All aboard! The Shaq bandwagon departs this station in roughly 8-10 hours....

[abomb]

I don't. This is a "go for bust" trade. If Shaq ends up being a disaster and we are not without Marion...the Suns are screwed.

Why not go for bust with Amare for Camby (or similar)? You dont have to change coaching philosophy at that point.

 

[Covert Rain]

Why not go for bust with Amare for Camby (or similar)? You dont have to change coaching philosophy at that point.

Because guys like Amare don't come along in the NBA that often. Now factor in that you think he is even better when playing his natural position at PF. I would consider that trade suicide. At least in the Marion trade if all else fails, you still have a young big man with Amare and can rebuild again.

 

[green machine]

Why not go for bust with Amare for Camby (or similar)? You dont have to change coaching philosophy at that point.

Because Camby couldn't have been had for a Marion/Banks combo?



My thoughts on the trade are pretty much summed up by saying "it can't hurt."

The team wasn't going to win a title pre-trade, and if they don't win one post-trade nothing changes, but at least they tried.

 

[jandaman]

And exactly who on the Suns was guarding him when he put up those numbers? Bynum? Duncan? Chandler? Any legit C at all?

I'm pretty sure all BIG MEN in the league loves to go against the Suns... regardless if their team wins or not.... its basically season/career highs almost everytime...

 

[jandaman]

If Suns dont win it... and actually recedes big time.. I just hope Shaq retires...

 

[abomb]

If Suns dont win it... and actually recedes big time.. I just hope Shaq retires...

Why would he? He told MIA he would not accept a buyout.

This whole thing is a $50M gamble by the Suns.

 

[carrrnuttt]

Personally, I'm optimistic. ALthough I don't like that about him, Shaq's been known to dog it when he's not happy. I doubt he'll dog it here, if only to spite Kobe. He'll also be motivated by cementing his legacy once and for all, by helping another team hoist their first title. Not to mention the legendary Suns trainers.

BTW, here's the guy that's DRIVING the wagon: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...uaranteed_NBA_Champions_Shaq_with_Suns-050208

Guaranteed NBA Champions: Shaq with Suns
by Evan Einhorn (Contributor)

There have been rumors over the last hours of Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat being traded to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and possibly Marcus Banks.

If the trade happens, the Suns' starting five would be Steve Nash (two-time MVP), Raja Bell (2006-2007 All-Defensive 1st Team), Amare Stoudemire (three-time All-Star), Grant Hill, and Shaquille O'Neal (veteran and 14-time All-Star).

This starting five would demolish any team that gets in their way. Don't forget Leandro Barbosa (6th Man of the Year), Boris Diaw and, if they need another big man, Brian Skinner coming off the bench.

Amare Stoudemire would thrive with veteran advice and another big man in the game with him. This is similar to the Pau Gasol effect on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Teams cannot guard Kobe as well because, when they are playing zone or other defenses, they can't forget about Pau in the middle. Amare would be a double threat, having Shaq take some of the attention in the post away from him.

Steve Nash has to be taken into consideration, also. His great ball-handling skills and awareness would have Shaq dunking over an undersized opponent whenever Nash sees a mismatch.

Some will speculate the Suns will lose their "fast break" effect. With Nash and Barbosa at guard, they will never lose all their speed. Now, with their speed, they will have power in the post.

They would be contenders with the Lakers their newly acquired Pau Gasol, the Spurs with Tim Duncan and the Mavericks with Dirk Nowitzki. Don't forget about that 5th ring for Shaq.

With Shaq, they would be able to also beat the Celtics with Kevin Garnett in the post. The Suns are a sure thing for a championship with Shaq.

 

[abomb]

Who and what is the bleacher report?

 

[FArting]

I'm onboard.

 

[Linderbee]

Who and what is the bleacher report?

Ummm...the site that has the guy that wrote the article, duh.

 

[Shane]

Love the trade

 

[WuRaider]

Delete!!!!

 

[SO91]

Hell pass the Kool-Aid and get me a seat please! DEI, looks like the bandwagon has been hijacked and it's time to pull over and check those tickets.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Shaq is 21, 10.5, 4, and 2 in two games against the Suns this year.
His rebounds per 48 are exactly the same as Marion.
His fg% is miles better than Shawn.

He is not a better player than Shawn at this moment, but that is far from "worthless."

