the last weeks, so some dialogue is going on. We haven't heard directly from Dwyane. But we understand where he is at this time of his career. We're more than willing to work with him.

"But as I said when we had the press conference to introduce the new players after the draft, we have to always do what's in our best interest. So there has to be something that is mutually agreed upon. It can't be something the player wins because that's what he wants. We have to do what's in our best interest.

"Like I said, Gar's having dialogue. We want to work with Dwyane because we respect him very much. If he doesn't want to be here, then we want to do it. But again, the bottom line is always, and it has to be, that we have to do what's in our best interest."