Shaq on his way to phoenix?

[lumpyedboy]

just saw this come up, dont know if it will happen, but i think its a horrible trade and its the suns panicing because the lakers did a trade. but the trade is basically shaq for marion and banks


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3232862



Shaquille O'Neal could be traded.

The Phoenix Suns are weighing whether to complete one of the most unexpected deals in NBA history by acquiring O'Neal from the Heat, NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein on Tuesday night.

Sources said that the Suns are deciding whether to go through with a deal that would send Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Heat for O'Neal, who, at 35, is in the midst of his least productive season for a Heat team that has cratered from a championship in 2006 to a 9-37 record this season.

"It's possible," said one source close to the situation, speaking about the potential trade.

The Miami Herald first reported on its Web site Tuesday night that the Heat have informed O'Neal that they are shopping him, and that talks with the Suns were serious.

A confidant of the 14-time All-Star center told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that O'Neal is ready for the Heat to trade him.

"Shaq thinks something will happen," the associate said.

But if the Suns were to make this move, sources tell Stein that improving their oft-questioned chemistry in the locker room would be a primary motivation. The Suns would also be banking on the idea that the trade would rejuvenate O'Neal and fuel him with renewed motivation after a season in which his effectiveness and durability have been doubted all season.

The Heat have lost four straight games, and O'Neal has missed the last six games with a sore left hip. Heat coach Pat Riley said on Tuesday that O'Neal will undergo an MRI.

''We just want to back it up and see, after two weeks, what it shows,'' Riley said, according to the Herald.

O'Neal led the Heat to the 2005-06 championship, but he is averaging a career-low 14.2 points per game, while adding 7.8 rebounds in 32 games this season.

Trading for O'Neal would appear on the surface to make little basketball or financial sense for the Suns. O'Neal joining Phoenix would undoubtedly prompt widespread skepticism about his ability to keep up with the Suns' run-and-gun game. And the two years and $40 million remaining on O'Neal's contract after this season woud appear to clash with the Suns' recent pattern of making moves designed to reduce payroll and take them away from the luxury tax line of $67.875 million.

Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said on his weekly radio show Tuesday night that the story caught him by surprise.

"The trade deadline's coming up so I'm sure there's talk all over the place," he said. "In our day and age now, you make one of those phone calls or answer a phone call everybody in the world knows about it. Other than normal business, I don't know anything that's going on."

Asked if any deal was close, D'Antoni said "No, no, no."

Marion asked to be traded before the season began but has avoided talk of the subject since then. He is set to make $17 million next season, the final year of his contract, but can opt out of the deal and become a free agent.

Suns owner Robert Sarver said two weeks ago that none of the core players would be traded this season.

Neither Sarver nor Phoenix general manager returned messages left by AP on their cell phones.

[CJF28]

thats horrible. and unbeleivable. Shaq wouldnt be able to get up and down the floor with how fast the suns move

[lumpyedboy]

i think its just them freaking out, they want a title and if they do make this trade i think its gonna put them a step back

[CJF28]

definitely. and 2 years at $40 mill? ouch

[lumpyedboy]

the suns can get so much better in return for marion. they dont need a washed up fat center like shaq slowing them down. what they need to do is get a someone to replace nash because he' not getting any younger and we've seen how bad they are without him in the lineup

[Zombie Spawn]

I just don't see how that works out for Phoenix, financially or on the court.

[vinb]

Shaq's trade value is so low now I don't even see why they'd try trading him. Keep Marion!

[EDBSIP]

but the rings kepp following Shaq around! ;)

[Wrestling Fan]

but the rings kepp following Shaq around! ;)

Yeah Ed, the Heat have just been raking in the rings as of late :rolleyes:

Minus that one they actually got a few years ago :D

[spurs_funatic]

Kinda like throwing a 7 liter diesel engine into a smooth-running, fast-gunning Ferrari. Why would you do something like that? It's not like he's got anything really left in him anyway.

[lumpyedboy]

Kinda like throwing a 7 liter diesel engine into a smooth-running, fast-gunning Ferrari. Why would you do something like that? It's not like he's got anything really left in him anyway.

exactly, i think the suns are just over reacting to what the lakers did in trading for gasol

[Balco Scientist]

would be one of the worst moves ever by the Suns .

[lumpyedboy]

would be one of the worst moves ever by the Suns .

no the worst move ever for the suns was trading jason kidd for stephon marbury, that was just stupid

[KING1313]

Its ALL RUMOR as of now......It will never happen.The Suns owner will never agree to that deal.

[alphawhite]

Ric Bucher just reported Shaq is flying to PHX in the morning to take his physical:eek:

[cniles]

Just heard that on ESPN and if all goes good the trade is all but a done deal,WOW!!!!

[GOAL]

Won't happen....not even worth the time it took to read...

[alphawhite]

Just heard that on ESPN and if all goes good the trade is all but a done deal,WOW!!!!
My favorite part is they are expecting Shaq to play good defense and rebound, AND NOT want to be an offensive focal point:eek:

I can see the defense part as Shaq will just be getting to half court by the time the shot is put up, but Shaq not getting his touches has got to have Kobe laughing his azz off:p

[cniles]

I just dont see Shaq being OK without getting touches and playing his ass off on Defense.WONT Happen!!

