• Dwyane Wade says Pat Riley nearly traded for Allen Iverson in December 2006.
• Wade agreed at first but vetoed the deal when he learned Udonis Haslem would be included.
• Haslem stayed and became a longtime Heat leader; Iverson was later sent to Denver.
• Wade said Haslem would “stick up” for teammates in ways Iverson wouldn’t.
H2: Wade stopped a blockbuster trade
Dwyane Wade revealed on NBA on Prime that the Miami Heat came close to acquiring Allen Iverson in December 2006 — but Wade shut the deal down when he learned forward Udonis Haslem would be part of the package heading to Philadelphia.
Wade told viewers that Heat president Pat Riley called to discuss the proposed move after Iverson requested a trade from the 76ers. At first Wade was enthusiastic. “That’s one of my favorite players,” he said. “And I love him. And I was like, ‘Bet, let’s do it.’”
H3: The deciding factor: Udonis Haslem
Riley then told Wade the Heat would have to trade Udonis Haslem to make the deal work. That changed everything.
“He was like, ‘You in?’ I said, ‘I’m in.’ He’s like, ‘We’re going to have to trade U.D.,’ and I said, ‘I’m out. I’m out,’” Wade recalled. He added that while he admired Iverson’s game, Iverson “wasn’t going to stick up for me like Haslem did.”
Haslem, a gritty forward who spent 20 seasons with Miami and won three championships, earned a reputation as the Heat’s emotional leader and enforcer. After Wade’s revelation, Haslem said, “That’s my boy. That’s why every time somebody knocked him down, who came right behind him and made sure I knocked them down.”
H3: The trade that did happen
Philadelphia ultimately traded Iverson to the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 19, 2006. The 76ers received Joe Smith, Andre Miller and two first-round picks. Iverson played 50 regular-season games for Denver that season and made his eighth All-Star team; his career wound down over the next few years.
H4: What changed for the Heat
Keeping Haslem helped preserve the Heat’s locker-room culture and toughness. He delivered one of his best seasons in 2006-07, averaging 10.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 31-plus minutes per game and finishing 18th in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Miami’s roster evolution continued over the next few years: Erik Spoelstra took over as coach in 2008, and the Heat later signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010 to form the championship-winning Big Three with Wade.
Embedded post:
Tweet from NBA on Prime: “The @MiamiHEAT almost traded away @ThisIsUD for a chance to get Allen Iverson 👀” — https://twitter.com/NBAonPrime/status/2000090820813201737
H5: Why it matters
Wade’s anecdote offers a behind-the-scenes look at how player influence and team chemistry can shape franchise decisions. Trading Haslem for a scorer like Iverson might have altered Miami’s identity — and, Wade suggests, weakened the team’s internal protection and leadership.
The story underscores how one phone call and a single roster name can change an organization’s trajectory.
Image Referance: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6889014/2025/12/14/dwyane-wade-allen-iverson-miami-heat-trade/
