Shaq to Cleveland Rumor

[Tommy Udo 6]

I posted this on Bulls Forum - then came here for comments - and see that you dont have the article:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... l#comments


A potential Suns trade that would send center Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland to help LeBron James' title quest is heating up again after the idea was put on a back burner following February talks.

The parts of the possible deal remain the same. Phoenix would send O'Neal to Cleveland for veteran power forward Ben Wallace, who is considering retirement, and reserve guard Sasha Pavlovic, whose final contract year is not fully guaranteed.

With O'Neal's $20 million salary (but a $21 million salary-cap number due to a trade kicker), the trade could save the Suns $9.9 million or even more if Wallace wants a buyout. The trade would save the Suns $3.1 million in payroll and projected luxury tax. Cutting Pavlovic, who has $1.5 million guaranteed in his final contract year's $4.95 million salary, could save another $6.8 million in payroll and tax.

Wallace, 34, also is entering the final year of his deal, which would pay him $14 million. He is coming off an injury-marred season that was his most unproductive in 14 seasons. Wallace would consider a buyout, but Cleveland could use him as a trade chip, particularly to get O'Neal to counter Dwight Howard, whose Orlando Magic ousted the 66-16 Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

If the Suns acquired and bought out Wallace, they would save more than the $9.9 million that a deal and Pavlovic waiver would save.

(more at link)

[B Mac]

This should be done at the end of the summer only if nothing else falls into place. Ive got to think that this is on the back burner.

[Mr. Sun]

Hard for me to vision how this helps other than gives CLE a giant trading chip (expiring $20 million).

[Amon_Ones88]

Why not. Pretty much anywhere he goes he gets a ring, and there is no doubt he is overall better then Ben Wallace and Sasha combined. So go ahead it will make us better then use our money on a nice guard.

[L&H_05]

No. Kobe and Wade are Shaqpions... I don't want LeBron associated with that..

[Amon_Ones88]

I don't care what LeBron is associated with as long as he is always a Cavalier and if Shaq wins us a title and keeps him here you can call him any name you want. Seriously if Shaq could do it then we would really deny this city a title just because you don't want him associated with winning a title with Shaq like Wade and Kobe did? At this point I'd be fine with just purchasing a title for this city...

[CodyB]

So, L&H, you would be willing to risk Cleveland's short term chance at a ring in order to preserve Lebron's legacy? Are you a Cavs fan at all? Screw his legacy, you want your team to win

Some people.

Shaq, if focused, will make you guys a contender. He commands so much attention that, with Lebron in the line up, the opposing team will have to put single coverage on one of them. The Cavs will shoot 55+%.

[The Diesel]

Chris Broussard and J.A. Adande have both said this rumor is false and nothing is imminent.

[BigDaddyPR]

Shaq with Lebron equals a ring for Cleveland.. Lebron will obviously still be the man, but unlike this year, he will have consistent help and veteran leadership, plus like the article says... Help to contain Howard.. check this year's games of Pho vs Orl... Shaq alone can guard Dwight and not only that... he still dominates him on the offensive end as well... Shaq only needs motivation... and playing with Lebron for a ring is more then he needs... Cle fans should be praying for this to happen... not rooting against it...

[akola]

As a Cavs fan this rumor is beyond sad. All we're going to hear from here on out is that Kobe can win w/o shaq while Lebron NEEDS the real superman's help to make it out of the ECF? Is this Ferry at his best? Oh the irony.

[Tommy Udo 6]

No. Kobe and Wade are Shaqpions... I don't want LeBron associated with that..

In 1996, Michael Jordan asked free agent Jayson Williams to join the Bulls since Bulls needed a PF.

Jayson refused, saying that he wants to win a title on his own. the Bulls are MJ's team, he said, and he (Jayson) would not be given full credit if he helped MJ win a title.

Bulls then decided to acquire Dennis Rodman. Jayson signed with the Nets.

I wonder if Jayson ever regretted that.

[VRafa10s]

Shaq to Cleveland would make the Cavaliers pre-game rituals the best ever. Ha ha

[Sofa King]

No. Kobe and Wade are Shaqpions... I don't want LeBron associated with that..

