Shaquille O'Neal finally got his wish today when the Los Angeles Lakers officially traded the superstar back to Florida as the trading and signing period officially opened in the NBA.
O'Neal immediately becomes the key piece of the Miami Heat, exchanging places with Caron Butler, Brian Grant and Lamar Odom who all become Lakers. Odom returns to L.A. after signing an offer sheet with the Heat last offseason which Los Angeles' "other" team, the Clippers, never matched. The Lakers will also receive a first round draft pick in the deal.
"Today the Miami Heat took a giant step forward in our continued pursuit of an NBA championship," Riley said in a statement. "We feel that we have traded for the best player in the NBA."
O'Neal will join ex-teammate Eddie Jones in Miami, with Jones estatic to be joining forces once again with the league's best bigman.
"I never imagined that we would acquire Shaquille O'Neal," guard Eddie Jones said. "It's once-in-a-lifetime trying to get a player like this guy. It's an unbelievable, unbelievable move."
The Lakers now must turn their attention to trying to retain free agent guard Kobe Bryant, who is rumored to be leaning towards the Clippers after the team traded to create even more space yesterday.