Miami abuzz about Shaq
MIAMI — The trade that will bring Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat cannot become official until Wednesday, yet its impact is already resonating across South Florida.
Salespeople at the team’s season ticket office couldn’t keep up with the volume of calls Tuesday, while a trendy South Beach nightclub said it will set aside a permanent table for O’Neal’s nightclubbing needs.
And a group of schoolchildren greeted Heat forward Rasual Butler with a “We want Shaq!” chant.
“Shaq makes players better,” Butler said. “I don’t know if he’s going to make us a better team. That’s yet to be seen, but he’s definitely the most dominating player in basketball.”
The Heat are expected to send Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the 7-foot-1, 340-pound O’Neal, an 11-time All-Star who figures to transform Miami into a championship contender.
The trade was expected to be finalized Wednesday after the NBA’s two-week moratorium on player movement ended. Team officials have not commented on the trade.
“I’m definitely excited to play with one of the most dominating players in all of team sports, but at the same time it’s a difficult transition because we lose Caron Butler, Brian Grant and Lamar Odom,” Butler said. “I had a special relationship with those guys and it’s tough to lose them.”
At the same time, other players may be eager to join O’Neal in Miami. He becomes as much of a selling point for the Heat as Florida’s lack of income tax, the South Beach club scene and winter nights where temperatures in the 60s are considered brisk.
“He’s the most dominating player in the league,” said Mark Bartelstein, an agent for about 30 NBA players. “Players like to win, and playing with Shaq makes the game easier for everybody. There’s something to be said for that.”
Bartelstein said he’s had discussions with the Heat regarding at least three of his free-agent clients — Lakers guard Derek Fisher, Detroit guard Lindsey Hunter and Cleveland forward Eric Williams.
Another free agent, 6-foot-11 center Michael Doleac, agreed Tuesday to a four-year deal worth nearly $12 million. Doleac turned down more money from New Orleans to come to Miami, said his agent, Glenn Schwartzman.
“He was willing to take a little bit less because he thinks this is the better situation for him,” Schwartzman said. “And the lure of playing with Shaquille might have been the difference.”
At 32, O’Neal is coming off a season when he averaged a career-low 21.5 points, prompting talk that he might be past his prime. In 12 seasons he has averaged 27.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks.
New Jersey Nets president Rod Thorn said the O’Neal deal changes the balance of power in the Eastern Conference, where there’s a dearth of dominating centers.
“I definitely don’t think he’s over the hill,” Thorn said. “Shaq obviously is the biggest force in this league. Anybody he plays for will be a contender.”
O’Neal began his NBA career with Orlando, leading the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995. He signed with the Lakers as a free agent after the 1995-96 season and won three NBA titles and three finals MVPs with the team, but demanded a trade shortly after the Lakers lost this year’s championship series to Detroit.
“Shaquille O’Neal brings a lot of excitement wherever he goes because of the way he plays the game,” Rasual Butler said. “He’s so dominant, it’s ridiculous. What city wouldn’t embrace Shaquille O’Neal?”