Shaq traded to Phx; Marion, banks to Miami

[Doctor MJ]

I'm still in shock, and still skeptical. Obviously, acquiring a peak Shaq would be something that would improve Phoenix significantly, but he wasn't even close to an all-star this year and you never know when his massive body is going to decide to sit on injured reserve.

[CrookedJ]

I think its created a very level top tier in the west.

I see a lot of shots being taken with Shaq on the other side of half court, but that s not necessarily a bad thing. They can still run their break, you don't need 5 guys to break the way Phx does. They will still look to create 4 on 3 type situations. Then if it slows they have Shaq as a trailer, or to set up the half court.

They are gonna create fits for teams in the half court - Shaq has never had this quality of three point shooting around him before.

[osiyal]

Steve Nash will make Shaq better. Shaq will work harder in a new environment. During half-court sets, Shaq will give the Suns a better chance of scoring. Shaq doesn't need to get on the fast break-all he has to do is give the ball up on a rebound.

The Heat gets cap room and a good SF thus setting the team for rebuilding.

Not a bad deal for both teams, theoretically speaking. We still have to see how things pan out.

[Jules Winnfield]

I'd have to think that Nash would be against this trade. Shaq did say Nash's MVPs are tainted. Great start to the chemistry there.

[G35]

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Who said the Heat will get a top draft pick? With Marion they might make the playoffs in the East.

Damn your right. Acquiring Marion does throw a wrench in the whole tanking thing.

I don't think they can make the playoff's but he could jack up their draft position.......

[ImmortalD24]

The Lakers and possibly the Spurs would still beat them in a 7game series, they've gotten marginally better but now their window to win a championship is less than a year, total panic move by Kerr they are really screwed for the next two years.

[Flash3]

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Who said the Heat will get a top draft pick? With Marion they might make the playoffs in the East.

Who's to say Marion won't get flipped over to another team for an expiring/draft picks?

There's no way Miami's going to get the 8th seed, no way!

They might not have 6/7 game L streaks, but there's no way they are making the POs.

[Ballings7]

With Shaq and minus Marion, I seriously don't think the Suns can be the overwhelming favorites in any seven game series.

I'm trying to think, but with Shaq, I think they'd have a hard time beating Houston...but could probably pull it off. I don't think they could beat GS, I don't think they could beat Utah or Dal or SAS or LAL....I don't think they could beat Denver now either. Thoughts? Am I overreacting?

Agreed. Also still like the Hornets over them. The Hornets match up well with them, one less defender for Paul to face now in Marion gone (who wasn't too effective anyway, but still, easier). And while Chandler had a bad statistical series, he proved to be effective guarding Shaq in the 2006 playoffs. Shaq can't slow down Chandler, either, and considering Chandler's a superior player himself from two years ago. The numbers on the sereis don't show it from Shaq either, but Chandler made it tough on him, and stopped him numerous times, over that series.

I actually liked Denver over them before Shaq.

They certainly filled their biggest hole. It just remains to be seen how much losing Marion will effect their fast break. Personally I think they will be fine. Shaq isn't going to play more than 30 minutes. They can run with him as the outlet passer and they can certainly run without him using Amare and Diaw at the 4 & 5. He is basically a high priced role player. He fills exactly the role they needed.

Definitely. But this is all assuming he's relatively healthy in his tenure, and a consistently effective defender and rebounder. That's a lot to ask, most especially the former. The motivation will be there, but the ability and availability has to be there, too. Quite a bit to ask, and is the other side of the trade, being the risk factor (combined with that contract and Shaq getting even older).

Shaq will have the passing, and that's an overlooked/underrated part of his game - but he isn't the scoring presence he was in his first two years with the Heat, and before of course. That won't be needed as much in Phoenix, but it's still going to be needed on a regular basis. Also isn't the rebounder he once was 3-4 years ago and prior, not being good, but still being able to get a bunch of boards per game. Respectable.

[Nashty]

The correct answer is no one.

[Jordan45822]

Depnds on Shaq's health.

[floris_]

I'd have to think that Nash would be against this trade. Shaq did say Nash's MVPs are tainted. Great start to the chemistry there.

I don't think Nash has much of an ego. All he cares for is a ring.

[superLuigi21]

i like the move for the suns.. as was previously stated, this can work cuz shaq wont be asked to run w/nash... hes there to provide defensive support under the basket, and to score in the low post.. ill use my nets as an example: jason kidd loves to run, and to truly thrive he needs 2-3 guys to run w/him on the break... the nets have started jason collins for the majority of the past 5 yrs, and he was never a liability in the nets running game (just an offensive liability) ... the suns will be ok, and they can definitley compete for a title

[Buck You]

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Who said the Heat will get a top draft pick? With Marion they might make the playoffs in the East.

The Heat are 9-37. They aren't making the playoffs!

[Esko]

That's not really a "theory"

A theory would be something like the rivalry between the Suns and Lakers is heating to an all-time high. The Lakers just got a big man, so the Suns felt they needed to respond. Who else is better than Kobe's arch-rival?

[Russ369]

Ok, its more like pointing out the obvious... But still...

[Cash]

Your arithmetic is questionable. This saves the Suns a couple hundred thousand dollars this year, about a mil next year, and COSTS the Suns about $15.5 mil in 2 years. That's not factoring in luxury tax or the possibility of Marion opting out after this year.

[snaquille oatmeal]

how ironic would it be if the Lakers trade Odom for Marion now.

[magicfan4life05]

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=758774

[Jules Winnfield]

Steve Nash will make Shaq better. Shaq will work harder in a new environment. During half-court sets, Shaq will give the Suns a better chance of scoring. Shaq doesn't need to get on the fast break-all he has to do is give the ball up on a rebound.

The Heat gets cap room and a good SF thus setting the team for rebuilding.

Not a bad deal for both teams, theoretically speaking. We still have to see how things pan out.

This is the type of delusions people are having.

When Shaq was the MDE, he still wasn't working hard. When he was the best player in the league he wasn't working hard. What makes you think he's going to work harder now that he's lost some of his physical gifts?

[UDRIH14]

you want a theory?

a theory whats there excure when they dont win...