Dwyane Wade Gets Misty Over Odom

I know that the Shaquille O'Neal trade brought Miami a ring, and that means said franchise will live forever. That's the way things work in the NBA. Just ask the Sonics.

But only a heartless cur doesn't harbor some fond memories of the Wade/Odom/Butler team of 2003-04, who nearly upset the Pacers in the conference semis playing a pre-Suns form of millennial small ball. That's why, with Shawn Marion considered expendable and Lamar Odom on the block, Dwyane Wade's getting sentimental—and thinking of a reunion, of sorts. From the Sun-Sentinel:

"I love L.O. as a person and, of course, as a player," Wade said. "We had one year together. I wish we could have had more.

"It's a guy who I've always said it's a possibility when he left that he can maybe come back. ... A player like that, we would love to have a chance to get because he's so versatile.

That's not to belittle Marion, but there's a special chemistry between Wade and Odom. Pair the two of them with Beasley and you've got a less redundant, and no less explosive, line-up than the good 'ol days. If a little deficient defensively—Butler, like Marion now, could pick up defensive slack. Also worth noting: Caron Butler's slipped through the fingers of both the Heat and Lakers. Right now, he'd probably be the second-best player on either team.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.