2004 Summer changes - Shaq joins Miami Heat

In the Summer 2004, the Miami Heat completed a blockbuster deal sending for forwards Lamar Odom and Brian Grant, guard Caron Butler and a first-round draft pick in 2006 or later, for Lakers star center, Shaquille O'Neal.

Question: What does that mean to Dwyane Wade of having Shaq at center? Will he have to change his approach?

Stan Van Gundy: A little bit, but we are not going to make any drastic changes with Dwyane. I think he's a great attacker. We want him to continue to attack. I think people are saying he will not have the lanes to the basket that he has had in the past because Shaq clogs up the middle. I think it's going to be the opposite. I think what happens a lot is opposing centers are very reluctant to take a body off Shaquille to go help. So Dwyane's lanes to the basket actually get bigger and easier.

We saw that a little in the first game in Houston and we've seen it in practice - people really stay attached to Shaq, even on the weak side of the floor. It allows a guy like Dwyane to get to the rim. We aren't going to change him much. Obviously, he's going to have to throw the ball to the post a lot more than he did last year, but I don't think that requires a great adjustment.

It wasn't long after the blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Lakers was made that Wade's phone rang. "This is the Diesel
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