Per ESPN: Shaq headed to PHX Wednesday for a physical

[cly2tw]

Oh and one more thing:

Look for Amare to have the best numbers of his career from this point going forward. Given the freedom to play his game at the 4, he is going to be unleashed.

We should now officially stop trying to outrun the opponents and play more feeding the posts out of necessity. Amare will finally have chance to work on this part of his game too. That's part of where his expected better number will be from.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Boy we really stuck it to Miami for having to deal with Smush AND Banks.

HA!

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Another interesting thing to consider is the $30 million we will have coming off the books the summer of 2010 when Nash and Shaq's contracts expire. Guess who's a free agent that summer? LeBron, Melo, Wade, and Bosh. Give Nash/Shaq/Amare three shots at it and then let the first two go and build around the first with another superstar.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Another interesting thing to consider is the $30 million we will have coming off the books the summer of 2010 when Nash and Shaq's contracts expire. Guess who's a free agent that summer? LeBron, Melo, Wade, and Bosh. Give Nash/Shaq/Amare three shots at it and then let the first two go and build around the first with another superstar.

Very big point, that I have been bringing up all morning

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Very big point, that I have been bringing up all morning

Sorry, haven't had time to read through everything.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Sorry, haven't had time to read through everything.

its ok. Too much to read. Look at all the people in this forum!

 

[Ollie]

Puzzling trade to say the least. Either a genius move or a disaster of Thomasesque proportion.

Kudos to Kerr for trying something before the trade deadline despite the fact that we're currently heading the conference.
We all know that Suns team had, at best, an outside chance to win it all this year the way it was build, and it's not like our championship window of opportunity was opening up. (with this trade it stays roughly the same : 2 years. And we'll have a big fat expiring contract to trade and help rebuild in 2010, making up for our traded pick).

We need some depth at SF, though. Where's Keith Van Horn when you need him ? Still home ?

 

[slinslin]

Another interesting thing to consider is the $30 million we will have coming off the books the summer of 2010 when Nash and Shaq's contracts expire. Guess who's a free agent that summer? LeBron, Melo, Wade, and Bosh. Give Nash/Shaq/Amare three shots at it and then let the first two go and build around the first with another superstar.

Bell will also expire in 2010, Amare as well if he opts out although we would want to resign him of course...

Means Barbosa and Diaw plus our draftpick this year are going to be the only players we have under contract and they wouldn't be hard to turn into expiring contracts I guess so we have the option to completely rebuild with Amare, Diaw, Barbosa, Atlantas pick and a bunch of cap space.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We are also trading away about 3 months of Shawn Marion.

I guarantee you he was going to opt out this summer. The common thinking is that he is not going to leave 17 million on the table, but its not that simple.

He will probably sign somewhere for 12-14 million. So he would only be leaving 5 to 7 million on the table. But the deal he will get in free agency THIS summer will likely be better--significantly better--than he would get next summer (2009).

If he waits a year longer, he will be older, his game will decline more, and he might not be as hot a FA as this summer. I think he would make up the 5 to 7 million over the course of the next contract. In any case--its much less risky for him to go for the new deal now, while he is healthy, than later.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Regardless about what the rest of the nation is saying (they don't watch the suns EVERY GAME, and haven't seen the writing on the wall)...

Marion was an OVER-RATED defender, and had caused such chaoes in the locker room, it was ridiculous, and though he got his rebounds, he got them by jumping, NOT blocking out, which was why we would ALWAYS get outrebounded...

With Shaq, we a a legit inside presence... with Barbosa, Nash, Hill, Bell, standing at the three point line, the suns will get more looks, and Shaq won't have to worry about being tripled teamed..

The suns Training staff is the BEST in the league and can keep Shaq healthy, and Shaq is going to be the most motivated player in the league.. it woulod not surprise me at all to see Shaq Dominate like he has before...

Finally it will make Stat is is a face to the basket player, and will be free to roam the weak side....

Anyone who thinks this will make the suns worse, IMO either doesn't watch the suns on a regular basis, or is just ignorant and believes without Shawn we can't run anymore...

I think this is a SOLID trade for the suns, and with the chemistry FINALLY better, there will be optimism in the air once again!

 

[az1965]

What time is the physical?

 

[abomb]

5:1 says he fails it.

 

[TheHopToad]

Not that it would ever happen, but what are the Suns' options as far as making this trade and then being able to re-sign Marion in the off-season at a lower price than his current contract after he opts out?

I'd like to have my cake and eat it too.

 

[AsUdUdE]

ANY way the suns ask Marion to still play if the trade doesn't go through?

and if so, What the Hell are we goning to do with him?

 

[abomb]

ANY way the suns ask Marion to still play if the trade doesn't go through?

and if so, What the Hell are we goning to do with him?

I was thinking that too.

They have to trade him if the deal fails.

 

[SO91]

Another interesting thing to consider is the $30 million we will have coming off the books the summer of 2010 when Nash and Shaq's contracts expire. Guess who's a free agent that summer? LeBron, Melo, Wade, and Bosh. Give Nash/Shaq/Amare three shots at it and then let the first two go and build around the first with another superstar.

Great point, although I believe Melo's the one that signed the longer deal (5 years I think) while the other three can become free agents in 2010.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

5:1 says he fails it.

I'l take that bet

 

[Dan H]

According to Michael Wilbon, Shaq passed his physical, weighed 320 with 12% body fat. He said the Suns were "very pleased" with those numbers.

 

[SirStefan32]

According to Michael Wilbon, Shaq passed his physical, weighed 320 with 12% body fat. He said the Suns were "very pleased" with those numbers.

DAMN, 320 lb, 12% body fat at 36 years of age. WOW, that is one strong dude.