Dwyane Wade
The Miami Heat once came far closer to pairing Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade than most fans ever realized. That reality resurfaced last week when Udonis Haslem revealed he had been part of a proposed trade package with the Philadelphia 76ers for Iverson, per The Sports Rush. Haslem admitted the idea shocked him, and he wondered aloud whether the deal truly had legs.
That answer came quickly.
Wade appeared on NBA on Prime just days later, and Haslem took the opportunity to press him directly. As Miami’s franchise player at the time, Wade had a front row seat to any major roster decisions. According to Wade, the conversations with Pat Riley were not theoretical. They were very real.
Wade Was All In Until One Name Came Up
Wade said Riley personally approached him about the possibility of acquiring Iverson. The idea immediately grabbed his attention.
“Riles came in to talk to me about the possibility of trading for Allen Iverson,” Wade said. “That’s one of my favorite players, and I love him. I was like, ‘Bet. Let’s do it.’ He was like, ‘You in?’ I said, ‘I’m in.’”
At that point, Wade saw nothing but upside. Iverson ranked among the league’s most electric guards, and Miami had just won the 2006 NBA championship. Pairing two elite scorers in the backcourt sounded like a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Then Riley explained the cost.
“Then he was like, ‘We’re going to have to trade UD,’” Wade said. “I said, ‘I’m out.’ That was it, I was out.”
For Wade, the discussion ended immediately once Haslem entered the equation. He made it clear the issue was not basketball talent. It was trust, loyalty, and what Haslem represented inside the locker room.
“I love AI, but AI wasn’t going to stick up for me,” Wade said. “He wasn’t going to fight for me. He wasn’t going to take no fines for me or nothing.”
https://youtu.be/vfTjmN2xqWk?si=TFKflVlwF6-kpRdh
Why Haslem Was Untouchable
Haslem served as the emotional backbone of the Heat during that era. Wade viewed him as irreplaceable, regardless of the star power Iverson brought to the table. Haslem anchored the team defensively and played a critical role during Miami’s championship run.
Wade acknowledged the trade discussions reached a serious stage.
“Whenever Pat Riley is involved in making a move, you’re always close,” Wade said. “Iverson sounded great until the heart and soul of the team had to go, and that just wasn’t going to be.”
The moment captures how Wade balanced ambition with loyalty. Iverson delivered an explosive 2005-06 season, averaging 33 points, seven assists, and three rebounds. Adding that production to a defending champion would have turned heads across the league. Still, Wade believed championships required more than star names.
Haslem went on to spend his entire 20-year career in Miami, becoming one of the league’s most respected veterans and a defining figure in the Heat culture. Wade’s decision ensured that foundation remained intact.
The Heat eventually returned to championship form in a different way. In 2010, Miami signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Wade, forming a Big Three that delivered titles in 2012 and 2013. While a lineup featuring Wade, Iverson, and Shaquille O’Neal sounded tempting in theory, Wade’s perspective prioritized long-term chemistry over short-term flash.
Looking back, the blocked trade stands as a reminder of how close NBA history came to changing, and why Wade never hesitated once loyalty entered the conversation.