[denote999]

The real question is how much better can Marion make the Heat. Would this help the Heat?

[GOAL]

The real question is how much better can Marion make the Heat. Would this help the Heat?
Healthy body would be an obvious upgrade over Shaq at this point.

[KING1313]

The real question is how much better can Marion make the Heat. Would this help the Heat?
Marion would be an awesome pair up with Dwade.
Marion is so under rated....Marion is such a GREAT PLAYER I just wish he got the props he deserves.

[darkling21]

Wow, that could be great for the Suns, though I am not sure it helps the Heat, Marion is good, but the Heat need more help that Marion.

[k50k]

Never doubt a man with as much pride as Shaq..

[Mirko Cro Cop]

NO DONT DO IT NOT MARION!!

[sportsnut2006]

As a Suns fans I like the idea. Marion hasnt wanted to be here for a few years and the time frame for the Suns to win the Championship is closing. Suns have had great teams the last few years but dont have anyone to deal with other teams big men. They needed to take this chance. IF shaq is healthy, then he could help out alot. I do hate to see marion go but Nash isnt getting any younger and the time to win is now.

[NotoriousVesaToskala]

I am stunned that this deal is going through, Steve Kerr is about to make Isiah Thomas look like a sharp basketball mind if he makes this deal.

Check out this piece from ESPN's John Hollinger regarding the rumoured deal...

Link (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=ShaqSuns080206&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dhollinger_john%26page%3dShaqSuns080206)

[mmevile]

Yeah Ed, the Heat have just been raking in the rings as of late :rolleyes:

Minus that one they actually got a few years ago :D
Shaq's tenure w/ the Heat --
1st year: fell short to Detroit in game 7/conf finals.
2nd year: Champions!
3rd year: exit in rd. 1 post-season.
4th year: ok, this one's bad. :o

Still better results than what the Suns/Mavs/Rockets have been able to accomplish in the same timeframe.......I would say those are "pretty decent" odds. Who really wants to be competitive each & every year and have nothing to show for it. ;) :p

[mmevile]

As a Suns fans I like the idea. Marion hasnt wanted to be here for a few years and the time frame for the Suns to win the Championship is closing. Suns have had great teams the last few years but dont have anyone to deal with other teams big men. They needed to take this chance. IF shaq is healthy, then he could help out alot. I do hate to see marion go but Nash isnt getting any younger and the time to win is now.I agree. The team was going nowhere if they stayed status quo.

[NotoriousVesaToskala]

I agree. The team was going nowhere if they stayed status quo.

Well, the same team won 62 games in 2005, won 54 games in 2006 and won 61 games last year and is on pace for 58 wins this season so I wouldn't exactly call that going "nowhere", they made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006 and ran into a Spurs juggernaut last year in the semi-finals.

Shaq's tenure w/ the Heat --
1st year: fell short to Detroit in game 7/conf finals.
2nd year: Champions!
3rd year: exit in rd. 1 post-season.
4th year: ok, this one's bad. :o

Still better results than what the Suns/Mavs/Rockets have been able to accomplish in the same timeframe.......I would say those are "pretty decent" odds. Who really wants to be competitive each & every year and have nothing to show for it. ;) :p

What does comparing the Heat with the Mavs/Suns/Rockets prove? The Mavs/Suns/Rockets play in a conference lightyears tougher than the East, getting to the Finals is hard enough.

[lfleishma]

Well, the same team won 62 games in 2005, won 54 games in 2006 and won 61 games last year and is on pace for 58 wins this season so I wouldn't exactly call that going "nowhere", they made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006 and ran into a Spurs juggernaut last year in the semi-finals.


Means nothing without the ring.

Ask the 18-1 Patriots.

[thaderules]

Means nothing without the ring.

Ask the 18-1 Patriots.

And Shaq would get them that ring? I highly doubt it. The Suns have more chance of getting a ring with their current team than trading Marion for Shaq.

[imaginegrafix]

I like it for the suns if Shaq can log some minutes - Marion benefited from playing alongside Nash, Diaw will slide in there and he'll do just fine.

Shaq doesn't need to run on the break - that's what everyone else is for. They weren't going to get past the spurs with the current team, w/ Shaq they might be able to.

[mmevile]

And Shaq would get them that ring? I highly doubt it. The Suns have more chance of getting a ring with their current team than trading Marion for Shaq.This is the SAME thing that everyone said also when he moved from the Lakers to the Heat. :rolleyes: BTW, if this current roster (which pretty much stayed the same in 3 yrs) can't get a ring, what makes you think they have a chance this year -- are you waiting for the rest of the west to get slow & age? I applaud the Suns for pulling the trigger on this risky move.....but if you keep hitting the SAME brick wall each & every year, have some sense to make changes to prevent it from happening again. Besides, Shaq has very good games against Duncan, Yao & those typical big men (yes, this year).

