The Lakers traded Shaquille O’Neal for the heat in a blockbuster. In exchange for O’Neill, Los Angeles received Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Cook, and a first-round pick.
The deal marks the end of O’Neill’s run with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. No one knows how many titles the two could have won together if O’Neill hadn’t been traded.
Bryant led the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010. Odom has grown into a key player in Los Angeles, averaging double-double in both postseasons.
O’Neill spent Miami’s four seasons.. He was an All-Star three times, leading the NBA twice in field goal rates and helping lead the 2006 heat to the championship. In the playoffs that year, he averaged 18.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
O’Neill didn’t spend many seasons in the heat, but without his clutch play, he wouldn’t have been able to win the 2006 NBA Finals.
Miami retired from O’Neill’s 32nd jersey in 2016.
