Shaquille O’Neal was an integral part of the team’s 2006 title run
Securing Shaquille O’Neal in the summer of 2005 was one of the final big moves for Pat Riley and the Miami Heat that would help the franchise win its first title at the conclusion of that season.
Riley and the Heat surrendered Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and a first-round pick to land O’Neal who was beginning to age and decline ever so slightly. He still had some years left of certain championship-caliber starting center talent, and the Heat wanted to add him to the roster to give them a star to pair with the budding Dwyane Wade.
Riley and the Heat made several “win-now” moves that summer, including signing Gary Payton and trading for Antoine Walker, James Posey and Jason Williams.
While the team was tight-knit and inclusive on and off the floor, Shaq’s presence and contributions to the title can’t be overstated. He averaged 18.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in the postseason that year.
To make everything work within the constructs of the salary cap, though, Riley had to get Shaquille O’Neal to agree to a pay cut in the form of his agreed-upon contract extension.
Recently appearing on the Knuckleheads podcast, hosted by Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, Antoine Walker talked about how Pat Riley convinced Shaquille O’Neal, one of the NBA’s biggest stars, to take less money.
Miami Heat champion Antoine Walker speaks on Shaq’s pay cut
Antoine Walker was the man who had to make the call for Pat Riley in order to get the deal done. Riley wanted to nab Walker and O’Neal, but the money was wonky. O’Neal wanted a contract extension, but he wanted something that was in the ballpark of $90 million over three years.
"“I remember Pat Riley calling me and said, ‘look, I need you to call Shaq.’ But he ain’t my guy. So he like, ‘call Shaq, you’ve got to tell Shaq that he’s got to take a pay cut.’ So I’m like, ‘why I got to tell him?’ And he’s like, ‘look, tell him you’re coming, tell him you’re going to take a pay cut, you’re coming to play, and he’ll probably do it.’ Because this is how bad Shaq wanted to win another title.”"
Walker delivered the message, and O’Neal eventually signed a five-year extension for $100 million.
"“Shaq did what he had to do to fit me into the cap, which was great. So I was excited about that. And then I get there, not only Shaq and D-Wade there, [Alonozo] Mourning there, GP there, Posey, my dawg Posey, Udonis Haslem, J-Will, Delonte Wright was a rookie, young guy, young guy was good.”"
O’Neal had requested a trade away from the Los Angeles Lakers at the time, seeking to win another title to make for his fourth Larry O’Brien trophy.
Pat Riley has gone on to make plenty of crafty moves to create winning teams in Miami, and this was just the first of many. Knowing Antoine Walker was made to be the messenger on the pay cut is quite crafty.
Would Shaq have accepted a pay cut if it came right from Riley? Or was the fraternity of NBA brotherhood and adding Walker on best if relayed by Walker himself? It’s an interesting what-if, but ultimately the Miami Heat came out victorious in the Shaq sweepstakes as well as the 2006 season.