Shaquille O’Neal Trade Ruined NBA Veteran’s Million-Dollar Purchase Triggered by Pat Riley’s False Hope

The Miami Heat’s front office stint after 2003 changed the outcome of the NBA largely. To add the perfect pieces next to their franchise star Dwyane Wade, the Heat made some drastic changes to the team. One of them was adding the 7ft beast Shaquille O’Neal in 2004, who eventually helped the Heat win a championship in 2006. However, on the dark side, this turned the life of a 2x NBA All-Star, who was a part of the trade. Despite getting approval for his future with the Heat, they decided to trade him. Not only did he have to switch sides, but his million-dollar purchase at Miami went in vain too. 

The Shaquille O’Neal trade ended up well for the Heat. But for Caron Butler, it’s safe to say it was a misery. The 44-year-old joined Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller’s podcast recently. Haslem told Butler about his departure from the Heat, “Let me tell you a little secret too CB [Caron Butler] man, that you brought up the trade. Me and D-Wade was a little hurt. We was a little hurt. We felt like we had a little thing going. You had just bought your crib!”

Butler recollected the trade, saying, “So I went to the mall out in Doral. All new built community. I was like bought the house, I asked coach Riley, I was like, ‘Godfather, you think I should purchase this house?’. He was like, ‘Yeah of course. You ain’t going nowhere.’” But at the same time, Butler knew that Shaq was coming. However, he didn’t know that he was going to be the scapegoat for the Miami Heat. 

Butler hilariously added, “What the team going to look like if Shaq gets here? It’s going to be me, Lamar, D-Wade, UD, Eddie Jones. It was like, ‘Oh yeah somebody gotta go’. D-Wade gotta go.“ Miller and Haslem cracked up along with Butler.

On July 14, 2004, Caron Butler and Lamar Odom were traded to the Lakers for Shaquille O’Neal. Butler’s Miami house was not a great purchase, after all. However, he did return to the Miami Heat, sixteen years later, but for a different role. 

Caron Butler’s latest update with the Miami Heat

Right before the start of the 2020-21 season, Butler joined as Erik Spoelstra’s assistant to coach the Miami Heat. In the last four years, he has been pivotal for South Beach, especially in their playoff run. He was due for an extension after his contract came to an end this season. 

The Heat this time did not let Butler go. On 28th May last week, Butler agreed on a new four-year deal to remain on Erik Spoelstra’s staff. Moreover, Butler’s contribution to the team as a coach was stronger than his time as a player. 

He said about coaching the Heat, “I got to that point, where I just can’t see myself not trying to come up with solutions to some of these problems and some of these things that other teams pose to us. It’s like, I got to continue to wrap my mind around solutions and that’s the fun part of it.” Life is a circle they say!

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video: