Five teams make huge swap

In the largest trade in NBA history, Antoine Walker was dealt from Boston to Miami on Tuesday night in a transaction involving five teams and 13 players.

The Heat also acquired point guard Jason Williams and small forward James Posey from Memphis, while the Grizzlies received guard Eddie Jones from the Heat. The New Orleans Hornets and Utah Jazz were also involved in the deal.

The trade was larger than a 12-player, four-team deal in 2000 involving Patrick Ewing that had been the biggest in league history.

Miami also received Andre Emmett from Memphis and the draft rights to Roberto Duenas of Spain from the Hornets; Utah received Greg Ostertag from Memphis; Boston picked up Curtis Borchardt from Utah and a package – Qyntel Woods, the draft rights to Spanish center Albert Miralles, two second-round draft picks and cash – from Miami; New Orleans acquired Rasual Butler from Miami and Kirk Snyder from Utah; and the Grizzlies received guard Raul Lopez from the Jazz.

Hours after signing Shaquille O’Neal to a five-year deal, the Heat added three significant pieces to a roster that nearly reached the NBA Finals last season.

Walker, a three-time All-Star, figures to become the starting small forward and would be backed up by Posey, one of the league’s better defenders.

Walker signed a six-year deal worth nearly $53 million with Boston as of the deal’s preliminary framework, and agent Mark Bartelstein said he appreciated the Celtics’ willingness to help out their longtime forward.

“Antoine is thrilled,” Bartelstein said. “This was a grueling process trying to put a sign-and-trade together. This took a lot of time and work and energy from a lot of people.”

Williams would take over as Miami’s starting point guard if Damon Jones leaves as a free agent.

Memphis acquired Borchardt earlier in the day in a deal in which Sacramento got Bonzi Wells from the Grizzlies in exchange for guard Bobby Jackson and Ostertag.

Walker, who averaged 19.1 points and nine rebounds last season for Atlanta and Boston, will be a welcome addition to the Heat, said forward Udonis Haslem – who formally signed his $30.7 million, five-year deal.

“We’re two different players and we can bring two different things to the table,” Haslem said, a few hours before the trade got done. “If we put that together, we should have a pretty good tandem.”

Shaq gives up money for long-term deal with Heat

Shaquille O’Neal likely left millions on the bargaining table. What he wants more than money is another championship.

O’Neal signed a $100 million, five-year contract with the Miami Heat, a deal that gives the 12-time All-Star center added financial security while allowing his team salary flexibility to pursue other players.

He’ll make $20 million in each of the next five seasons in an agreement believed to include incentives. He was to have earned $30.6 million this coming season, but opted out of that deal for a longer-term pact with less money annually.

“Shaquille can name his price,” said his agent, Perry Rogers. “And the price he named was winning.”

Rogers said O’Neal remains the player with the highest average annual salary in the league.

The deal was signed shortly after the league’s moratorium on player signings expired. Signings were supposed to begin nearly two weeks ago, but minor complications in putting the new six-year collective bargaining agreement into writing forced two delays.

Blazers officially part ways with Abdur-Rahim

The Portland Trail Blazers formally reached a deal that sent forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim to the New Jersey Nets as the moratorium was lifted on NBA free-agent signings.

The Blazers signed Abdur-Rahim, then dealt him to New Jersey for a protected first-round draft pick next year. If the draft pick is a lottery selection, then Portland would receive the following year’s first-round pick from the Nets.

Abdur-Rahim has averaged 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds over a nine-year NBA career in Vancouver, Atlanta and Portland.

Father-to-be Daniels signs with Wizards

Life just won’t calm down for Antonio Daniels. After spending a nerve-racking summer in free agency, the veteran guard formally joined the Washington Wizards – just one day before his wife is due with the couple’s first child.

“I haven’t slept for a while,” Daniels said. “Now, I’m really not going to sleep for a while.”

The former Seattle SuperSonics guard made a whirlwind stop at the MCI Center, signing a five-year, $30 million contract before flying home to San Antonio.

Around the League

The Charlotte Bobcats acquired center Jake Voskuhl from the Phoenix Suns for a conditional 2007 second-round draft pick, traded point guard Jason Hart to Sacramento for a future second-round pick and re-signed guard Kareem Rush. … Gund Arena in Cleveland will become Quicken Loans Arena, named after Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert‘s online mortgage company. The arena will be nicknamed “The Q.”