Shaquille O'Neal?

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

and i forgot the real reason . . . we'll use the hawks pick to dump shaq during the offseason!!!

 

[Dan H]

I don't remember Kareem slowing the Lakers down during the Showtime Era . . . Shaq could concentrate on defense and starting the break.

 

[Skumbag]

and i forgot the real reason . . . we'll use the hawks pick to dump shaq during the offseason!!!

lol

 

[devilalum]

ESPN's calling it BS. Watch the video clip.

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

 

[HooverDam]

Because Shaq and Amare probably can't coexist for one thing. You want Amare to run the P&R with Nash and then what, roll right into Shaq? Whats going to happen with Nash penetration and poking through the defensive interior with Shaq clogging up the lane.

Those are just two quick strategic reason he doesn't fit, beyond the fact that he's fat, lazy, injured, going downhill and has a terrible contract.

 

[PHX 32]

ESPN's calling it BS. Watch the video clip.

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

I hope these guys are right

 

[Joe Mama]

I would do it, and here's why. This team as it currently stands is not going to win a championship. I doubt they even make it out of the second round of the playoffs. They aren't assured a championship was Shaquille O'Neal, but I certainly like their chances a lot more. The Phoenix Suns do not need a center to run up and down the court with them. They need somebody to clog up the middle on defense and clear the boards. Shaq can do that and is a great passer to get the ball out to the runners.

I also think Shaquille O'Neal would be on a mission to prove he is still a great player. He's got to know that if he could bring a championship here it would just take him up another level on the list of greatest players.

I'm not even a Shaquille O'Neal fan, and I would do it.

Joe Mama

 

[SactownSunsFan]

I'd pull the trigger too, if only because we still have Grant Hill to man the 3 spot. Shawn's contributions would be missed greatly, but we have guys on this team that can step it up and help fill the void left by Marion's absence.

 

[Darth Llama]

The last thing you guys want to do is trade one of the most dynamic small forwards in the league for an over the hill, past his prime, always injured center with little left in the tank.

Shaq would frustrate the hell out of you guys, because he's another big man that plays defense only when he wants to. Watch his last year with the Lakers and his time with the Heat, and you'll see that Shaq is no longer a defensive wall. Many times he just stands there and lets someone blow by him to the basket so he can get a head start the other way. Shaq is a guaranteed hall of famer, one of the best of all time, and he was beyond great in his prime. Sadly though, Shaq is just embarrassing himself now, and he should have retired after the Miami championship because he's declining faster and faster every year. Don't get me wrong, as a Laker fan, I would love to see the Suns pull the trigger on this deal because I know it will make the Suns easier to beat. When the playoffs come around, you'll have the same team you have now, only without Marion.

Shaq will be on the bench in street clothes where he always is.

I still for the life of me don't understand the desire to move Marion. Other then Nash, he's probably the best player on the Suns and everyone wants him gone. They could get so much more for a guy like Marion, I hope he lands somewhere here he gets some respect.

 

[elindholm]

This can't POSSIBLY have any substance to it. It's completely ridiculous.

If this trade goes down, I promise I will not comment on any other trade proposals or scenarios for two full years.*


*on this board

 

[jandaman]

Haslem makes sense.

But Shaq doesnt...

The size next to Stoudemire sounds tempting, but this will hurt the Suns a lot.

If Marion goes, package Banks and filler... and get Haslem here as back up.

 

[Rab]

Leave it to ESPN to fabricate trade rumors. There is no way in hell this happens. I had about 3 friends text me right after ESPN "broke the news" and I laughed at every one of them

 

[devilalum]

*on this board

Weak

 

[fordronken]

Leave it to ESPN to fabricate trade rumors. There is no way in hell this happens. I had about 3 friends text me right after ESPN "broke the news" and I laughed at every one of them

That's the funny thing. It's not ESPN that started it. It's the Miami Herald. Also, Bucher and Stein both shot it down.

 

[KANIDJA]

One thing I think you guys forgot to mention is the last year of his contract is going to be very appealing to teams looking for cap space relief and he should be a hot commodity. So basically we lose Marion, who we probably are going to lose next year anyways, and get rid of Banks, while at the same time we get Shaq who improves defense and immediately makes us a valid championship contender. With Marion or with this roster I don't think we can win a championship anyways.

So what do we lose? Flexibility for the next year? Who better can we sign next year if Marion walks away? Artest? Arenas? If we stay put Lakers or San Antonio will probably bounce us out of playoffs. With Shaq i like our chances more. Sometimes you have to take chances.

Look at NY Giants and their trade for Eli Manning. If Eli doesn't escape that tackle before that unbeliveable catch Giants don't make history. He does, they are in history and even if he does not do anything else in his career in my book they made a good deal. The only thing that concerns me is Shaq's health this season. Is he going to be able to play and how well or how healthy is he going to be.
Peace.

 

[Rab]

That's the funny thing. It's not ESPN that started it. It's the Miami Herald. Also, Bucher and Stein both shot it down.

Yeah, but they sure know how to take something and run with it. Yeah, Bucher and Stein shot it down, but overall, they like to report things without checking all their "sources".

 

[phxrising]

http://www.miamiherald.com/592/story/407442.html
Heat in serious talks to trade Shaq

Posted on Tue, Feb. 05, 2008

BY BARRY JACKSON
[email protected]

The Heat has told center Shaquille O'Neal's representation that it is talking about trading him and he should be prepared for the possibility of a deal, according to two officials close to the situation. Phoenix has discussed sending forward Shawn Marion and point guard Marcus Banks to the Heat in return for O'Neal.

