Sports

NBA

Heat gets All-Star in historic deal

Associated Press
Published August 3, 2005

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MIAMI - In the largest trade in league history, three-time All-Star Antoine Walker went from Boston to Miami on Tuesday in a deal involving five teams and 13 players.

The Heat also acquired point guard Jason Williams and small forward James Posey from Memphis while the Grizzlies received guard Eddie Jones from the Heat. The Hornets and Jazz also were involved.

The previous biggest trade was a 12-player, four-team deal in 2000 involving Patrick Ewing.

Miami also received Andre Emmett from Memphis and the draft rights to Roberto Duenas of Spain from the Hornets. Utah received Greg Ostertag from Memphis. Boston picked up Curtis Borchardt from Utah and a package (Qyntel Woods, the draft rights to Spanish center Albert Miralles, two second-round picks and cash) from Miami.

New Orleans acquired guards Rasual Butler from Miami and Kirk Snyder from Utah. And the Grizzlies received guard Raul Lopez from the Jazz.

"We traded a lot, but we got back three quality players," Heat president Pat Riley said. "Antoine Walker is one of the very best multifaceted, versatile players in this game."

Walker signed a six-year deal worth nearly $53-million with Boston as part of the deal, and agent Mark Bartelstein said he appreciated the Celtics' efforts.

"Antoine is thrilled," he said. "This was a grueling process trying to put a sign-and-trade together. This took a lot of time and work and energy from a lot of people."

O'Neal signs new deal

MIAMI - Shaquille O'Neal signed a $100-million, five-year deal with the Heat. He'll make $20-million each season, less than the $30.6-million due this season, but he opted out of that deal for a longer one.

"Shaquille can name his price," his agent, Perry Rogers, said. "And the price he named was winning."

Rogers said O'Neal, 33, still has the highest average annual salary in the league, and O'Neal said he never looked to go elsewhere.

BOBCATS: Center Jake Voskuhl was acquired from Phoenix for a conditional 2007 second-round pick. Voskuhl averaged 2.1 points and 2.4 rebounds last season. Also, guard Kareem Rush re-signed. Acquired from the Lakers last season, he averaged 8.4 points in 48 games.

HAWKS: The trade with Phoenix for guard Joe Johnson ran into "procedural issue," said Atlanta, which did not give details. The Hawks would send two first-round picks, guard Boris Diaw and a $4.9-million trade exception for Johnson. He averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists and will sign a five-year, $69.6-million deal.

HORNETS: Lithuanian Arvydas Macijauskas signed. He scored 24 in a loss to the United States in Athens.

KINGS: Guard Jason Hart was acquired from Charlotte for a future second-round pick. He averaged 9.5 points and 5.0 assists last season.

76ERS: A six-year, $20-million deal for guard Willie Green is on hold because he injured his knee in a pickup game. President Billy King said Green has cartilage damage and needs surgery. Green's agent, Noah Croom, said the offer hasn't been rescinded but the team wants to wait to determine the injury's extent.

SPURS: Forward Robert Horry re-signed. He was San Antonio's top bench scorer in the playoffs at 9.3 points. Also, Argentine forward Fabricio Oberto signed. An Olympic teammate of San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili, he has played in Europe the past seven years and last season averaged 14.2 points and 7.3 rebounds in Spain.

[Last modified August 3, 2005, 00:37:06]

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