With various off-court instabilities, Dale Ellis's trade value had plummeted, forcing the Supersonics to let go of McDaniel first.
Seeing this, Pat Riley swiftly acted, trading the young potential shooter Glen Rice for X-Man.
This trade was controversial because Glen Rice was still on the rise, with the potential to become an all-star level shooter.
He paired well with Drexler, and the sudden trade shocked Miami fans.
Although McDaniel was talented, at 27 years old, he no longer had potential to tap into, and he was known for his quirky character and temperamental nature.
It was uncertain whether he would clash with Drexler upon joining the Heat.
Fortunately, upon the start of the new season, McDaniel respected Drexler, who already had three championship rings.
The two had faced each other in the 1987 playoffs, where the Portland Trail Blazers easily defeated the Supersonics.
Back then, Drexler was Ah Gan's deputy; now he was becoming the true leader of the Heat.