Shaq won't be guarded by Amare on the other team.

You can't use by 48 minute stats because Shaq can't make 30 minutes let alone 48.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Oh yeeeeeeaaaaaah!

Anyone else notice that the two people who have the most to say about this are Laker fans (ABomb and Donald)......?

Something tells me this move worries them a little bit more then they are letting on.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Oh yeeeeeeaaaaaah!

Anyone else notice that the two people who have the most to say about this are Laker fans (ABomb and Donald)......?

Something tells me this move worries them a little bit more then they are letting on.

I know Donald and Adam pretty well. They aren't scared of Slaq. They honestly believe this is the destruction of the Suns. I would say there is probably a 75% chance they are right.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I know a lot of Lakers fans. My text messages haven't been very pleasant today.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Oh yeeeeeeaaaaaah!

Anyone else notice that the two people who have the most to say about this are Laker fans (ABomb and Donald)......?

Something tells me this move worries them a little bit more then they are letting on.

couldn't agree with ya more my friend....

one more thing... I think many under-estimate the effect of motivated vets... everyone who says Shaq clearly has nothing left.. He was playing on the worst team in the league.. what motivation did he have??

I think we will see a "new" Shaq, and you can argue this will be the most talented (overall) team he has ever played for....

 

[Chris_Sanders]

couldn't agree with ya more my friend....

Sweet now both of you are wrong.

If you guys believe that Adam and Donald are saying this stuff out of fear you are out of your mind. They are gloating. That is it.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Sweet now both of you are wrong.

If you guys believe that Adam and Donald are saying this stuff out of fear you are out of your mind. They are gloating. That is it.

I'm not saying they are actually scared chris (and you gotta love the mods jumping to defense here)

I am saying there perspective is waaaay bias. They can't see the forest through the trees and they are looking at this from a Laker perspective - so they are laughing now. They remember fat unmotivated shaq. They have been reading the article of his demise and secretly smiling. But are they watching games of the Heat and whats going on here in MIA? Probably not.

But when Bynum is not getting the same looks with Shaq guarding him and Amare on Pau - well really I don't understand how they wouldn't see that as an improvement over Marion guarding the 4? LOL

Watch the threes coming raining Laker fans. I think Shaq is an unmotivated POS in Miami.

Here is a aging monster who desperately wants to be vindicated.

Big difference.

Here's a Miami based writer perspective - Dan Lebetard

Dan Le Batard of The Miami Herald: "Kobe Bryant thought Pau Gasol was taking him over the top. Now Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr has told the Western Conference, 'I see your Gasol and raise you one Shaq.' Shaq's style doesn't work in Phoenix? Taking passes from Nash kind of works for anyone. And dunking and shooting 60 percent fits just about anywhere. O'Neal either wasn't quick or healthy enough to get away from the double-teams here anymore. That won't be a problem the way Phoenix plays. O'Neal has gone from trying to play in an airplane bathroom here to playing in the open space of the airplane hangar -- if he's healthy enough to keep up with a team that plays as if on jet fuel."

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Someone tell me the last "aging monser" (ie 36+ years old) who performed at a top level or even a shell of his former self level.

At some point 15 years of overweight catches up with you.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I am fully on board! Can I pull the rope to blow the whistle?

Look, everyone knows that they weren't going to win a championship with the current roster. This change gives them a better chance. One ring is worth 5 playoff seasons that end early, IMO. Championships are all that matter, and the Suns have ZERO.

<--- Wow, I haven't posted that in awhile.

 

[abomb]

I'm not so much gloating in that I am A) shoooooocked (at 12 on a 1-10 scale) the trade is going through and B) the warm response most of the board is kicking to the trade.

 

[green machine]

I'm not so much gloating in that I am A) shoooooocked (at 12 on a 1-10 scale) the trade is going through and B) the warm response most of the board is kicking to the trade.

I figure it doesn't hurt.

The funny thing is the same people who were saying the Suns were too small, needed to slow it down in the playoffs, and had no chance to win a title with the current group are now saying that they are worse and shouldn't do this trade.

My question is, why not? If all the above is true, then how does this hurt? If anything it gives them a fighting chance.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Someone tell me the last "aging monser" (ie 36+ years old) who performed at a top level or even a shell of his former self level.

At some point 15 years of overweight catches up with you.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

And IIRC that fastbreak was pretty damn good too