Shaq to Phoenix

[Ballings7]

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

O'Neal will travel to Phoenix aboard a private plane, the source said, to undergo an MRI on his ailing left hip Wednesday. 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 discussions regarding the trade.

Johnny Ludden is the NBA editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Johnny a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

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Wow

I think this will have mixed results at best... but if Shaq can stay relatively healthy, mesh in okay, and be consistently productive (hehe) - it'll be a positive trade for Phoenix. That's a lot to happen, though. A whole lot.

That contract and the risks and changes for the Suns, all in the middle of a season....

Going to be very interesting, for sure. Don't know how much better it's going to make them as a whole, and in their weak areas.

Bottom line, Shaq can't get hurt much, or else it's going to be a bad trade.

I like it for Miami, assuming Marion stays past this season. Marion/Wade/Haslem/high draft pick is a good start to retooling for the Heat.

[HarlemHeat37]

doesn't change anything for me..

Shaq doesn't fit their style, and he isn't a good defender in any way anymore..Shaq+Amare= a lot of fouls..doesn't change anything for us vs. the Suns..

[Ballings7]

^ I agree. But I would guess they'd slow it down to an extent when he's in the game... can't see Shaq playing at the pace they do.

[Big Money]

If I were the Spurs I would be gitty of seeing the Suns slowed down with that fat ass. Im inclined to say that Gasol/Bynum is more of a concern than STAT and Shaq

[Ballings7]

Indeed ^.

[mudyez]

wow...lets pretent, that its a good trade for the suns....dont want to see the suns GM's looking at this board and see: "wow, that has to be such a badass-trade, that spurs already are celebrating the death of our franchis!"

we need to see the STAT+SHAQ-Frontcourt...Suns would be able to post back-to-back-140-point games against that silly inside-defense

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!

[Blame Rasho]

I think the Suns might actually be older than us with this trade...

I don't get it.... I think Marion helps the Suns get closer to the championship than a 35 year old O'neal.

[Ballings7]

Shaq, Bell, Hill, Nash... old, injury concerning group there.

The Suns don't have a versatile defender and great rebounder anymore.

Nobody is a "good" rebounder on the Suns anymore (Skinner could be, but doesn't and won't play enough to be so).

One of Nash, Hill, Bell will have to guard Tony now - only easier than before now for Tony.

On the wings the Suns have one stand-out defender now in Bell. Hill's decent and smart, but nothing special. Strawberry and Tucker aren't arriving yet as legitimate players till down the road.

Hill's role only increases.

One of the rookies (Tucker/Strawberry) will be forced into the rotation, which will have mixed results. Unless D'Antoni just goes shorter.

[pro2020]

This might be bad news for teams in the West. The problem Shaq had when Wade was out was that he had everyone double teaming him in the post and when he passed out to the shooters they were terrible shooters, in Phoenix they have excellent shooters in Bell/Barbosa/Nash that he can pass out to.

[Ballings7]

^ Last season Miami had shooters (Posey, Kapono, Williams, Walker, Jones, Haslem) but Shaq was hurt too much for it to be a consistent thing. Also has been hurt more since then.

It's more likely Shaq's not going to improve his health. That "might" isn't that strong.

Only Nash and Bell are in the starting line-up and in the game down the stretch, also.

[pro2020]

^ Last season Miami had shooters (Posey, Kapono, Williams, Walker, Jones) but Shaq was hurt too much for it to be a consistent thing. Also has been hurt more since then.

It's more likely Shaq's not going to improve his health. That "might" isn't that strong.

Only Nash and Bell are in the starting line-up and in the game down the stretch, also.

I was referring a little more to earlier this season, the Heat have terrible shooters.

Either way, I def. wouldn't mind Shaq failing that physical.

[Ballings7]

Yeah, I know, but the health of Shaq is the main factor.

Also would have Amare as a shooter with his mid-range shot. Possibly even take more threes. But just two three pt shooters.

[-SDU-]

lets just say from the suns point of view its a high risk high reward type deal

it will either make us or break us, there will be no middle ground IMO

[Tiga]

"I have no clue what they are thinking," one Eastern Conference scout said. "Shaq retired two years ago."

[wizardg]

I think the loss to us last week may have effected their outlook on the playoffs.
Why?
1. The Spurs were mired in a three game losing streak and our worst record for a month this decade
2. Tony Parker and Brent Barry were out.
3. Game was in their house
4. The fans wanted blood from last year and screamed like it was a NBA finals matchup.

5. WE STILL CRACKED THEM. If they couldn't beat us last week ... they/Kerr realised that they can't a currently composed.

I have to respect that they are trying to win. This trade at the very least is an admission that they can't win with what they've got.

[667Club]

They just want to sell some Shaq goodies

[Magz50]

Getting an old injured Shaq just gave us an even bigger advantage against the Suns. At least they could stick Marion on Parker and let Bell guard Manu. Now they're gonna be screwed. Thanks Kerr!!

[Black_Jack21]

I think this may actually make them easier to guard.
Shaq in means no run and gun. Now that Marion is gone Bowen is free to guard Nash without fear of Marion lighting up whoever is guarding him.
It'll make it easier for Gino and Parker as Nash will likely have to guard one of them.
The only bad thing for the spurs about this trade is that Timmy will find it a little more difficult to score with 2 bigs instead of STAT plus Marion. I think Miami just ripped PHX clean off.
I don't see what they are thinking.
Rebounding wise they drop off.
defensivly i think it is a draw, while marion gives up height he is less fould prone.
Offensivly definalty down with Shaq.
While i'm sure they realised they needed to make a move to be able to beat us, i'm pretty sure they have jumped the gun and made the wrong one but we'll see.

[Magz50]

^ Maybe the old Shaq would give Timmy trouble. I know Tim had a bad game vs Shaq earlier this year but that was when had just come back from injury. Timmy at the moment would rip Snaq a new ahole. Snaqs only good for fouls these days. Plus Timmy can always draw him out and dish for easy drives to the basket. It also means we can play our real game vs the Suns and not have to adjust to small ball. We can use our big Oberto and Elson without having to worry about Marion lighting us up. I love this match up.

[pro2020]

This will also change the way the Spurs attack the rim against the Suns, that's why it's kind of worrisome, Parker and Ginobili are very hesitant to attack the basket with a huge guy like Shaq knocking them on their asses constantly.