Mark Cuban started the whole Shaquille O'Neal away from Miami scenario, according to the Miami Herald, but letting his interest in the big man be known to Heat owner Micky Arison nine days ago.

''Going owner to owner is usually the best way to make sure things stay private,'' Cuban writes by e-mail.

Interestingly, Cuban was not trying to trade for Shaq.  He wanted to see if the Heat were going to buy out his contract, and then Dallas was set to pounce.

''I talked to Micky, but we didn't talk specifics,'' Cuban writes. ``I just told him that if he ever did buy out Shaq, we would be interested. It never got past that. If they weren't going to buy Shaq out, nothing was going to happen with us.''