The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded shooting guard Dwyane Wade to the Miami Heat in exchange for a heavily-protected 2020 second-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The team was looking to re-shape their roster with young, athletic players and chose to give the 15th-year veteran a chance to reunite with the team that initially drafted him.
This pick was soon sent to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the acquisition of George Hill as part of a three-team trade that took place just minutes before Wade was dealt.
Wade has long said he would consider retiring with a Heat uniform on and with mere averages of 11.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists coming off the bench this season, it’s likely that the end of his career is coming sooner rather than later, showing a very steep decline in his scoring form from his time with the Chicago Bulls last season.
The 36-year-old would find himself back in South Beach after only a season-and-a-half since he chose not to take president Pat Riley’s offseason offer and bolted for his hometown Bulls on a two-year, $48 million contract, one which he was bought out of during the offseason.
Cleveland has been intent in acquiring as many young assets, as they have been by far the oldest team in the league. Moving Wade allowed for the Cavs to complete a deal for Hill and swingman Rodney Hood — two former teammates that could help this team the rest of the way, as they look to recalibrate with less than 30 games left in the regular season.