"I'll probably get some boos," he said. "There's a lot of speculation on how it ended."

No, it did not end pretty, which is why while there likely will be plenty of warmth when former Suns forward Shawn Marion is introduced before tonight's nationally televised game, the Heat is not exactly in position to embrace O'Neal.

What started early last season with a practice-court confrontation between O'Neal and then-Heat coach Pat Riley over the quality of the roster, continued with O'Neal seeking a buyout, declining to play due to a variety of questionable injuries and then backing the franchise into the Feb. 6 trade that delivered Marion and guard Marcus Banks.

"It ended the way I wanted it to end," O'Neal said.

When it ended, O'Neal criticized the Heat medical staff over its treatment of his ailments, even though the training staff offered the same options O'Neal praised from the Suns' staff. He then noted that in Phoenix "no one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis."

While Davis has since moved on to the Clippers, Quinn said this week he made his peace with O'Neal since those March comments.

"Shaq called me," the reserve point guard said. "We talked a little bit about it."

The picture that has emerged since O'Neal's departure hardly is one of final-days team harmony.

Guard Dwyane Wade said the two have had almost no contact since the trade, and has been rather vague in his comments about the state of the relationship.

"Me and Shaq never had any problems," he said. "We understand the business of the game. We are both professionals."

For his part, O'Neal said, "The only guy I've talked to is U.D."

Center Udonis Haslem said winning the 2006 NBA championship alongside O'Neal created an enduring bond.

"Obviously we had a good run together," he said. "There's much love there, between me and him. I'm looking forward to seeing him."

O'Neal casts his departure as a proactive move by the Heat, to open cap space for the 2010 offseason and move toward a younger roster. He claimed he was made into the "scapegoat" for last season's failings that led to a 15-67 Heat finish.

"Certain business had to be taken care of to get that team back on track, and they did what they had to do. I understand," he said.

"There's really no hard feelings."

Suns teammate Raja Bell, the former Florida International University standout, isn't so sure.

"He'll be pretty fired up, have something to prove to some guys who doubted him down there in Miami," Bell said. "I'm sure he doesn't feel like he was given the benefit of the doubt down there.

"I wouldn't expect much less than Shaq coming out early and trying to dominate."

Given additional time off during back-to-back sets by new Suns coach Terry Porter, O'Neal, 36, is in the midst of a productive season. His .587 shooting percentage is second in the NBA and he already has a pair of 29-point outings, as well as a 17-rebound game.

As he stated in the immediate wake of the trade, he remains appreciative about where he has landed.

"I'm actually the only guy in history who has played in all sunny cities," he said of his time in Phoenix following his time in Orlando, Miami and Los Angeles with the Lakers.

"No cold weather, no snow for me, baby. So I'm good."

That March 4 South Florida return, however, might not prove so sunny.

"I like getting booed. Boo me," he said. "Can't hurt my feelings. My feelings don't get hurt, because I don't have any feelings."

Ira Winderman can be reached at iwinderman@SunSentinel.com

Tonight

Heat at Suns

8 p.m., ESPN

O'Neal's averages

15.6 points

8.7 rebounds

.587 FG %

27.9 minutes