Around the league - Shaq to Phoenix for Marion & Banks

[bill curley II]

Teams like us, Den, NO, Hou, Utah might as well think for 2-3 yrs down the line and make moves for the future. So that means might as well deal guys like Al, Sjax, Baron, AI, Camby, Peja, Okur, Tmac, Battier, etc... if they get some good young players or cap flexibility.

No point in even bothering to compete with LA, SA, Phx, and maybe Dal once they get Kidd. Whoever gets the 5-8 spots against those teams will probably win 1 game between them.

[rutheredfox]

funny thing is i think we'll beat phoenix in a 7 game series.

[giberish]

Teams like us, Den, NO, Hou, Utah might as well think for 2-3 yrs down the line and make moves for the future. So that means might as well deal guys like Al, Sjax, Baron, AI, Camby, Peja, Okur, Tmac, Battier, etc... if they get some good young players or cap flexibility.

No point in even bothering to compete with LA, SA, Phx, and maybe Dal once they get Kidd. Whoever gets the 5-8 spots against those teams will probably win 1 game between them.

GS beat Dallas last year, it's not unreasonable to see that happening again. Even if they trade Harris + filler for Kidd - Harris has been outplaying Kidd this year.

SA looks weaker than usual (at least for now) with nagging injuries to their stars and an old bench.

Phoenix (if the Shaq/Marion rumor is true) just got worse.

LA is dangerous, but not invincible by any means.

Portland in 3 years will be stronger than any of these teams.

[mudyez]

I'd really like to see this trade going down:

wade gets his pinky for brain (or was it batman+raobin?) and in combination with haslem its the perfect supporting duo for him...add a high draftpick and they may content soon again

as for phoenix: wow...I have to see mr. "cant stop a pick and roll" + mr. "whats helpside again?" play next to each other (without a real backup! they would average 11 fouls a night while oponents score 140 on them frequently (not saying the suns cant win nontheless)!

OT: Plz take a look at the link in my sig...there are only 2 slots open in the 08-fanatsy-draft (starting after the Allstargame) and it would be a pity if you would miss it!

[thetrueth]

Well, if we are hopeful that Webber can work on a run n gun team. Why can't shaq do the same for the Suns?

The big difference here is:

40 million >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> $600k

Plus

Matrix >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Troy Hudson

Laker fans must be loving this, they steal Gasol for a bag of peanuts, and another GM of a contending team makes a rash move like this.

[uteptwostep]

Does this make Phoenix the worst defensive team in the league? I don't get it.

[uteptwostep]

Well, if we are hopeful that Webber can work on a run n gun team. Why can't shaq do the same for the Suns?

The big difference here is:
40 million >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> $600k
Plus
Matrix >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Troy Hudson

Exactly. The Suns/Heat deal would be like us trading Jackson to get Webber. Crazy.

[TB]

the suns championship hopes rely on nash's back, hills ankles, and shaqs everything. i dont like their odds...

as for the heat, i think they still suck, but obviously moving on from the shaq era is a good thing. ive always felt that marion would struggle without nash. yet, they are probably not done due to the fact that they have two of the most coveted expiring contracts in jwill and ricky. although, rather than using them to get a star to help them this year, i expect them to keep them, tank for a pick, then use that money in the offseason to get someone like brand.

[OptionZero]

there's a bigger impact on the Warriors:

Marion has become available.

PHX would never have let us have him, but MIA doesn't give a crap. Marion can't be re-dealt this year unless it's 1 for 1; the only guy who can match salaries is Baron, and that isn't happening. The only time to get him, then, is this offseason.

Simple plan:

TPE for Mike Miller, NOW. Use Miller for the playoff run.

In the summer sign and trade Monta Ellis (Starting salary of $8M) and Mickael Pietrus (starting salary of $4M) with Mike Miller to MIA for Shawn Marion. BYC reduces Ellis to $4M and Pietrus to $2M, putting our total package value at $15M, easily fitting with Marion's $17M final year.

I am fairly certain Miami accepts a return of Ellis/Pietrus/Miller; they then draft Beasley or Greene or whatever PF/C, roll out this lineup:

Ellis
Wade
Petey
Haslem
draft pick

Bench: Miller, Wright, Cook, Blount

Meanwhile, I could live with:

Baron
Azubuike
Jack
Marion
Biedrins

Bench: CJ, Belinelli, Al, Barnes, Kosta, picks, vets

[FaTaL]

its hard to run in the playoffs, with the lakers getting bigger the suns had no choice but to get shaq and hopefully hes willing to get in shape

[warriorsfan15]

Chris Mullin needs to Make a trade.Our two Division rivals have gone out and made trades for Big Man.What has mullin done nothing. Mullin has to do something and if he doesn't then he's a idiot.I don't care who we have to trade if its Biedrins or wright as long if brings in a impact big man. I know you guys say what about the future, I'm tired of developing players I want to win now The West is wide open.This the warriors shot to go deep in the playoffs we just need that big man if we have to trade some of our young players so be it. As far the suns getting Shaq it puts them in the finals. Steve Kerr Understands That defense and half offense wins in the playoffs which the warriors front office don't understand. Shaq allows stoudmare to move back to the PF position.Shaq don't have run just like webber with the warriors.They going to run 4 man fast break they don't need shaq to run. Suns have a big front line unlike the warriors. And if they meet the warriors in the first round The suns would beat them in 5 or 6 games. Because the warriors can't match up with the suns frontline.Shaq would kill biedrins and stoudmare would destroy webber.The suns are the best at what they do and thats up tempo basketball.Warriors are the worst rebounding team in the league. And the suns do play defense they are 12th in the league in opp.FG%.Even the Head Coach of the spurs said they defense.

