Shaq for Marion deal in the works?

[emunney]

Weird, weird, weird.

[wichmae]

Shaq is taking a physical in Phoenix tomorrow.

[Bucks_Revenge]

Tucker in 4 years= poor mans Shawn Marion .......

[El Duderino]

As out of shape as Shaq has become, he seems like he'd pass out and collapse on the court playing in that Suns fast break system. They better bring along multiple oxygen tanks on the road with them so we don't see the first death on an NBA court.

[75totheMACCfund]

Shaq is taking a physical in Phoenix tomorrow.

where'd you hear that?

[trwi7]

Holy ****. This trade is done. Once Shaq gets his physical tomorrow the trade is complete. Breaking on ESPN.

[WEFFPIM]

This trade just doesn't make any sort of sense for either party

[trwi7]

This trade just doesn't make any sort of sense for either party

I don't know for sure, I'm sure GAD could clear it up if he reads this but if Marion opts out they could have a ton of cap space (again I don't know what their salary situation is) and go after someone like Elton Brand over the summer.

[blkout]

Yeah it makes tonnes of sense for Miami, it's borderline genius on their part.

[ReasonablySober]

Last week I read that Miami was in the worst shape in the league according to some here.

I said that they were among those in the best shape. They could always deal Shaq to contender in the West. They still had Wade and no long term contracts.

Now they're on the verge of pairing Wade with Marion.

How are the Heat looking now?

Anyway, I like the deal for both teams. They don't need Shaq to run. They can use him when is applicable in the half court, but what he'll really be around for is to matchup with Bynum and Duncan.

The Suns made themselves the odds on favorites is this deal goes through and Miami now has two top ten players in the East.

But that's cool. I'm sure we'll be fine if Kohl and Harris sit on their ass and let the team develop around Redd, Mo, Bogut and Yi.

[Siefer]

This is one of the most unexpected and insane trades that I can remember.

[Kerb Hohl]

This trade just doesn't make any sort of sense for either party

I think it is just great for Miami...Shaq's contract was going to screw them in the coming years. Add Marion, Davis, and Williams to the mix and that is 3 deals expiring and taking 30+ million off the books.

They weren't going anywhere with Shaq, they obviously are almost out of it this year and he is only going to deteriorate more...might as well get a guy in Marion and see if he works out...if he compliments Wade well then maybe bring him back but otherwise they might have some flexibility in the coming years with one of the best sales pitches you can have, "the opportunity to play on south beach next to Dwyane Wade."

I don't get this for Phoenix. They've been close to their personal max with their salaries in the previous years and they've been trimming contracts and selling draft picks left and right. Maybe they felt like they probably weren't going to bring back Marion long-term, and even with his contract coming off the books maybe they thought they still wouldn't be able to put the money down on another elite player, so they might as well take a stab at adding Shaq. I am assuming they felt Marion would have walked and they wanted to just get something for it...and by that something hopefully the cure for Gasol/Bynum and Duncan inside...I'm just not sure he will fit in.

[trwi7]

I said that they were among those in the best shape. They could always deal Shaq to contender in the West. They still had Wade and no long term contracts.

Add that to the fact that their record is so bad right now that they'll most likely add a lottery pick to this and they're looking that much better.

[Siefer]

This trade makes perfect sense for Miami. I'm just amazed Riley got what he did. He got a top 20 talent to pair with Wade, and if Marion opts out, they've got a ton of cap room to work with in addition to their likely high lottery pick.

[ReasonablySober]

-= original quote snipped =-



I think it is just great for Miami...Shaq's contract was going to screw them in the coming years.

Miami had it set up perfectly, even if they didn't move Shaq. His contract expired at the same time as Wade, Blount, Cook and Haslem. They could theoretically go into 2010 with only two first rounders and two second rounders counting against the salary cap.

I don't understand why everyone is so hung-up on Shaq's contract. Yes, he's owed a ton each season, but it only runs for two more seasons. I'd rather owe Shaq 40 million over the next two seasons than Michael Redd 52 million over the next three.

[blkout]

I don't understand why everyone is so hung-up on Shaq's contract.

For me personally it's because in those two seasons you're looking at probably 50 games and 14/7, even less in the second.

[Kerb Hohl]

-= original quote snipped =-





Miami had it set up perfectly, even if they didn't move Shaq. His contract expired at the same time as Wade, Blount, Cook and Haslem. They could theoretically go into 2010 with only two first rounders and two second rounders counting against the salary cap.

I don't understand why everyone is so hung-up on Shaq's contract. Yes, he's owed a ton each season, but it only runs for two more seasons. I'd rather owe Shaq 40 million over the next two seasons than Michael Redd 52 million over the next three.

