Which Miami is tougher?

[evildallas]

Given the hot rumor of a deal sending Shaq's huge contract for Shawn Marion's very large contract and Marcus Banks, which version of the Heat do you think makes it rougher on our Hawks?

[HMFFL]

I just can't picture Phoenix trading for Shaq. I mean come on now, the team basically has said many times they don't plan on going over the cap like that, and even if they don't they won't be able to continue to contend with the amount Shaq is injured.

I read a article today that said Miami plans on pursuing Elton Brand during the off season rather strongly. That worries me just as much as thinking about Miami acquiring Marion.

[evildallas]

I don't see how they can pursue Elton Brand in the off-season. Even with all their expiring deals don't give them enough cap room to go after room if he opts out. If he doesn't opt out they don't have the pieces to trade for him if he's healthy. If the Phoenix deal doesn't happen, Shaq would make no sense for the Clippers roster as it is constructed.

I think the Phoenix logic is the window is closing as constructed and their clubhouse is rumored to be less than harmonious. I can see how they can imagine that Shaq could work for them.

Nash (2 years left)
Bell/Barbosa
Hill/Diaw
Amare
Shaq

When they half court they can be large. When they run Shaq can stay on 1 end like Kareem often did with the Showtime Lakers. When Shaq is on the bench they can go small with Diaw as the undersized 4 and Amare moving to the 5.


I do have a way for Miami to get Elton Brand, but it requires the Clippers to suspect they are going to lose him or want cap space for the off season. It also requires Miami to act before the trade deadline not in the summer. Miami could offer Udonis Haslem and the expiring deal of Jason Williams right now for the injured Elton Brand and continue to focus on ping pong balls. If necessary they can throw in Dorell Wright to sweeten it. Put that together with the Phoenix deal and a high draft pick and next year they look like:

Chris Quinn/Daequin Cook
D-Wade
Shawn Marion
Elton Brand
Rookie C like DeAndre Jordan
The big 3 would be 30, 29, and 26 respectively.

It rolls the dice on Elton Brand coming back healthy and Shawn Marion being happy, but it gives them a big 3 that is younger than Boston and with a C that probably has more upside than Perkins. If Wade takes point, Cook can play the 2. Quinn can play the point and Wade the 2. Or the most likely case is they make a run at a PG using the MLE like maybe Duhon. Or they have Marcus Banks they can try in the PG role.

Waiting until summer doesn't work as well for Miami because with the draft pick cap hold they have no room under the cap to make a move for a Brand or Jamison.

[HoopsGuru25]

Suns, Heat agree to Shaq trade


No longer confident they can win a championship with their current roster, the Phoenix Suns are close to completing a blockbuster trade that will bring them Shaquille O'Neal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.

O'Neal is scheduled to travel to Phoenix aboard a private plane Wednesday, the source said, to undergo an MRI on his ailing left hip. If he passes the physical, the Suns will complete the trade by sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.

The Miami Herald first reported the Suns and Heat were in serious trade discussions involving O'Neal.

Frustrated by Miami's dramatic dropoff this season

[HoopsGuru25]

lol is this a serious question? Miami is the worst team in the league. They are tied into Shaq's monster contract for 2 more years after this. Moving him for Marion gives them a much better player or cap space to possibly go after some one such as Josh Smith. Steve Kerr CAN'T be this dumb. This doesn't make sense from a basketball or business perspective. Not only would Shaq slow their offense down..he's also a much worse defender than Marion. I just can't believe how dumb some of the GMS in the NBA are.

[High 5]

Considering Marion actually plays I don't think it's a question. I seriously doubt this trade happens, though. I don't see Shaq making the Suns better.

It would be funny if Shaq wasn't even on the team come March 8. They couldn't let Marion play could they?

[HMFFL]

The trade is happening unless Shaq fails his physical!!!

The .59 second game looks even worse now for Atlanta.

[evildallas]

Just because I see what Phoenix thinking doesn't mean I agree with it. This is a panicked domino falling after the Gasol trade. Shaq isn't anywhere near Shaq anymore.

Also, don't expect Marion to opt out of his contract in Miami. He is due 17M and he can't get that on the open market. Miami isn't getting any more cap room next year. They are getting more cap room in a full year early unless they extend Marion. It is a steal of a deal for Miami, but I still think they should make a play for Elton Brand now. Adding Marion will likely cost them some ping pong balls, which means the odds of getting Beasley or Rose goes down and they won't have space to pursue anyone with Blount, Haslem, Banks, Cook and a rookie cap hold eating 25M and D-Wade and Marion eating 32M.

