“Getting Shaquille changed everything”.
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Shaquille O’neal, after eight seasons and three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a first-round draft pick after Riley met with the Lakers about coaching in Los Angeles. “He gave us real legitimacy”, said Riley on the O’Neal trade. Dwyane was a big asset to it. Miami was a big asset to it.
“I’ll say this, and I mean this, Shaq’s acquisition was bigger than any acquisition that we ever made, including the Big Three” said Riley. Or maybe he is trying to minimize the impact of Wade and LeBron James, players that won multiple championships with the Heat, but have since left on uncertain terms. He also complained about LeBron leaving in an interview with Bleacher Report in 2015, saying that didn’t understand the mentality of wanting to leave a good situation via free agency. His arrival helped push from “that expansion franchise” to a legitimate team and destination. So what is Riley talking about?
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Before Shaq is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in the ceremony next Friday, Pat Riley has a compliment to give the big man. But Riley is also not 100 percent wrong either. The Diesel would prove a formidable running mate next to Wade as the Heat won their first National Basketball Association title in franchise history in 2006, which really established them as an organization to be reckoned with. However, it’s especially hard to argue that James, who led the Heat to two rings, didn’t have a bigger impact in Miami than O’Neal. Riley told Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel that Shaq is the best player that the Heat have ever added on their roster. Perhaps he will offer similar praise of James and possibly Bosh when it comes time for them to enter the Hall of Fame.
