Kerr, Gentry on Shaq trade
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:40 pm
Suns.com: First off, why did you decide to make this trade?
Steve Kerr: “We felt it was important to make a move to gain financial flexibility so that we can make this transition to reestablish ourselves as a basketball team. We have to get to a point where we can make basketball decisions rather than financial ones. For the last few years we’ve obviously had very good teams with very big payrolls, but we need to make that transition and move forward so that we can kind of reestablish the next phase that our organization and team will go through.”
Suns.com: How difficult was it saying goodbye to Shaq, who had an All-Star season this year?
Kerr: “Shaq was great. I spoke with him last night and thanked him for his contributions. He exceeded our expectations on a personal level. Unfortunately, we didn’t perform as well as a team as we hoped. But Shaq came in and did everything we asked and then some, and we want to wish him well. We certainly hope everything is successful for him in Cleveland.”
Suns.com: What was his response to the news?
Kerr: “Shaq was just very professional about it and I think he’s excited to play with LeBron (James) and have a chance to win a title. Obviously, that’s what we brought him here for and we felt like it was important to give this team a chance and a shot, but it’s also time to realize that you can’t be stubborn. Once you see that something is really not going to click going forward, then it’s time to take the next step and that’s why this move makes sense for us. We’re now on the path towards reestablishing ourselves as a younger team with assets moving forward, and financial flexibility to make basketball moves.”
Suns.com: The speculation is, of course, that the two players acquired will, center Ben Wallace and swingman Sasha Pavlovic, will not be with the Suns next season. Is that fair to say?
Kerr: “We’ll see. As the deal stands right now, the only way to really save the money is to release Pavlovic, so that’s more than likely going to happen. As for Ben we’ll explore every option, whether it’s another trade, whether it’s keeping him on our roster and seeing if he can play a role, or potentially buying him out and allowing him to go to a situation that’s better for him, but those are all things that we won’t even address until after the draft.”
Suns.com: The fans’ reaction on the message boards and on Twitter has ranged from confused to concerned that this might signal the “blowing up” of the team. How would you address the fans?
Kerr: “Well, this is the first step in establishing the next phase for the Suns. The only way you can do it, as evidenced by all the trades you see these days, is to gain financial freedom or flexibility. So this is just helping us get to the point where we can follow through and put the best team on the floor possible for many years to come. As I said, we made a push here the last couple years to try to sustain the run that we had over those first three years (2004-07), but it’s become apparent to us that it’s time to move forward. Time to push forward and that’s what we’re doing.”
HEAD COACH ALVIN GENTRY:
Suns.com: What are your thoughts on the trade?
Alvin Gentry: “The big thing is that we’re trying to move forward now. But I tell you Shaq did a great job for us. He had a great year for us. He’s just such an impact on your team, personality wise, his play on the court, he demands double teams. I think if you look back at what he accomplished here and what he did, he had a great year for us, and we enjoyed having him here."
Suns.com: This is an unusual trade, of course, in that everyone was happy with his play this past season. How much are you going to miss him, not only on the court, but just as the Big Character that he is?
Gentry: "I just talked to him this morning on the phone and you will miss him. This had nothing to do with him as a player, or attitude wise or anything like that. It’s just something that we had to do to move forward with our team, and try to have a good team in the future. I think he understands that. He understands that part of the business. It was great having him around. It really was. He’s a great personality and I think he plays for all the right reasons. He wants to win and he’s determined to win a fifth ring and I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Suns.com: Draft Day is always busy, but how much more hectic is this one compared to a typical year?
Gentry: “It’s pretty typical actually. There are all kinds of rumors that float around this time of the year about who’s getting traded and who’s not. I think in our case, we’re just trying to improve our team and see if we can take the next step to get back into the playoffs, and be a factor in the playoffs. So that’s what we’re looking to do right now.”
Steve Kerr: “We felt it was important to make a move to gain financial flexibility so that we can make this transition to reestablish ourselves as a basketball team. We have to get to a point where we can make basketball decisions rather than financial ones. For the last few years we’ve obviously had very good teams with very big payrolls, but we need to make that transition and move forward so that we can kind of reestablish the next phase that our organization and team will go through.”
Suns.com: How difficult was it saying goodbye to Shaq, who had an All-Star season this year?
Kerr: “Shaq was great. I spoke with him last night and thanked him for his contributions. He exceeded our expectations on a personal level. Unfortunately, we didn’t perform as well as a team as we hoped. But Shaq came in and did everything we asked and then some, and we want to wish him well. We certainly hope everything is successful for him in Cleveland.”
Suns.com: What was his response to the news?
Kerr: “Shaq was just very professional about it and I think he’s excited to play with LeBron (James) and have a chance to win a title. Obviously, that’s what we brought him here for and we felt like it was important to give this team a chance and a shot, but it’s also time to realize that you can’t be stubborn. Once you see that something is really not going to click going forward, then it’s time to take the next step and that’s why this move makes sense for us. We’re now on the path towards reestablishing ourselves as a younger team with assets moving forward, and financial flexibility to make basketball moves.”
Suns.com: The speculation is, of course, that the two players acquired will, center Ben Wallace and swingman Sasha Pavlovic, will not be with the Suns next season. Is that fair to say?
Kerr: “We’ll see. As the deal stands right now, the only way to really save the money is to release Pavlovic, so that’s more than likely going to happen. As for Ben we’ll explore every option, whether it’s another trade, whether it’s keeping him on our roster and seeing if he can play a role, or potentially buying him out and allowing him to go to a situation that’s better for him, but those are all things that we won’t even address until after the draft.”
Suns.com: The fans’ reaction on the message boards and on Twitter has ranged from confused to concerned that this might signal the “blowing up” of the team. How would you address the fans?
Kerr: “Well, this is the first step in establishing the next phase for the Suns. The only way you can do it, as evidenced by all the trades you see these days, is to gain financial freedom or flexibility. So this is just helping us get to the point where we can follow through and put the best team on the floor possible for many years to come. As I said, we made a push here the last couple years to try to sustain the run that we had over those first three years (2004-07), but it’s become apparent to us that it’s time to move forward. Time to push forward and that’s what we’re doing.”
HEAD COACH ALVIN GENTRY:
Suns.com: What are your thoughts on the trade?
Alvin Gentry: “The big thing is that we’re trying to move forward now. But I tell you Shaq did a great job for us. He had a great year for us. He’s just such an impact on your team, personality wise, his play on the court, he demands double teams. I think if you look back at what he accomplished here and what he did, he had a great year for us, and we enjoyed having him here."
Suns.com: This is an unusual trade, of course, in that everyone was happy with his play this past season. How much are you going to miss him, not only on the court, but just as the Big Character that he is?
Gentry: "I just talked to him this morning on the phone and you will miss him. This had nothing to do with him as a player, or attitude wise or anything like that. It’s just something that we had to do to move forward with our team, and try to have a good team in the future. I think he understands that. He understands that part of the business. It was great having him around. It really was. He’s a great personality and I think he plays for all the right reasons. He wants to win and he’s determined to win a fifth ring and I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Suns.com: Draft Day is always busy, but how much more hectic is this one compared to a typical year?
Gentry: “It’s pretty typical actually. There are all kinds of rumors that float around this time of the year about who’s getting traded and who’s not. I think in our case, we’re just trying to improve our team and see if we can take the next step to get back into the playoffs, and be a factor in the playoffs. So that’s what we’re looking to do right now.”
