On a recent episode of "The OGs" podcast, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller invited Miami Heat assistant coach and former Miami player Caron Butler to discuss the NBA Finals, among other topics.
Udonis Haslem says his name came up when the Heat tried to trade for Allen Iverson to pair with Dwyane Wade.
During the episode, Butler talked about how he knew he would be traded for Shaquille O'Neal. Udonis Haslem mentioned his name was in trade rumors when Miami looked at acquiring Allen Iverson to team up with Dwyane Wade.
"I was all shook up and s***, but D-Wade was like, 'Man, that's Allen Iverson,'" Haslem said. "My a** was almost out of here."
Udonis Haslem says his name was in the Hat when the Heat tried to trade for Allen Iverson to Pair with D Wade
— Emo Jimmy (@WheelerJaylen) June 4, 2024
“When a whale is available, you have to go get a whale”
“I was all shook up and D Wade was like, man that’s Allen Iverson”
Could you imagine a A.I. Wade backcourt 😳… pic.twitter.com/zIwv4Th0ye
Haslem did not say what year this happened, but when I heard it, my mind started to wander. Iverson was traded from Philadelphia to Denver in December of 2006 for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round picks. The Heat had traded for Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 and won the Finals in June of 2006. Shaq suffered a knee injury in November of the 2006-07 season that sidelined him for 35 games, so maybe the Heat looked at an Iverson trade that December as a way to keep the championship window open.
How would an Iverson and Wade backcourt work? Who would have worn No. 3? Would Miami's first big three be Shaq, Wade and Iverson? Who would have been Miami's power forward? It's a fun what-if game for Miami fans.
There are also a couple of Kobe Bryant stories on the episode that were worth a listen. Butler does state that Bryant's "Mamba mentality" is similar to "Heat Culture" which he would know better than most playing with Bryant and being part of Miami's Culture as a player and coach. An overall fun listen.