Shaq to Suns close?!- Miami Herald, Rotoworld

darius08 · Post #81 » by **darius08** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 3:13 am

Sixerscan wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Disagree. Kerr looks like an idiot right now.

I think it's way too early to say Kerr looks like an idiot. This is a gamble trade. If the gamble fails he'll look like an idiot. If not, he'll look like a genius. Of course, people have strong opinions now but those are just guesses. The next 40 games will really tell the tale.

Post #82 » by **Sixerscan** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 3:30 am

That's why I said "right now."

Unless Shaq is a terrible person and quit on the Heat this year while intentionally trying to foul out of every game this gamble probably isn't going to pay off.

bebopdeluxe · Post #83 » by **bebopdeluxe** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 3:38 am

The more that I think about this deal - assuming that Shaq can even get back to where he was a year or so ago - the more that I like it for the Suns. They are going for it all...not unlike what the Celtics did with getting KG (while giving up Al Jefferson, who is going to be a beast in this league well after the "Big 3" are gone)...it's a given that Boston will have some REAL rebuilding in 2-3 years, but until then they've given themselves 1-2 pretty good shots at getting to the Finals (which is what it's all about...cause anything can happen in a 7-game series).

With Nash, Amare, Diaw, Hill, Barbosa and crew, the Suns will still be able to run...a lot...but when it's a tie game with 2:30 to go in Game 5 of a series against the Spurs or Lakers, I think this trade (with a Shaq that has any game left) gives the Suns a better chance to win. Instead of Nash having to dribble around the perimeter and hit shots out of his azz to give his team a chance to win games, they will be able to have some nice floor spacing out there and be able to get more people more shots. And even if O'Neal has lost a step or two in the low post, he's still 7-freaking-1 and 290...which can't hurt against Bynum or Duncan.

Oh...by the way...how many big playoff games has Marion ever had, huh?

Not many.

And, in 2010 (only one year later than Marion's departure), a ton of contracts roll off the books and the Suns can build around Amare, Barbosa, Diaw and whoever else is left.

And (again) - I respect Kerr's stones.

(and I hope/wish that the Eagles do something really stupid like this in 2008 to win a Lombardi...it shows me that the ownership is willing to take the shot...the Celtics are doing it...the Red Wings have been doing it for years...as a fan of that team, I would LOVE it)

Post #84 » by **The Guilty Party** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 4:14 am

From the Suns side of things, this reminds me a lot of when the Sixers traded for Chris Webber. I think Shaq's body isn't going to last but that contract will.

Let me ask this... if Shaq retires, what happens to his salary in regard to the cap??

Post #85 » by **Sixerscan** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 4:30 am

I think they would get relief but he's not going to retire, especially if he's on a good team.

Post #86 » by **The Guilty Party** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 4:38 am

I doubt that he just walks away from $40MIL but I'm sure the Suns would love if he did after this season.

Post #87 » by **The Guilty Party** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 5:19 pm

Man... the Shaq news conference is on and the more I think about this trade... the less I like it. I just don't see how he's going to hold up physically and fit in with their style.

This seems like "Webber to the Sixers" all over. Big name, lots of news, slow hobbled former superstar, and in the end... no results.

Johnny Broad-Street · Post #88 » by **Johnny Broad-Street** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 5:29 pm

Couldn't agree more. I love Shaq....I'd hate to see him limp out any more than he already has.

Post #89 » by **The Guilty Party** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 5:38 pm

Here's a hypothetical... if we still had AI, should we have gone after Shaq??

Johnny Broad-Street · Post #90 » by **Johnny Broad-Street** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 5:41 pm

Nah...we were so far away from having anything that could help him

Johnny Broad-Street · Post #91 » by **Johnny Broad-Street** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 5:41 pm

WAIT! Mis-read what you said....hmmmmm.....that's a lot of "IF"

Sixersftw · Post #92 » by **Sixersftw** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 5:47 pm

hmm... no

A.I, Iguodala, Shaq would have been a good base for a team 3 years ago (besides iguodala being pretty green) but at this point shaq isn't anything to write home about. We would be too far away and with those contracts on the books no way to plug in proper peices.

Post #93 » by **The Guilty Party** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 5:47 pm

We would have an extremely unbalanced team as far as youth and older players go and probably wouldn't make it past the 2nd Rd.

Ollie/Williams
Iverson/Green
Iguodala/Carney
Webber/Thad
O'Neal/Booth

We wouldn't have Miller or Jason Smith since we would have Iverson. And I imagine Dalembert would be one of the players sent down to Miami for Shaq.

Johnny Broad-Street · Post #94 » by **Johnny Broad-Street** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 5:51 pm

Ah what the hell...I'd do it. Would we be any worse?

Post #95 » by **The Guilty Party** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 6:16 pm

I love your attitude. Seriously... there is no better motto for any sports' fan that the ol' "Ahhh, what the hell?". :-)

Grenerd686 · Post #96 » by **Grenerd686** » Fri Feb 8, 2008 4:26 pm

how does this affect the Heats cap space this summer. I know Riely had a plan in to cut salary and with the trade of Shaq that helps. Are they potential offseason competition in the free agent market?

Post #97 » by **The Guilty Party** » Fri Feb 8, 2008 8:23 pm

IF Marion opts-out, I believe the Heat will have somewhere around $15MIL in cap space. I don't think Marion will opt-out though since the only teams he could leave the Heat for are the Sixers and the Grizzlies and neither team can come close to offering him anything near the $17MIL he's scheduled to make next season.

Did anyone else read Pat Riley's comments about how Wade and Marion remind him of Jordan and Pippen? What do you make of that?

Johnny Broad-Street · Post #98 » by **Johnny Broad-Street** » Fri Feb 8, 2008 9:28 pm

Marion's no Pippen...and Wade's REALLY no Jordan.

Everyone drinks the Marion Kool-Aid....I don't see it

The Sixer Fixer · Post #99 » by **The Sixer Fixer** » Fri Feb 8, 2008 9:51 pm

The Guilty Party wrote:IF Marion opts-out, I believe the Heat will have somewhere around $15MIL in cap space. I don't think Marion will opt-out though since the only teams he could leave the Heat for are the Sixers and the Grizzlies and neither team can come close to offering him anything near the $17MIL he's scheduled to make next season.

As with Brand and other players who can opt out, I don't think they will be looking to make as much per year as what they are getting (meaning I don't think Marion will be looking for a deal that starts at 17 mil/yr). I think the purpose of those guys opting out is to get a new long term deal where they have more security. I think he'd be willing to take a deal that starts maybe around 13-14 mil if he can get locked into a 4-5 yr deal. I know that still limits the teams that can make an offer, but just trying to say I'm not convinced he's going to be looking for a deal that starts at 16 mil+. He would make up the $$ lost in the first season by getting the long term deal.

The Sixer Fixer · Post #100 » by **The Sixer Fixer** » Fri Feb 8, 2008 10:11 pm

So I just saw an article on Hoopsworld where they are speculating that Marion will immediately be re-traded. Article says multiple sources believe Marion's stay in Miami will be very short. Would kinda make sense if the Heat are going into a complete re-build. If they can get exprings for Marion, they would be major players in FA.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=7323