Shaq vs. Kidd Trade: Which was Worse?

[The Diesel]

Hey guys,

I thought this would make for a really good discussion.

As we all know, Dallas and Phoenix made big trades last year and both got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

Which trade do you think was worse; Kidd or Shaq? Both teams have taken a tremendous amount of criticism for the moves and I was wondering which team made the biggest mistake in regards to these two trades.

I think the Shaq trade and here's why.

- Kidd is not as washed up as Shaq.

- Giving up Devin Harris was not as bad as giving up Shawn Marion as Marion is a much better player than Harris.

- Dallas gave up draft picks, yes, but they will only be late first round picks, so it's not really a big deal

- A team with Kidd/Howard/Dirk and coached by Rick Carlisle is as good as any team in the NBA.

- Phoenix just lost one of the best coaches in the NBA (D'Antoni) and is stuck with an over-paid, washed-up Shaq to go along with an aging Nash.

Which trade was worse? Was it the Kidd or Shaq trade?

I think this will be a good topic to debate.

Thanks!

[LakerFanMan]

Honestly, I think it's too early to tell. I think we have to wait until we see them for a full season before we can say. However, I would say that I think the Shaq trade is going to turn out worse for the Suns then the Kidd trade is for the Mavs. Kidd still has a lot of game left in him and you know he'll be on the court for most of, if not all of, the season. Shaq has a tendency to get lazy and sit out for large amounts of games. In terms of what each team gave up, I think the trades were relatively even in terms of value.

[The Diesel]

I definitely agree that the Kidd trade was better long-term because Kidd can still play at a high level while Shaq is completely washed up and Dallas didn't give up as much.

Harris is not as good as Marion and I don't know if New Jersey will find a player like Marion with those late-round picks they got from Dallas.

The Shaq trade was worse.

[kooldude]

Kidd trade. Bad for the Dallas system, he has no finishers, bad on half-court, past his prime, got a coach fired, gave up a potential good player.

The Shaq trade can still be beneficial. If we say who has a better chance of winning a title, I would say the Suns solely because of the Shaq factor. The Mavs aren't going anywhere; at least the Suns got a small window left.

[b-ball forever]

Both trades were (Please Use More Appropriate Word).

That's what I said at the time they got pulled off, that's what I still say now

[JordansBulls]

I don't think anything was wrong with the Shaq trade because the Suns were on the verge of just getting rid of Marion anyway. Marion had wanted to leave for a while so at least they got something in return.

Dallas had to do something as well. They had the same team that lost the previous in the 1st round, so they needed to make a move.

[D-31]

Kidd trade.

The Suns future didn't include Marion anyway, they might as well have gotten something for him.

Jason Kidd was terrible because they gave up their future in Harris + draft picks for a point guard that didn't fit their team. And while he should do better with Carlisle, he can't guard any star guard in the league.

[RTM]

The Kidd trade. My reasoning is that Dallas really mortgaged their future by trading Harris and future picks for a fading Kidd, and that though Shaq is getting old, he allowed Amare to move back to PF where he dominated.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Trading a young player like Harris was a mistake. So the kidd trade. Both were stupid though.

[DMannOC]

Kidd trade and it isnt close

[draft]

The Kidd trade is worse because Dallas gave up more. Harris is a good young pg and they gave him up for 36 year old Kidd.

[EasternMagic]

they both sucked, but dallas lost a great future point guard in Harris.

[legacyinthemakin89c]

If its about perception, I think more people would be surprised if the Suns made the finals as opposed to the Mavs, so I think as of right now, the Kidd trade was better. If Kidd wants, he can play at this level for the next 2 or 3 years, especially since now he doesn't have to concentrate so much on rebounding and just on playmaking.

[Relentless88]

Kidd trade was bad, they gave up a lot. Devin Harris > Jason Kidd.

[RapsGM]

I think that the Shaq trade was worse, because the suns are already an older team (Nash) and getting them an young SF or first round pick would have been more ideal. Shaq was one of the greatest of all time, but hes not that shaq anymore.

[Jordan45822]

I don't know why people can't see that Devin Harris is over-rated. But to the answer the question neither because they had to do something and they didn't play a full season yet and now they have coaches.

[LeonPowe]

I don't know why people can't see that Devin Harris is over-rated.

Enlighten us

The Kidd trade was worse. The Shaq deal gave the Suns a better chance to get past the Spurs (it didn't work, but it was worth the shot) than with keeping Marion. They also got rid of an unhappy player who was going to walk at the end of the year (Marion) and a bad point guard (Banks). Plus, Shaq can still play the interior defender/rebounder role at a good rate. The Kidd trade just mortgaged their future for an over-the-hill point guard who can't defend and can't shoot. Awful trade.

[shawngoat23]

Shaq trade, by far.

At $20 million for three years, Shaq was the worst contract in the league. And somehow, the Suns decided to give a useful Shawn Marion and didn't even pick up a Michael Beasley in the trade.

Don't get me wrong, Kidd is quite overrated too in my opinion, and I'm pretty high on Devin Harris. But the Suns promptly dropped from first place in the West after picking up an over-the-hill Shaq who didn't fit their system. Plus with the Spurs showing no qualms about resorting to Hack-a-Shaq, they had no hope of making the second round.

[Guy986]

Kidd trade was worse.

[Young_Star11]

Shaq trade was worse IMO.

With Marion, Phoenix would have avoided SA and gone far into the playoffs IMO.

They traded for Shaq, which any armchair critic could see wasn't going to end up good for them.