Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade said he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 despite knowing longtime friend LeBron James would likely leave as a free agent.

On Saturday, Joe Vardon of The Athletic provided comments from Wade about his short stay in Cleveland and James' eventual move to the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason:

"LeBron, first of all, he's a guy who always plays his cards close to the vest, but I knew his ultimate goal was to be in Los Angeles. He recruited me and he talked to me about signing there (Cleveland), and I said, 'Listen, I know you might not be there long, you're gonna be a free agent and there are some things that might happen, and we'll have a conversation.' I just thought I'd make it through the season first."

Wade told Vardon he went to lunch with James on the day he was traded back to Miami, and while James didn't directly discuss his future plans, Wade knew what direction his longtime friend was leaning.

"It wasn't like he came out said 'Oh, you're traded, I'm going to the Lakers,' but like I said, I knew where his heart was and what he was thinking big picture," Wade said.

Wade's departure from Cleveland was part of a trade spree by the Cavaliers in an attempt to reshape their roster around James with the hope he'd sign a long-term extension. While that didn't happen, the Cavs did make their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance last season.

Wade, who said he didn't ask any questions about the deal sending him to the Heat, explained to Vardon he prepared to stay in Cleveland for the entire season and detailed his response to the Golden State Warriors' sweep of the Cavs in the Finals.

"Of course that was my reaction," Wade said. "I'm watching it like, 'That's why I went there, to play in this series.'"

Last summer, James did leave Cleveland to sign with the Lakers as Wade expected, and Wade re-signed in Miami for one final season before retirement.

1. McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

   

2. Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

   

3. The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

   

4. Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

   

5. Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season

   

6. Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle

   

7. Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear

   

8. 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points

   

9. Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

   

10. Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

    

11. Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year

    

12. Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine

    

13. LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books

    

14. Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka

    

15. LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album

    

16. Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February

    

17. Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph

    

18. Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks

    

19. Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans

    

20. ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes

    

After winning back-to-back titles together with the Heat in 2012 and 2013, they faced each other for the final time in early December. The NBA's gold standard discussed how their relationship endured whether they were playing on the same team or not.

"That's just us," James told reporters. "Some people say you shouldn't be friends with your competitors. But even with our friendship, we competed against each other and we pushed each other."

They came into the league together as part of the 2003 NBA draft class, and they'll eventually end up alongside each other in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.