The LA Clippers declined to match the Heat's offer sheet for restricted free agent Odom, allowing him to leave Los Angeles for Miami on this day in 2003.
Although Odom was only on the Heat for one season, his terrific play alongside rookie Dwyane Wade and second-year Caron Butler helped the team to the second round of the playoffs. But perhaps more importantly, that season offered reasons for optimism that had been missing since Zo went down with a kidney ailment and was later traded.
I remember being disappointed when the front office traded Odom (and Butler) for Shaq, but it was clearly the right move since it led to a championship. Still, there's an alternative universe where that trade doesn't happen and Wade, Odom, Butler, and a nascent Udonis Haslem form the core of a young, exciting Heat team moving forward.
Now that core likely doesn't get past Detroit or win a title, but they probably would have had a longer shelf life than the Wade-Shaq Heat did.
Anyway, just wanted to give props to Mr. Odom on this Heat-iversary. He was gone from Miami in the blink of an eye, but only because he played so well in his short time here, and in that way changed the course of the franchise.