NBA Notes: Dwyane Wade Leaving Heat for Hometown Bulls

MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade is going home, making what he called "an extremely emotional and tough decision" on Wednesday night to leave the Miami Heat after 13 seasons and sign with the Chicago Bulls.

Wade will sign a two-year deal with the Bulls, one that will pay him about $47 million. Miami offered $40 million over two years for Wade to stay in the uniform that he's worn his entire career, the one in which he was an All-Star 12 times, a champion three times and the NBA Finals MVP in 2006 when his rise to superstardom was just truly beginning.

And he's taken that uniform off now for the final time.

"This was not an easy decision, but I feel I have made the right choice for myself and my family," Wade wrote in a letter to Miami, released to The Associated Press.

It ends a second consecutive summer of will-he-or-won't-he talk and worry in Miami, which was able to keep him last summer after contentious negotiations led to a $20 million, one-year deal. The Heat spoke with him on Wednesday in New York in an effort to keep him, the same day that Wade also took meetings with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Denver Nuggets.

Whether Chicago ever got into the same room with Wade was unclear on Wednesday night. What was clear was that the lure of home -- just as it was for Wade's close friend LeBron James two years ago, when he left Miami to go back to northeast Ohio and rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers -- was too strong this time to ignore.

"Watching the Bulls growing up inspired me at an early age to pursue my dream of becoming a basketball player," Wade wrote in the letter. "My most treasured memories were watching my dad play basketball on the courts of Fermi Elementary School and developing my game at the Blue Island Recreation Center. I have never forgotten where I came from and I am thankful to have an opportunity to play for the team that first fueled my love of the game" (see full story).

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Rockets: Nene reportedly agrees to 1-year deal
A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that the Houston Rockets have agreed to terms with Nene on a one-year, $2.9 million deal.

The Rockets and Nene came to agreement on Wednesday to help the team address the departure of center Dwight Howard. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract cannot be signed until Thursday.

Nene averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 57 games for the Washington Wizards last season. When healthy, the Brazilian remains a formidable presence in the paint who can give the offensive-minded Rockets some needed toughness.

Howard left after three tumultuous seasons in Houston to sign with his hometown Atlanta Hawks.

Pacers: Team acquires forward Evans from Mavs, per AP souece
DALLAS -- Two people with knowledge of the deal say Dallas is trading forward Jeremy Evans and cash to Indiana to give the Mavericks more space under the salary cap.

The Mavericks are trying to clear room to add center Andrew Bogut after agreeing to a trade with Golden State, one of the people told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because trades can't be official until league business resumes at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Thursday.

Dallas has also reached agreements with point guard Deron Williams and Golden State's Harrison Barnes. The small forward will become an unrestricted free agent when the Warriors renounce their rights to him to clear cap room for the addition of Kevin Durant.

The Evans trade was first reported by The Vertical (see full story).

Warriors: Brown hired as assistant to replace Walton
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors have hired former Cleveland and Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown as an assistant on coach Steve Kerr's staff.

The Warriors announced Wednesday that Brown will replace Luke Walton, who left to become the Lakers' coach.

Brown has a 347-216 career record in eight seasons. He took the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007 and won Coach of the Year in 2008-09 after helping Cleveland win 66 games.

Brown was also an assistant in San Antonio when Kerr played for the Spurs.

Golden State also signed second-round pick Patrick McCaw. McCaw was selected 38th overall in last month's draft by Milwaukee before the Warriors bought his rights for about $2.4 million.

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