Asked for confirmation, one of O'Neal's representatives said O'Neal has been made aware that discussions with Phoenix are serious and ongoing, but that a deal was not definite.

Dallas also has been mentioned as a potential destination, though the Heat had not immediately informed O'Neal of that possibility.

O'Neal, 35, was shocked by the turn of events, an associate said. O'Neal helped lead the Heat to the 2005-06 championship, but Miami has struggled since, losing in the first round of the playoffs last season and opening this season with a league-worst 9-37 record.

After this season, Marion can opt out of the last year of his contract worth $17.1 million. If Marion opts out, trading O'Neal would give the Heat substantial salary cap space this offseason, when potential free agents include Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Antawn Jamison, Ron Artest and Corey Maggette.
Marion, 29, is a four-time All-Star and considered one of the NBA's most athletic small forwards. Marion, 6-7, is averaging 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds.
Banks, 26, is averaging 5.2 points and 1.0 assists. After this season, he has three years left on his contract worth a total of $13.4 million.
O'Neal, who has been out with a hip injury, has two years left on his contract after this season. He will be paid $20 million each of the next two seasons.
On Tuesday, coach Pat Riley said O'Neal was scheduled to have a magnetic resonance imaging exam on his ailing left hip, which has kept him out the past six games.
''We just want to back it up and see, after two weeks, what it shows,'' Riley said.
Riley gave no indication as to when O'Neal would return to the lineup. Riley said O'Neal must strengthen his legs before returning to action, and that the center will be one of six players to miss Wednesday's game at Detroit.
Heat officials were on their way to Detroit and could not be reached for comment.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

As the driver of the "trade Marion" bandwagon, color me a bit underwhelmed, but I kinda agreed with Joe Mama....

 

[kman72]

from an outside opinion i think this would be a bad trade for the suns, shaq is still a good player but not what he used to be. this trade would hurt your salary and would give you a player that does not fit your playing style. i understand most suns want marion moved so they don't lose him for nothing but surely there is somthing better than this option!

 

[mojorizen7]

Just heard DA on his weekly radio show on 620 & he was asked about this rumor & his answer was something to the effect of..."I haven't heard anything about that." and that "GM's are always taking & making calls so you never always know if anythings going to happen."
Interesting IMO. His usual response to a question like that is alot of "we're fine" & "we like where we're at" followed by his usual rhetoric of not being able to give you a straight answer to a straightforward question. His tone was different. I listen to that show just about every week.
Also, if the organization has so blatantly come out & told the fans that they're not going to make a move that involves the core group then i wonder why that wasn't DA's first response to KTAR's question?
Dunno. Just thought i'd add that.
Shaq's contract is obviously monstrous & probably has little left in the tank but i wonder if bringing him back out west on a good team with Kobe/Lakers next door would be motivation enough to get his a$$ healthy & pumped up to help this team?(for the next 5 months?)

 

[cly2tw]

I also think Shaquille O'Neal would be on a mission to prove he is still a great player. He's got to know that if he could bring a championship here it would just take him up another level on the list of greatest players.


Joe Mama

Not to mention the personal satisfaction to stick it to Kobe and Phil, again, associated with a title with the Suns.

I say, as long as he is healthy, do it!

 

[HooverDam]

One thing I think you guys forgot to mention is the last year of his contract is going to be very appealing to teams looking for cap space relief and he should be a hot commodity.

No, Marion has a player option next year which he will probably exercise, because if he doesn't realize it, his agent knows he cant get 17.5 million anywhere else.

I say, as long as he is healthy, do it!

But, he's not. He has a disease, its called being old and fat, I'd assume many on this board are stricken with the same affliction

 

[PhxGametime]

I'd do the Trade!!!

 

[newfan101]

This trade actually makes perfect sense ... but only with Diaw, not Banks. Marion and Diaw for Shaq and a $2 million scrub, say Dorell Wright, works under the cap. It also saves the Suns $3.5 million this year, and gets them under the luxury tax, which we all know is the absolute primary goal of ownership. With the tax factored in, that saves them $7 million this year and roughly 7 million next year. Add in the $3 million they'll get when they sell the Atlanta pick, and the huge boost in merchandising, TV, advertising, and continued guaranteed sell-outs by having Shaq's name on the roster, and it suddenly makes a ton of sense … for this ownership group, that is. Never mind that Shaq can't play, doesn't fit our system, and is a poor complement to Amare. Sarver wants to get under the luxury tax and he wants a healthy bottom line. Anybody reading anything into this rumor from a basketball perspective is still living in the Colangelo past.

 

[Covert Rain]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

That about sums it up. Shaq is beyond washed up and he doesn't fit our system. Let's entertain for one moment that D'Antoni is willing to change the system if Shaq is coming here........



I know it's funny. However, lets assume he is willing to change the system, lets assume Shaq has anything left (I know I should insert more smileys) then how does anybody expect the Suns to have any success with a system change mid season?

Shaq cannot run. Marion is about 85% of the running game (receiving end of fast breaks). So with slow Shaq here and Marion gone, you would have to change the system.

Show me one team in NBA history that has changed their system mid season and went on to have success?

This trade doesn't make any sense in so many ways I have lost count.