NBA Execs: Upping The Ante

[Jim Todd Jr.]

Before the season starts, the Celtics shock the world and acquite Garnett. We wont even mention Ray Allen. This move alone upped the ante for GMs across the league and now I think we are feeling the ripple effect as we aproach the deadline.

The Lakers add Pau. All of a sudden everybody is looking at them as possibly the team to beat in the west. Upping the ante even further.

Now apparently there is an eminent trade with the Suns and Shaq. Obviously that turns them into potentially the best team in the NBA.

Does this further up the ante, and possibilities for another massive move by an elite NBA exec who now feels his team is inferior? Does this put the pressure on Dallas to make that trade for Kidd? Do the Nuggets pull the trigger on something? Does Cleveland? Moreso now then ever, the kind of business psychology of trading young assets for your one shot at a ring seems to be fashionable.

Its inevitable somebody is gonna mortage the future of their team and not win a championship.

Sure makes for an exciting season and upcoming postseason though.

[Danchan]

lol shaq is a million years old. if suns add him it'll be nothing more than a major mistake. Are they going to adjust their style of play in mid feburary? Cuz Shaq sure ain't in the condition to sprint up and down the floor for more than 2 consecutive plays.

[Jim Todd Jr.]

But does phoenix sprint up and down the floor in the playoffs? No.

Because they play teams who know how to slow them down.

Shaq will be a primary defensive anchor in the playoffs for the suns against the big men in the west. As well as a strong rebounder down the stretch in the late game.

[Don't_Reach]

Shaq as a primary defensive anchor? When was the last time Shaq was a force on defence? A played a lil' D back in 2003 but since then he's been fouling machine in the playoffs

[seanbig]

I just hope shaq won't be like hakeem on the raptors.....

[The_Original_Baller]

If you look at the contending teams in the west, Spurs, Dallas, Lakers, you have Oberto, Dampier, and Bynum playing the 5 with Amare playing the 5 for the Suns. Now you can put Shaq on the above mentioned at the 5 and play Amare at the 4 to go head to head with Duncan, Dirk, and Gasol. It's all about strategy.

[mudyez]

oe thing is for sure...if the shaq-trade goes down...its one of the most enjoyable trade-deadlines in the last years...hopefulle there will be a kidd trade and maybe a cartertrade too....btw.: can we have some additional allstar-spots for the west?

OT: Plz take a look at the link in my sig...there are only 1 slot open in the 08-fanatsy-draft (starting after the Allstargame) and it would be a pity if you miss it!

[metaldaze]

Before the season starts, the Celtics shock the world and acquite Garnett. We wont even mention Ray Allen. This move alone upped the ante for GMs across the league and now I think we are feeling the ripple effect as we aproach the deadline.

The Lakers add Pau. All of a sudden everybody is looking at them as possibly the team to beat in the west. Upping the ante even further.

Now apparently there is an eminent trade with the Suns and Shaq. Obviously that turns them into potentially the best team in the NBA.

Does this further up the ante, and possibilities for another massive move by an elite NBA exec who now feels his team is inferior? Does this put the pressure on Dallas to make that trade for Kidd? Do the Nuggets pull the trigger on something? Does Cleveland? Moreso now then ever, the kind of business psychology of trading young assets for your one shot at a ring seems to be fashionable.

Its inevitable somebody is gonna mortage the future of their team and not win a championship.

Sure makes for an exciting season and upcoming postseason
though.

If you are close like Dallas is if one or two moves can put you over the top you have to go for it as the heat did a few years ago. I like the moves it's a chess game right now up till the trade dead line you can expect more moves in the west for sure GM's in the east will make less moves as you have 2 contenders and 3 or 4 pretenders.

[LittleOzzy]

I think come trade dead line day it might be one of the most interesting we have seen in years.

[hksazn]

Suns are aging so I could see why they would try to push for a dominate bigman. The time frame for them is about 2 years give or take before they start declining. It's definately a gamble though.

[torsport]

With LAL making a big move and Suns making a big move, I definitely expect Dallas to repond (Cuban won't be outdone). Houston and SA will also be pressured to make a move if they want to have a serious shot.

I agree this trade deadline will be very interesting with the bulk of the big player movement going West IMO: VC to Houston and Kidd to Dallas...that's my prediction. I think SA will stand pat for the most part.

[omeloon]

I just hope that the Magic don't get Mike Miller.

[kmatrixg]

The Suns are no better than yesterday. In fact, I think they will be worse off with Shaq instead of Marion. Bad move.

[The-Insider]

It's only a matter of time now that Dallas grabs Kidd from Jersey IMO.

[chsh22]

I think come trade dead line day it might be one of the most interesting we have seen in years.

I think it'll be one extreme or the other. I think there will be either a lot of big moves, or none at all, no middle ground. The reasoning is that I think most of the "big trades" have already happened, and there aren't really any other big trades out there to be made I don't think. I'd say Chicago could move some bodies, but they seem content to just suck and not try to improve.

[Cassius]

I just hope that the Magic don't get Mike Miller.

What's going back the other way? That would be a dominant lineup that would slay teams from outside. Orlando has some expiring deals too, but no young talent anywhere but in the backcourt.

In terms of the Phoenix trade, I think I understand the thinking behind it.

Whereas before, Amare and Marion both had to stay back to collect rebounds, outlet the ball and then get on the break, with a motivated Shaq grabbing 9-10 or so per game and changing shots on the defensive end, Amare can just release more often than not in the same way he did when the Suns had Joe Johnson, Q and Marion, all great rebounders at their positions.

Further, this makes what was becoming a bad deal in Boris Diaw a good deal as he is now going to split all the SF minutes with Grant Hill and get some PF minutes when one of Amare and Shaq sit down. Diaw's passing will be very valuable in feeding Shaq.

The offense will probably run 1) into Shaq, 2) out to Nash, 3) into Amare in the elbow region 4) Dunk or dumpoff to Shaq for dunk.

The sad thing for Phoenix in all of this is that they either could have avoided this scenario by keeping their two firsts and Kurt Thomas, or could have possibly kept Marion by dealing Kurt, Diaw, Banks and two firsts for Shaq instead.

[JJWong17]

But does phoenix sprint up and down the floor in the playoffs? No.

Because they play teams who know how to slow them down.

Shaq will be a primary defensive anchor in the playoffs for the suns against the big men in the west. As well as a strong rebounder down the stretch in the late game.

Actually, yeah, they still do run and gun in the playoffs. However, they didn't do too badly (they did rather well actually) when Kurt Thomas was the only big on the floor (mostly because of Amare's foul troubles from having to defend Duncan). I don't remember the running system being slowed down too much by Thomas's presence so I assume the same could happen with Shaq. I'm really interested in seeing how this works out actually.

[GWgw]

What is with the horrible trades for star players lately. Considering th Gasol, Iverson, Ray Allen, and Carter trades, I think the Garnett and Shaq/Marion trades look very reasonable.

[Buyaka]

If you look at the contending teams in the west, Spurs, Dallas, Lakers, you have Oberto, Dampier, and Bynum playing the 5 with Amare playing the 5 for the Suns. Now you can put Shaq on the above mentioned at the 5 and play Amare at the 4 to go head to head with Duncan, Dirk, and Gasol. It's all about strategy.

[Cassius]

The fact of the matter is that the Lakers are still going to score every time down the floor when they play each other.

Bynum and Gasol are too mobile for Shaq and Odom and Bynum are too strong for Amare.

Oddly, the Lakers may be able to run on Phoenix now.