Report: Cavaliers trade Dwyane Wade to Heat
Dwyane Wade is heading back to the franchise he spent the first 13 years of his career suiting up for.
The Cleveland Cavaliers traded the 36-year-old veteran to the Miami Heat on Thursday, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Miami will apparently send a heavily protected 2020 second-round pick to Cleveland in exchange. That pick will then be moved to the Sacramento Kings as part of a separate three-team deal involving the Utah Jazz.
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Wade had reportedly been "agitating for a return 'home'" to South Beach, and the Cavaliers were thinking about reducing his playing time, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Feeling unwanted by Heat president Pat Riley, Wade elected to leave in July 2016 to sign a deal with his hometown Chicago Bulls. That experiment in the Windy City didn't last very long. Chicago bought him out of his contract, opening the door for him to reunite with LeBron James and latch onto the Cavaliers back in September.
The 12-time All-Star began the season as a starter, but soon chose to become a member of the second unit so J.R. Smith could regain his spot. Wade averaged 11.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 45.5 percent shooting during his 46-game stint with Cleveland.
He won three championships with the Heat and is currently their all-time leader in games played, minutes, points, assists, steals, and free throws.
Wade is owed $2.32 million this season, and will hit unrestricted free agency in July.