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2004 NBA offseason

Franchise players switch conferences

Shaquille O'Neal went to Miami, Tracy McGrady reached Houston and Steve Nash returned to Phoenix in an offseason that redirected both Finals races.

Open the full season →Every offseason by year

Why this window matters

#7 in the Athlore NBA offseasons ranking

Miami won a title within two years, Phoenix revolutionized offense and Houston created one of the era's defining star pairings.

In the order it happened

The transaction timeline

The draft, major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered chronologically. Complete draft boards, trade packages and free-agent jersey changes are embedded at the moment they happened.

  1. June 24 · NBA Draft

    Dwight Howard goes first as three future franchise guards follow →

    Orlando chose Howard over Emeka Okafor, while Devin Harris, Luol Deng and Andre Iguodala changed teams on draft night and later picks produced J.R. Smith, Josh Smith and Kevin Martin.

    The complete draft board is preserved beside this moment →

    Draft board

    2004 NBA

    01
    1

    First overall selection

    Dwight Howard

    Orlando Magic

    Open every pick

  2. June 29 · Trade

    Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis swap teams →

    Houston paired McGrady with Yao Ming while Orlando reset around Francis and the newly drafted Dwight Howard.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    29TradeJune 29, 2004To HOUHOUMCGRADY1HOUHOWARD5DraftPICKround asset+1 assetsTo ORLORLFRANCIS3ORLMOBLEY5DraftPICKround assetMcGrady–Francis blockbusterHOU receives Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue + 1 moreORL receives Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Kelvin Cato7 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  3. July 14 · Trade

    The Lakers send Shaquille O'Neal to Miami →

    The deal ended a three-title partnership and gave Dwyane Wade the superstar partner behind Miami's first championship.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    13TradeJuly 14, 2004To MIAMIAO'NEAL32To LALLALODOM7LALBUTLER1DraftPICKround asset+1 assetsShaq to MiamiMIA receives Shaquille O'NealLAL receives Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant + 1 more5 original assets · 2 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  4. July 14 · Free agency

    Steve Nash returns to Phoenix

    Nash's signing became the catalyst for the Seven Seconds or Less Suns and two consecutive MVP seasons.

    Follow the jersey change beside this moment →

    05Free agencyJuly 14, 2004From DALDALNASH13To PHXPHXNASH13Nash returns to PhoenixPhoenix reunited with Nash and placed his passing, shooting and pace control at the center of an offense that changed how the league imagined spacing.Dallas Mavericks → Phoenix SunsOpen offseason →

  5. July 30 · Free agency

    Carlos Boozer joins Utah

    The Jazz added a long-term frontcourt scorer as Cleveland lost a key young player from LeBron James's first supporting cast.

    Follow the jersey change beside this moment →

    20Free agencyJuly 30, 2004From CLECLEBOOZER1To UTAUTABOOZER5Boozer becomes Utah's next frontcourt scorerUtah used cap room to add one of the market's youngest productive bigs after his unusual exit from Cleveland.Cleveland Cavaliers → Utah JazzOpen offseason →