RealGM

I have been a lurker on here for several years but have never posted. I just received news from a friend of mine who works in securities and intelligence that his boss just got off the phone with Shaq. I can personally vouch for the fact that this buddy of mine has actually eaten lunch with his boss and Shaq on several occasions due to their close relationship.

This afternoon his boss mentioned to him that Shaq was discussing the possibility that he might be traded to Phoenix! He has not yet received any further info so there is still no evidence to support this ridiculous and seemingly impossible scenario. However, my friend told me that his boss would not joke or make light of any situation regarding Shaq. So there might actually be some substance to this. Moreover, his boss did not know any additional details such as who else would be involved in the trade.

He is going to call me later tonight with any further information that he is able to gather. Again this is by no means confirmed and does not seem realistic to me at all. However, if there is indeed any truth to this earth shattering possibility I figured everyone here would want to know.

I will post again immediately as soon as I learn of any new details that will either confirm or negate this rumor.

It would be nice mate, but i doubt it will happen.

What company does your friend work for?

Diesel would really slow Pheonix down.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... NBA&id=245

Rotoworld, quoting Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, is reporting this.

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.

link to article

it would have been nice if it had been Stat instead of Marion though

OHHHHHHHHHH SNAP Just heard Shapiro on 7 saying the deal is in the freakin works. Banks and Marion for Shaq. WOW!

Just heard on 7 that a deal is currently in the works for Marion and Banks. Somebody confirm this NOW!

If Riley pulls this off, does he win the General Manager of the Year award?

wow

Scoop of the year by ZOinvtdtheBLOCK.

Do we keep Marion? I don't know how his style would translate in the East-- or do we just let him walk and go crazy over the free agent class try and bring in Emeka and Artest

wow
get cap room a year sooner, Marion runs through next year only
can play Matrix at the 3 with UD, or trade any combo of UD/J-Will/Ricky for a SF or C

this could be like that trade year when Riles gutted the team and got Hardaway, Gatling, Tony Smith, etc all in one shot

i wouldnt keep marion long term..i would use him as trade bait or let him expire and get some nice FA"s...we have a poor man's marion in wright already

Coast to Coast just shot it down.. but who knows

.........woah if this goes down i'd be so damn happy!

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.

Link: http://www.miamiherald.com/594/story/407442.html


the guy was speaking the truth.

IO,
Bucher and Stein just didn't want to admit they got scooped.

Why would the Heat let Shaq know he could be traded if they weren't in serious discussions with the Suns? We can't keep him after this.

Bucher and Stein seemed to believe there was no way the Suns would consider a trade for Shaq, and that sounds extremely unlikely given what we know.