[mmevile]

Means nothing without the ring.

Ask the 18-1 Patriots.
Thank You.....a lot of short term memory problems going on w/ the board here. :D

[thaderules]

This is the SAME thing that everyone said also when he moved from the Lakers to the Heat. :rolleyes: BTW, if this current roster (which pretty much stayed the same in 3 yrs) can't get a ring, what makes you think they have a chance this year -- are you waiting for the rest of the west to get slow & age? I applaud the Suns for pulling the trigger on this risky move.....but if you keep hitting the SAME brick wall each & every year, have some sense to make changes to prevent it from happening again. Besides, Shaq has very good games against Duncan, Yao & those typical big men (yes, this year).

Yep, only difference is that the Shaq that went to the Heat was more dominant than the one that is going to the Suns :rolleyes:.

I didn't say the Suns were going to win a championship this year. I'm saying they're a worse team with Shaq than with Marion.

Suns could have gotten a better player for Marion.

[Spawnomite]

...they made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006 and ran into a Spurs juggernaut last year in the semi-finals.and they'll prob face the Spurs again in the playoffs. :D

[mmevile]

Yep, only difference is that the Shaq that went to the Heat was more dominant than the one that is going to the Suns :rolleyes:.

I didn't say the Suns were going to win a championship this year. I'm saying they're a worse team with Shaq than with Marion.

Suns could have gotten a better player for Marion.Maybe they are a worst team than before w/ the acquisition of Shaq.....but the point is w/ Marion, they can't get to the Finals (that's been proven 3 times now). It didn't work, time to find a diff solution. The Suns have a very small window right now (basically this year only) to find a way to get to the Finals. Why risk performance declines from Nash, Amare, etc....just because you don't want to break this nucleaus & want to "wait it out". Plust, it's not like they can add an impact player w/o risking 1 of those 3 components they have now. The Heat had a winning combination w/ Wade, Butler & Odom....they changed drastically & proved w/ positive results.
I'm not saying this will get them to the Finals automatically, but what I am saying is the prev roster "could not". ;)

Oh, btw Pat Riley is a PIMP!!! Anytime everyone loses faith in him, he proves everyone wrong. :D

[RaiderFan18]

supposedly amare a Marion didn't like each other, on top of the rest of it. Also, iguodala and dalembert for marion woulda been a better deal.

[tradingterry]

Did this deal just pop out of no where or what.....and what happenned to Miami besides injuries...they won it all just a couple years ago.....why not keep that team together for a bit.....or is Shaq on his last legs so to speak? Would love to read some of your answers!

[mmevile]

Did this deal just pop out of no where or what.....and what happenned to Miami besides injuries...they won it all just a couple years ago.....why not keep that team together for a bit.....or is Shaq on his last legs so to speak? Would love to read some of your answers!Injuries are a factor...both Wade & Shaq came back a little "less" of their former selves from that championship year. Plus (and this is a BIG factor), we lost Posey to the Celtics, Zo to season-ending injury and J.Will reverted to being "insignificant" again. :( Oh, also we were hampered by Shaq's salary to make any significant moves.

As for the trade, yeah....no one would've imagined this to happen. Pat Riley = a basketball god! ;)

[imaginegrafix]

Also, iguodala and dalembert for marion woulda been a better deal.

76ers would have never made that deal - Iguodala is twice the player Marion is

[thaderules]

Maybe they are a worst team than before w/ the acquisition of Shaq.....but the point is w/ Marion, they can't get to the Finals (that's been proven 3 times now). It didn't work, time to find a diff solution. The Suns have a very small window right now (basically this year only) to find a way to get to the Finals. Why risk performance declines from Nash, Amare, etc....just because you don't want to break this nucleaus & want to "wait it out". Plust, it's not like they can add an impact player w/o risking 1 of those 3 components they have now. The Heat had a winning combination w/ Wade, Butler & Odom....they changed drastically & proved w/ positive results.
I'm not saying this will get them to the Finals automatically, but what I am saying is the prev roster "could not". ;)

Oh, btw Pat Riley is a PIMP!!! Anytime everyone loses faith in him, he proves everyone wrong. :D

There's no doubt the previous Suns team couldn't make it to the finals. I agree, the Suns should make a move but they shouldn't be too desperate to make a stupid move like this. To change a team for the worse doesn't make sense to me.

[lumpyedboy]

supposedly amare a Marion didn't like each other,

thats something alot of people outside of phoenix didnt know. i read i think it was in the arizona republic that one of the two had to be traded in order for the chemistry to get better. apparently marion was jealous of amare mainly because amare got all the media/glitz/glamour that marion felt he deserved, and amare didnt like that marion wasnt quiet about in the locker room

[RaiderFan18]

76ers would have never made that deal - Iguodala is twice the player Marion is

Neither can carry a team, but Marion could before Andre could. Iggy woulda fit in better in Phoenix for sure, Dalembert is an athletic big man, he'd def. fit out there. Most people can agree Iggy is never gonna be more than a 2 or 3 even...