Heat Coach Pat Riley insists that Shaquille O'Neal's departure wasn't a sudden one but rather a gradual process that begin in December, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Miami received an offer from the Mavericks in December but turned down the offer Dallas made for the Hall of Fame center.

O'Neal camp was apparently looking for a buyout which forced Miami's hand when Phoenix came calling this month.

"That's what got this started," owner Micky Arison said.