OFFICIAL: Shaq traded for Marion/Banks

[LittleOzzy]

Is Marion gonna play today?? Any news?

I'm guessing he probably will. All the paper work should be completed by now and Marion probably will get a quick run through today in practice.

[pspot]

Does this trade make the Suns better? NO, not in the regular season.

How about the playoffs? Possibly, depending on how many minutes Shaq and his running mate Nash play.

If they can run you down for 30 mins and then beat you up for 18 or visa versa thats a pretty solid 1:2 punch

I think Diaw can step up and they expected more from him

[Guy Smiley]

I'm pretty excited to see how it works on the Suns end. I think Shaq needed a change of scenery so that he could put some of his wifey issues behind him. He should get some great looks with Nash feeding him in his sweet spots and thanks to some very good shooters on the Suns I think we will see a very happy and motivated Shaq.

Marion now gets a chance to make a name for himself playing as a second fiddle rather than a 3rd. I'm happy for him but I'm not entirely sold on his overall impact on winning. He has enough talent to help improve the woeful Heat but I don't see them jumping to the top of the conference without some serious rosters changes.

The Heat have shown you how to unload a big contract while the Suns have laid it all on the line. I love it just like I liked the Celts moves to go for it all. Obviously there are risks when you swing for the fences but that is what it is all about. You can't win it all without taking some calculated risks otherwise you are left praying that the bunch of pansies you have assembled will eventually get it if you coddle them enough.

[HaZe123]

Imagine if the Suns took d-mart for steve nash...damn.

Too bad the salaries don't match and it would never happen.. but still.

Ugh yeah bud.. trying to mock me or something.

[Shaazzam]

The Heat have shown you how to unload a big contract while the Suns have laid it all on the line. I love it just like I liked the Celts moves to go for it all. Obviously there are risks when you swing for the fences but that is what it is all about. You can't win it all without taking some calculated risks otherwise you are left praying that the bunch of pansies you have assembled will eventually get it if you coddle them enough.

Good points here, but one quick point about moving big contracts. Shaq daddy has a championship pedigree as well as the fact that he's a big, well the biggest. That makes his contract much easier to move than say a dude like Starbury.

But I agree that it was a master stroke by Riley. Sheer genius. Got the big fella to MIA to get a ring, gave him his money and then shipped him out for a dude in a situation where MIA really doesn't have much to lose.

And I love seeing all these teams looking to hit homeruns. This is far and away the most interesting, wide open run into a championship in I don't know how long.

Three teams in the East have a serious shot at making the finals and the West is wide open with a whole wack of teams looking to throw down.

Thank god I have a PVR this year.

[AllKnowingNBAer]

A little off topic here... but since Miami is looking to make the team better, sooner rather than later, as a result of Dwyane being able to leave in a couple seasons, would you trade one of our PGs for their unprotected pick in the draft?

With the addition of Marion, they might not be the top pick anymore, but still likely to be top 5.

[rocket2981]

I think that the fact Miami were willing to take on Banks' contract was when the deal was really done. Phoenix was just trying very hard to move Banks so it's not bad for them.

Now the Suns bench will be thinner because Marion was playing a lot of minutes and Shaq can't play more than 28-30 minutes because of age and fouls. Diaw will play more but a serious injury would be very costly for them, they now have Diaw, Barbosa and Skinner + 4 scrubs on the bench. I know every team is an injury away to falter but the Suns are more vulnerable than anybody...

[Guy Smiley]

Good points here, but one quick point about moving big contracts. Shaq daddy has a championship pedigree as well as the fact that he's a big, well the biggest. That makes his contract much easier to move than say a dude like Starbury.

I agree that Shaq has a championship pedigree but you wouldn't know it based on the numerous comments in this thread and in the media. He hasn't been in top form this year and I believe a lot has to do with the fun factor missing from his game/life. Obviously time stands still for no one but I think he still has a little diesel left in the tank but he needs to use it more sparingly and with a little more support from teammates.

But I agree that it was a master stroke by Riley. Sheer genius. Got the big fella to MIA to get a ring, gave him his money and then shipped him out for a dude in a situation where MIA really doesn't have much to lose.

Yup, I would say Riley did very well for himself and didn't wait until it was too late to start the rebuilding process. This should be a lesson to those that think you need to wait a decade for internal growth before you can make significant improvements.

And I love seeing all these teams looking to hit homeruns. This is far and away the most interesting, wide open run into a championship in I don't know how long.

Three teams in the East have a serious shot at making the finals and the West is wide open with a whole wack of teams looking to throw down.

I fully agree and I'm loving every single minute of it. There is excitement in the league like I remember back in the 90's. The NBA is fully back in my books.

Thank god I have a PVR this year.

Did TheDoc make you say that.