Heat in serious talks to trade Shaq

[Darren]

Heat in serious talks to trade Shaq
Posted on Tue, Feb. 05, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
BY BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com


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.

[Rand10]

I think Shaq is untradeable unless the Heat are willing to take back a terrible contract in return. Too old, too injury prone, too expensive.

[ppp000]

Why would the Suns do that??
Shaq in run and gun??

[Darren]

Rumored package is Marion (can opt out) and Banks (3 years).
And the Heat consider it serious.

[JES12]

I'd give a 1st round pick to help facilitate Shaq to Phoenix and Marion to Miami!

[Rand10]

Rumored package is Marion (can opt out) and Banks (3 years).
And the Heat consider it serious.

They're delusional if they think it's serious. It would almost be like us trading Howard for Shaq...not gonna happen.

[Rand10]

I'd give a 1st round pick to help facilitate Shaq to Phoenix and Marion to Miami!

Agreed lol

[dirkforpres]

1. No way Dallas would want to put together a better package than Marion and Banks.

2. Let them dump Shaq on Phoenix, theres no way they could run with him in the lineup.

[JES12]

1. No way Dallas would want to put together a better package than Marion and Banks.

I'd give anything they want outside of our big 3 to get Marion as our SF and move Howard to the 2.

[dirkforpres]

-= original quote snipped =-

I'd give anything they want outside of our big 3 to get Marion as our SF and move Howard to the 2.

Me too... That would be just like when Rasheed pushed the Pistons over the hump and made them the powerhouse in the East, but who knows how actively the Suns are trying to move Marion, if that has any truth to it at all

[Rand10]

Looks like the Shaq for Marion, Banks trade might have some legs......

[JES12]

Looks like the Shaq for Marion, Banks trade might have some legs......

Yeah, Marions!

[JES12]

I wish there was a way to jump in and snab Marion from this deal.

[Rand10]

Bucher reporting Shaq will go to Phoenix for a physical Wednesday

Sweeeeeeeeetttttttttt

[Nickhex777]

Looks like the Mavs might have offered Howard...read the last line

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... nline.html

[Rand10]

Looks like the Mavs might have offered Howard...read the last line

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... nline.html

Not a chance in hell we offered Howard.

[JES12]

Damn!

If they played their card's right, we would have given them a 1st to help facilitate Shaq ro Phoenix.

No Marion!
Shaq all dizzy running around in circles
Phoenix selling off all their players for the next 3 years.

Gatta love it!

[JES12]

Looks like the Mavs might have offered Howard...read the last line

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... nline.html

Yeah, whatever! Just last week they reported we were willing to give up Harris for Kidd.

Guess we all know how real those reports were.

[ppp000]

WTF is going on with all these GMs this season????

Really doubt we were going to give up Josh for 60 yr.old Snaq.

[mavsfoty]

Is it sad that I'm this excited about a trade that doesn't involve Dallas?

Come on Shaq pass that physical.