Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: The Heat's 11th-hour preseason makeover received a familiar face Friday, with Pat Riley, for the third time in his Heat tenure, trading for power forward Chris Gatling.

Five days after signing free-agent point guard Rod Strickland, the Heat worked out a three-team trade with Toronto and Cleveland that delivered Gatling from the Cavaliers.

"The third time is a charm," the 6-foot-10 forward said from California, before taking a red-eye flight to Miami. "I've always wanted to be there. I was excited when I was there before."

In the transaction, the Heat sent swingman Ricky Davis to the Cavaliers and forward Don MacLean to the Raptors. Neither player figured prominently in the Heat's plans, with each carrying a contract the Heat was looking to unload. Toronto rounded out the trade by sending power forward Brian Skinner to Cleveland. The Raptors received cash from the Heat to offset the guaranteed contract of MacLean, who is expected to be waived.

A free agent, Gatling, 34, was re-signed Friday by Cleveland and immediately dealt to the Heat. The former All-Star received a three-year, $8.4 million contract, starting at about $2.5 million. Under the guidelines for sign-and-trade transactions, such a procedure must involve at least a three-year contract, but only the first year has to be guaranteed.