Udonis Haslem, a three-time NBA champion who spent his entire 20-year career with the Miami Heat, came close to leaving the team at one point. During a conversation on the “Pat Bev Pod,” Haslem shared that there was a near-trade that could have sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Allen Iverson. Although the deal fell through, Haslem nearly found himself in a different jersey.
Haslem didn’t have full details of the proposed trade package, only knowing that Iverson was the centerpiece of it. Given Iverson’s immense talent, it’s no surprise that the Heat might have been willing to make sacrifices to acquire him. However, Haslem believes one reason the trade didn’t materialize was Dwyane Wade’s intervention.
Reportedly, Wade played a pivotal role in stopping the trade from going through. It’s also possible that the Heat hesitated at pairing two rising stars, Wade and Iverson, on the same team. The chemistry between those two might not have worked, and that could have been a factor in halting the deal.
Haslem wasn’t thrilled at the idea of relocating to Philadelphia, so it was fortunate for him that the trade never materialized. Both players stayed with their original teams, and the basketball world never got to witness a Wade-Iverson duo. Haslem remains a beloved figure in Miami, a place where it’s hard to envision him playing anywhere else.