[floppymoose]

I predict the Suns < .500 record in all games where Shaq plays 30 minutes.

[RasKass89]

there's a bigger impact on the Warriors:

Marion has become available.

PHX would never have let us have him, but MIA doesn't give a crap. Marion can't be re-dealt this year unless it's 1 for 1; the only guy who can match salaries is Baron, and that isn't happening. The only time to get him, then, is this offseason.

Simple plan:

TPE for Mike Miller, NOW. Use Miller for the playoff run.

In the summer sign and trade Monta Ellis (Starting salary of $8M) and Mickael Pietrus (starting salary of $4M) with Mike Miller to MIA for Shawn Marion. BYC reduces Ellis to $4M and Pietrus to $2M, putting our total package value at $15M, easily fitting with Marion's $17M final year.

I am fairly certain Miami accepts a return of Ellis/Pietrus/Miller; they then draft Beasley or Greene or whatever PF/C, roll out this lineup:

Ellis
Wade
Petey
Haslem
draft pick

Bench: Miller, Wright, Cook, Blount

Meanwhile, I could live with:

Baron
Azubuike
Jack
Marion
Biedrins

Bench: CJ, Belinelli, Al, Barnes, Kosta, picks, vets

you is

[Twinkie defense]

Shaq's salary: sixty million dollars

Shaq and the Suns knock Kobe and the Lakers out of the playoffs, and win a title: priceless

[Mayor Baron]

Unless it's a major deal for a major superstar, I do not want our young guys leaving just for a playoff run in this year and next.

What i'm more interested in is how amare will do if shaq does go to phx. he will more likely move to the 4, but maybe less touches? Will he be unhappy or accept this new role?

also, i believe we can beat the suns in a 7 game series. nellie would go small... and run shaq off the court...based on shaq's health this season, he won't last long. and past history have shown that in a run-gun game, nellie exploits nash and we usually win.

[mistatwo mayn]

Shaq's salary: sixty million dollars

Shaq and the Suns knock Kobe and the Lakers out of the playoffs, and win a title: priceless

I can live with that...

Kobe's so called "legacy" will always be tainted with other's sperm (literally) as HE CAN'T MAKE THOSE BETTER AROUND HIM ON A NIGHTLY BASIS LIKE THE GREAT ONE.

They had to bring in a Denveresq squad this time around, with a solid big, a talented PF, a big 3 and Kobe as himself.

End of the day, he's still bitch made. Go suns.

[Mayor Baron]

oops double post

[FNQ]

The Lakers will have Kobe - Odom - Pau - Bynum

The Suns will have Nash - Barbosa - Hill - Amare - Shaq

Spurs still have their trio, Hornets are among the best.. Jazz flat out have our #...

This talk about trading for anyone would be awful for the franchise at this stage, a knee-jerk reaction... the Webber signing is enough to prove they are "trying to win now"

[turk3d]

It's amazing to me how the elite teams in the West all seem to be in panic mode as a result what the Lakers just did, seem to be willing to make desperate trades and willing to go into cap hell. I like our position right now and hope we don't follow suit. Mulson seem to have a good plan, a lot of good young talent (and now some old to match) and I hope they stick with it. Let's not f k it up and go off course as a reaction to the rest of the division. We're not going to win a championship this year no matter what we do (I think we have just as good a chance with what we currently have) so no need to screw with the chemistry we've put together. I get very nervous when I hear people talking about moving guys like Wright and Monta. That's the future.

Let's make our 8 seed (maybe move up a little if we can) and see what happens. We did pretty good as an 8 last year didn't we? Let the rest of those guys have to deal with their chemistry for the rest of the season. Everyone seems to be reacting to the "steal" that LA got. They're not going to get something like that, and are likely to mess themselves up by gambling on someone who's seen better days. Let's keep cool and only and I say only if something comes along that's really good then consider it. In the meantime, let those other teams knock themsevles out and let's see what Webber can do for us before we hit the panic button. I do agree that we might have a shot at Marion this offseason and we definitely should look at that (providing Miami doesn't resign him if he gets moved).

[marthafokker]

If it works, great for them. The good thing out of this is getting rid of Marcus Banks contract long term from Phoenix's perspective.

Hey, Nellie can do his hack-a-shaq attack. This will stop the Suns from running....