Sure, if you compare any player in the upper stratosphere of the league to Redd you would probably have them getting more bang for your buck...

I disagree, they could be contenders again if they make a big splash in next years FA market AND get a high lottery choice. Let's face it, Shaq is still one of the better centers in the east but he is fading fast. He can't even stay on the court half of the time. What makes you think they would have been able to do anything in the next 2 years? They lose decent role players in Williams and Davis so next year with little cap flexibility and a few pieces missing how do you think they will do much better than worst in the east this year and getting smoked in the first round last year. They realized that they were going nowhere and while Shaq is effective, it is time to start looking for replacements for him. Sure, they could have wasted 2 years and waited until 2011 I guess, but they would just be doing what the Bucks do and say "let's ride this train out that clearly no longer works and then once it is off our hands in 2 or 3 years I guess we can try to start over from scratch.

They can lock up a much younger star, or even bring back Marion if he works...I just don't see why trying to ride out the storm on a team that has been declining exactly in line with Shaq's career decline and then after riding that storm out having a roster with no players of any significance on it will do.

If you could give me an ideal situation, it would be a fairly young, do-it-all star like Wade, a few role players(Haslem), and a ton of cap flexibility. Add the potential of Beasley, Mayo, Rose, etc. and they will be contending for a title in 2010 not thanking their lucky stars that their total team salary is $700K.

[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!

[bango_the_buck]

I think Hollinger sums it up pretty well:

Hollinger: Senseless deal
Shaq trade just wouldn't add up for Suns

By John Hollinger

The Phoenix Suns have the best record in the Western Conference, a game and a half ahead of their closest rival. They have the best scoring margin in the conference. They're 8-2 in their past 10 games (while outscoring opponents by nine points per game). And the Suns have a slew of home games coming up because their early schedule was so road-heavy.

In other words, after 48 games they're in as good a position as they've ever been in to win their first conference title since Sir Charles and KJ did it 15 years ago.

And their solution? Blow it up!

The Suns are reportedly in negotiations to trade Shawn Marion -- a man everyone agrees is a vital cog in their attack because of his ability to run opponents into submission from the power forward spot -- for Shaquille O'Neal. (The Suns would include Marcus Banks.)

Good call. Clearly this Nash-Marion-Stoudamire nucleus isn't working out; they've won only 62 and 61 games the two years they were together. This year they were on pace for a meager 58, so I guess they thought it had run its course.

My first reaction to hearing reports about this deal was that I was being Punk'd. After that, I checked the calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1, and verified that the voice on the other end of the phone didn't belong to Orson Welles.

But there was no Ashton Kutcher, no Orson Welles, and the calendar says it's February.

Believe it or not, this is a real, live trade discussion that might actually happen. I'm not sure I've adequately conveyed my shock at this development, but suffice it to say nobody I've talked to finds it even remotely sensible.

Shaq may be the one player who is least capable of thriving in the Suns' system. Run the break? No, thank you. Set a high screen and dive to the cup? Maybe 10 years ago. Space the floor for 3s? Please.

He's 35 and out of shape; at the moment he's also hurt. Even when healthy, he's had difficulty staying out of foul trouble long enough to make an impact. While I'll grant that Shaq can still be an offensive force -- even with his struggles this year his PER is a very solid 18.17 -- he's toasted regularly on defense. And if you thought Marion complained about not getting shots, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Even if you subscribe to the idea that Marion had to go -- there have been mutterings about his attitude for quite a while -- you can't seriously tell me this was the best deal on the table.

While matching his $17 million contract is difficult, the fact that there's only a year and a half left on it means there are partners out there. Just thinking out loud, for instance, you'd think New Jersey would have taken Marion in a heartbeat for Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson, and the Andrei Kirilenko deal that was so heavily discussed before the season also would seem preferable.

Marion, by the way, hadn't let his dissatisfaction and his own offseason trade demand affect his play. His 20.25 PER nearly matches last year's 20.87, and he's made up for a reduction in shots by cutting his turnovers and increasing his assists.

But despite his performance they're trading him for an older, less effective player, and one who could not be more of a square peg in a round hole in their system.

And get this -- the deal will worsen their cap situation, too. Shaq is on the books for two years after this one at $20 million a pop, whereas Marion only has one year left at less money, and may opt out after this season. So in addition to messing up their own team, the Suns will be basically handing Pat Riley a big fat Get Out of Jail Free card.

In short, this deal feels like one of these movie scenes where the lead character has a plan and says, "It's crazy ... but it just might work!"

I'm not sure about the working part, but it's definitely crazy. I'm praying this trade doesn't really happen, because the Suns have been too entertaining for too long to screw up their title chances like this.

[Bucks_Revenge]

I think Kerr was better at his other day job.......