Its OFFICIAL: Shaq joins the Suns

[mkot]

Yep, it's about time we traded a productive, popular, long-time Sun for Hot Rod Williams again.

Without Shawn, it's hard to fathom this being the Suns team we have witnessed the past few years. And without Shawn, we definitely aren't in the hunt for the title. We can't say we're in or out of the hunt until we've actually seen how this team plays with Shaq on the court. I suspect we're still out of the hunt, but with Shawn I could say it definitively.

[nevetsov]

In hindsight, would anyone have done Marion, Banks for Pau and Mike Miller? Marion would opt out and clears more space than Kwame does. Plus, it would have kept the Lakers at bay.

Anyway, it's all moot now, but I wonder if the suns management even looked into it..

[rhp1990]

PHX will not be as good as they were with Marion...marion rite now is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Shaq, yall just helped out MIAMI more then Memphis helping the Lakers out... Taking on Shaqs big contract is going to hurt in the long run...

[enigmatics]

How does a guy with a hip problem and sitting out 6 games pass a physical?

Remind me again what medical diagnostics you ran on the man

[bww78]

one plus about shaq - when he's motivated, he's like a man possessed

Ya, possessed by food.

[LakerZombie]

Wow, what a great deal for the Suns!! Finally, the 36-year-old, injured, immobile, fat, fat, fat center we've been looking for! This is a move the Suns had to make. After our division rival grabbed one of the best big men in the game for essentially nothing, we had to answer. And let's face it, getting Shaq certainly trumps the Warriors' acquisition of Chris Webber.

I don't think the Suns are done dealing yet. There are still some big names out there that could help this team. Now that Banks has been dealt, we need a new backup PG, and who better than GARY PAYTON?! He's available and you know he'd be psyched to come here! Then, for some big-man depth, let's sign SHAWN KEMP! Yes!!!! Payton, Kemp, & Shaq on the same team? OMG SUNS WILL NEVAH LOSE!!!!!!! 82-0 HERE WE COME!!!

But wait: I sense some of you are worried about the future. After all, Amare will now be our only starter under 30. Luckily this franchise has been stockpiling draft picks for years, so the future is very bright. I've heard a lot about Atlanta's draft pick is probably going to be in the top 5, so that should turn into a VERY good player, maybe someone along the lines of Chris Mullin (if only the Warriors hadn't locked him up as GM -- he'd be the PERFECT complement to Kemp & Shaq down low). Don't worry Suns fans, I expect our current core to be able to contend AT LEAST through 2005, and once those draft picks start developing, it's dynasty time!!!!!!!!!!

lol lakers fan here and that was a great post.

IMO this seems like an impulse trade if it indeed goes down. This probably would have worked had it been last year and we only had ONE post player to worry about.

Not talking trash....but good luck in getting the Big Aristotle back in dominnant shape.

[Tenbomber]

Yep, it's about time we traded a productive, popular, long-time Sun for Hot Rod Williams again.

I feel for yah....

That trade made little or no sence for the Suns....

Riley should be arrested for "negotiating a worthless instrument"....IMO its a steal for the Heat...

My condolances to Phoenix fans on your loss!...

[Downtown]

Sonics fan here. Since everyone else has thrown their 2 cents worth in I thought I would as well.

Of course it looks strange since Shaq doesn't fit the Suns run and gun style one bit. Most people are not looking at anything beyond that.

But Kerr must have a read on the way Marion hasn't been happy and probably would opt out. By getting Shaq he's pinning his hopes on a 3 year window with Nash, Stoudamire, and Shaq rather than the twosome of Nash and Stoudamire.

Of course it's a gamble, but a calculated one. There's alot of finger crossing in the Suns camp that Shaq will be more motivated, and that he can get healthy and adjusted by the playoffs. We've seen it in the past when he hasn't played as hard as he can during the regular season and saved himself for the playoffs.

Personally I don't like the trade because Phoenix was playing well, but I can see the rationale behind it.