[evildallas]

Hmmm, would Marion be eligible for the 59 second game? I mean Miami couldn't have traded Shaq during the timeout and brought in a different player. I think I would look into filing an appeal on the grounds that ordered replay does not redress the wrong in a fair manner if Shaq is no longer on the Miami roster.

[evildallas]

If this does go down I may have to give up suggesting trades. I mean I try to make realistic trade suggestions that aren't grossly one-sided or based in fantasy assumptions. Yet the trades that wind up getting completed are far more one-sided than I could ever have imagined. I mean Gasol gets traded for what essentially is a couple low 1sts and the rights to Marc Gasol and expirings. Stromile Swift gets traded for the statistically worst player in basketball without any cap savings. Now a guy who seems really washed up and still has 2 more years for 40M on his deal gets traded (if it happens) to a team that had been so concerned about cap room that they have been selling off 1st round picks for years. I swore that he was immovable and that other teams' GMs shared my opinion that it was a good thing he was eating up Miami's cap room.

We're probably offering too much to make a deal in this strange new world.

[mudyez]

as for miami: definaty the matrix version...you see what you get with shaq and marion is the perfect complement to d-wee...with a high draftpick I could see them become contenders again....wade+matrix+haslem is a great trio especially if you think about how they mesh together

as for phoenix: I'd pay a lot of money to see a shaq+stat-frontcourt....oponents would score 140 frequently against them!

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!

[mudyez]

This is shocking news!!

According ESPN's Ric Bucher, the deal is done and Shaq will be flying to Phoenix in the morning to take his physical.

Coming to Miami will be Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.....

WOW!

Thoughts?

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!

[atlsun]

this trade cant happen.....this is shaq.....out of all the teams that could trade for the suns?....this is madness......rin an gun with shaq i cant see it.

Wow at trading Shaq though, and pat said that he will never trade the daddy.

[AU hawksfan]

That makeup Miami game should be thrown out the window now. Shawn shouldn't be able to replace Shaq. It will be interesting to see how they do this.

[conleyorbust]

This has got to be the worst trade ever. The Suns are 3 games ahead of the Lakers... top team in the west. Marion plays 36.4 minutes a night and hasn't played less than 79 games since his rookie season, Shaq plays 28.6 minutes on a much slower team and hasn't played 60 games in 3 years. This really kills the Suns roster flexibility too, it makes no sense. If it doesn't look like it's working, can we trade all of our expirings for Steve Nash right at the beginning of the offseason?

[D21]

For this season, the Matrix version will certainly be as bad as the Diesel one, because MIA needs to get a high pick, and they already started to tank since at least 1 month

If they start to win now, and ending the season not being in the playoff and getting a lowest pick, this trade is stupid for them.

[killbuckner]

wow- another lousy trade. Its amazing to me how many bad GM's there are in the league

[evildallas]

For this season, the Matrix version will certainly be as bad as the Diesel one, because MIA needs to get a high pick, and they already started to tank since at least 1 month

If they start to win now, and ending the season not being in the playoff and getting a lowest pick, this trade is stupid for them.

This is why I think they need to make a real push to trade for Elton Brand. They could accidentally win too many games with a small ball running style and wind up with a low lottery pick instead of an ultra sweet pick. Elton would give them nothing this year, but return next year to form a big 3 with a top 5 rookie pick.

[JoshB914]

Another ridiculous Phx move. They just now realized they have no one that can play defense in the low post? And what do they do? Go get a guy with a huge contract that can hardly run the floor to play in Dantoni's system. And they could have had KG. That FO is absolutely horrible.

[fo_o_fo_404]

This whole thing is a debacle!

Now that Shaq has been traded to Phoenix, I wonder what the league is going to do for that 51.9 seconds game we must play on Mrach 8th.

The league should just give us the win now...unless they make Shaq come back, dress for the Heat, play the 51.9 secs, then leave.

This game was scratched because of the fouls given to Shaq.

Crazy.

How do you think this league should approach this?

I think that the conditions of the MIA-Phoenix trade should be that iff the trade is approved, that the Heat must drop their protest of the game. Unless Suns management allows Shaq to come here, dress in a different locker room, come out on the floor, play then 51.9 seconds, then leave immediately.

With the league saying that the game will be played, regardless if Shaq is there is crazy!

They should award us with the win and give Miami there loss now...rather than going through the trouble of playing a do-over.