The deal is down!
Shaquille (Shaq) O’Neal - power center- is now playing for the Miami Heat!

The Heat was once a gold standard stop in the NBA and a threat to compete for the league championship. In recent years the franchise fell into disrepair after the loss of all-star center, Alonzo Mourning in 2000. Now the Heat is back, and the big man is on its side.

Shaq will be playing in Miami for two or more seasons. That’s the deal. He wanted an extension in Los Angeles, but Lakers owner, Jerry Buss, would not accommodate him. Mickey Arison, the owner of the Heat, wrote the check for the big man. Some ask why a team would give up three of its best players: Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant all forwards for Shaq. Arison said “that Shaq can help the attendance situation all by himself”.

The Heat must be willing to pay Shaq another $58 million ... when he's 35 and 36.Michael Doleac, a back-up center also signed with the Heat.

The NBA is trading and moving people you wouldn’t believe in a million years. Shaq’s partner in crime, Kobe Bryant, took a long free agent look at the cross town Clippers, but he re-signed with the Lakers. Kenyon Martin a forward was signed by the Denver Nuggets. Atlanta signed Josh Childress a forward and Stephen Jackson guard/forward, and then traded them to Indiana for forward Al Harrington. Atlanta also re-signed forward Jason Collier.

Memphis signed Shane Battier guard/forward to a multi-year extension. Memphis also signed Brain Cardinal forward, Antonio Burks guard, and Andre Emmett guard.

Milwaukee signed Etan Thomas center to an offer sheet, and Portland signed guards Richie Frahm and Sebastian Telfair. San- Antonio re-signed guard Manu Ginobili and guard /forward Bruce Bowen. San- Antonio also signed guards Brent Barry and Beno Udrih along with second round pick Romain Sato a guard. Charlotte signed guards Jason Hart and Tamar Slay. Charlotte also acquired Melvin Ely, forward, and guard Eddie House.

Dallas re-signed guard Marquis Danie, rookie center, Didier Ilunga Mbenga, and guard Devin Harris. Detroit sign 2003 first – round pick, Carlos Delfino guard. Golden State re-signed center Adonal Foyle and forward Andris Biedrins. Orlando picked up forwards Hedo Turkoglu, and Dwight Howard and guard, Jameer Nelson. Orlando traded Tracy McGrady, forward Juwan Howard, and guards, Tyroon Lue, and Reece Gaines to Houston for guards Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and center Kelvin Cato.

Washington traded guard/forward, Jerry Stackhouse, forward/guard Christian Laettner, and guard Devin Harris to Dallas for forward, Antawn Jamison. Philadelphia signed on Brain Skinner, forward/center and Andre Igupdala, forward. Phoenix signed Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson, both guards, to an offer sheet, and Jackson Vroman forward/center. Seattle signed first-round pick Robert Swift, a center. Toronto signed on Rafer Alston guard and Rafael Araujo center, while Utah signed on Carlos Boozer forward/center and Mehmet Okurto forward to offer sheets. Utah also signed on Kris Humphries forward and Kirk Snyder guard. Indiana sign on first –round pick David Harrison, center. Sacramento signed on Kevin Martin and Ricky Minard, both guards. New Qrleans signed J.R. Smith, guard. Boston signed on Al Jefferson, forward, Delonte West, guard, and Tony Allen while Cleveland signed first-round pick Luke Jackson.

There were a lot of changes in the NBA. We will see if the changes help next season.

Sherika Mitchell is a Sexton High School Junior and a participant in the Young Publishers Club sponsored by the Michigan Bulletin which meets at the Magic Johnson Foundation Creation Station located at the Black Child and Family Institute - 835 W. Genesee, Lansing MI.

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