Miami Welcomes Dwyane Wade Home

MIAMI, FL — Three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade is headed back to sun-drenched Miami from snowy Cleveland. His first game with the team could be Friday. The surprise deal with the Cavaliers was announced Thursday.

In exchange for Wade, the Miami Heat will send a heavily protected 2024 second-round pick to Cleveland, which in turn traded the pick to Sacramento as part of another deal.

Wade left Miami in 2006, playing first in his native Chicago before heading to the Cavaliers after one season with the Bulls.

Calling it an "eventful day" in a video posted on social media, Wade said he had discussed returning to Miami with his family for some time.

"I think we all thought and believed that one day it could happen," Wade said. "We're glad that one day is today. I'm excited to get it started. I'm excited to be back home in our bed, in our environment with our kids, with our dogs and the list goes on and on."

In a statement, Heat President Pat Riley said that the Wade will be valuable as the team sets its eye toward a playoff birth.

“We feel that Dwyane can help our team in so many ways,” Riley said “It is a beautiful moment for us, for the city and for the fans. All of us embrace it in the manner that we want to win and that’s why we brought Dwyane back home. We look forward to having a great end of season run as we fight for the playoffs.”

In his 12 seasons with Miami, Wade appeared in 855 regular season games, including 845 starts. He averaged 23.7 points, with 5.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.65 steals and 35.7 minutes while shooting 48.8 percent from the field. The 12-time NBA All-Star is the HEAT’s all-time leader in points with 20,221), field goals made (7,325), free throws made (5,185), double-figure scoring efforts (816), assists (4,944), steals (1,414), starts, games played and minutes played (30,560).

In Cleveland, Wade joined former Heat teammate Lebron James who led the Miami squad to back to back championships and four straight NBA finals.

Dwyane Wade of the Cleveland Cavaliers is headed back to sun-drenched Miami from snowy Cleveland. Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images.