[dice]

Shaq can't rebound

this is a great deal for miami, but let's not go overboard. rebounds/48:

07-08: 13.1
06-07: 12.5
05-06: 14.4
04-05: 14.6

[jaypo]

For the record, I don't think he hasn't been sitting out because of the injury. I think he's been getting treatments, and Riley and he knew trades were in the works, so they were resting him. I firmly believe that, and I believe that Shaq and Pat mutually agreed to part ways some time ago. I don't think the injury is as bad as the media is making it out to be. It's just pretty rough on a 35 year old to try to guard 5 guys all the time, and to stay out of foul trouble when guards and forwards are getting to the rim all night!

[Phoenix1977]

For the record, I don't think he hasn't been sitting out because of the injury. I think he's been getting treatments, and Riley and he knew trades were in the works, so they were resting him. I firmly believe that, and I believe that Shaq and Pat mutually agreed to part ways some time ago. I don't think the injury is as bad as the media is making it out to be. It's just pretty rough on a 35 year old to try to guard 5 guys all the time, and to stay out of foul trouble when guards and forwards are getting to the rim all night!

You are a smart smart fellow.

[movingaz]

The Suns biggest weakness and most NBA teams is they double team too much leaving other players wide open to knock down shots.

With Shaq the Suns should not have to double team players like Duncan and Parker shouldn't be able to drive the lane for layins.

What are teams on offense going to do double Amare, double Shaq its going to cause a lot of problems and leave our perimeter players wide open.

Shaq every year takes a bunch of games off to deal with some imaginary injury. He will be motivated and with the Suns magical training staff he should be fine.

Don't panic lets see how they play.

[jaypo]

-= original quote snipped =-



You are a smart smart fellow.

If that's a compliment, then I thank you. If it's sarcasm, please prove me wrong.

[mkot]

I don't think Shaq sees the ball in the post anymore than Amare or Boris. I think we're keeping Shaq out of the lane, as a high post passer/screener for Nash. And thats only when he makes it past half court. Maybe, MAYBE, in a 2nd unit consisting of Hill, Boris, maybe DJ/Raja/LB, then we'll work Shaq in the low post in a slow-down type of offense. But thats still on Mike to allow that to happen. I think a 2nd unit, half court game with Shaq and Hill would work beautifully. Raja and LB spotting up for the kick-out is ideal in theory.

[djericho]

"I got hurt on Company time, so I'm gonna heal on company time" -Shaq

at least he moved to a new company, so maybe he'll heal and workout in the off season. He's pretty much toast for this season injured and out of shape. Maybe being in the western conference against the Lakers, Spurs and Dallas will light a fire again.

I'm not afraid of the suns this year, maybe next year.

[Sun Scorched]

You guys remember when all of the Magic trolls kept coming over here and laughing at us for taking on Grant?

Kinda reminds me of when all the Laker trolls came over here and made fun of us for taking on Shaq... wait, that's a large amount of the garbage I am sifting through on these threads now...

I am going to say it until I am blue in the face, but don't underestimate Shaq, the Suns trainers or Steve Kerr. I am pretty sure this was well thought out and I would bet my life they have a definate plan going forward.

[dice]

double post

[Sun Scorched]

Dan Le Batard of The Miami Herald: "Kobe Bryant thought Pau Gasol was taking him over the top. Now Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr has told the Western Conference, 'I see your Gasol and raise you one Shaq.' Shaq's style doesn't work in Phoenix? Taking passes from Nash kind of works for anyone. And dunking and shooting 60 percent fits just about anywhere. O'Neal either wasn't quick or healthy enough to get away from the double-teams here anymore. That won't be a problem the way Phoenix plays. O'Neal has gone from trying to play in an airplane bathroom here to playing in the open space of the airplane hangar -- if he's healthy enough to keep up with a team that plays as if on jet fuel."

Brilliant, brilliant article.

[djericho]

In hind sight, I thought Kwame Brown would have been a better fit. Runs the court, can defend 1-on-1 against bigs.

His only downfall is his inability to catch passes, but Nash makes everyone better so I would think he would have been a natural and better fit than Shaq in Phoenix.

[S.T.A.T. 32]

Shaq Jersey's already on sale