In 1996, Michael Jordan asked free agent Jayson Williams to join the Bulls since Bulls needed a PF.

Jayson refused, saying that he wants to win a title on his own. the Bulls are MJ's team, he said, and he (Jayson) would not be given full credit if he helped MJ win a title.

Bulls then decided to acquire Dennis Rodman. Jayson signed with the Nets.

I wonder if Jayson ever regretted that.

I think Jayson Williams has a WHOLE LOT of other things he's regretting right now.

[old skool]

Shaq would present a number of unique challenges for the Cavs, but he would be a huge help in the playoffs, when teams focus on Lebron and Lebron runs the one man offense.

Shaq would be extremely focused on beating Howard and the Magic. That would be great for the Cavs.

Shaq would also take some of the focus off of Lebron - which might help the young man.

Shaq could become a distraction, if he insists that the Cavs are now "his team".

What do the Cavs do with Varejäo and Ilgauskas if they get Shaq? They cannot play defense with any two of those on the court at the same time. Too many open jumpers that they can't defend.

Can Lebron play with an inside force who clogs the lane?

Will Shaq stay in Cleveland long enough to develop continuity and chemistry?

Will Shaq play enough regular season games to give the Cavs home court or will he miss 35 games and give home court to Boston, Orlando or Detroit?

If such a trade is available, Ferry has to give it a try. Imagine the blowback if the Suns offer to make that trade, Ferry turns it down and the Cavs continue to fall short against Orlando because they can't stop an improving Dwight Howard.

oLd sKool

[6_Rings]

this is the only move Cavs can do to keep Lebron in Cleveland (for now).

[The Diesel]

Here is the latest from Brian Windhorst:

Another rumor about the Cavaliers popped up on the national scene on Sunday, but this time there was some fire to the smoke.

The Arizona Republic reported the Cavs and Phoenix Suns have re-started talks about a trade that would potentially bring future Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland. A league source confirmed Sunday that Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry and Suns General Manager Steve Kerr indeed have been in touch and discussed O'Neal since the Cavs season ended two weeks ago.

However, the talks are believed to just be a part of the preliminary discussions the Cavs are having with many teams leading up to the draft. The Cavs have been in talks with numerous teams in the last 10 days are aren't close to any deal.

As a matter of protocol, the team did not discuss any sort of roster moves during the playoffs. When the Eastern Conference Finals ended the front office then started checking in with teams they'd spoken to leading up to February's trade deadline. Not just for summer trades but also to gauge what movement might be possible in next week's NBA Draft.

The Suns were one of the teams the Cavs talked to back in the winter. They were in negotiations about trading for O'Neal but the teams never actually came very close to making a deal. According to a source, a sticking point was the Suns' interest in Delonte West, who at this point is nearly untouchable in trade talks for the Cavs.

Now the situation is still somewhat the same. The Suns are interested in dumping some salary -- they are headed for the luxury tax next season -- and also continue to ponder breaking up their big man duo of O'Neal and Amare Stoudemire. The Cavs still have some players and contracts that could help Phoenix do that.

The Cavs are in the market to upgrade their frontcourt. O'Neal is 37 years old but is coming off his best season in the last three years, being named third team All-NBA after averaging 17.8 points and 60 percent shooting with 8.4 rebounds in 75 games.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/06/cleveland_cavaliers_and_phoeni.html#comments

[RaisingArizona]

Add JJ hickson and you guys have a deal.

[YiYaoYue]

Makes a possible Lakers vs Cavs finals next year more interesting.

[bcortell]

Add JJ hickson and you guys have a deal.

No way. Pho would wet its pants to get Ben and Sasha for Shaq. Then maybe they could keep the rest of their team together.

[RaisingArizona]

Add JJ hickson and you guys have a deal.

No way. Pho would wet it's pants to get Ben and Sasha for Shaq. Then maybe they could keep the rest of their team together.

There is a market for shaq, we're not just giving him away for charity this go around. He was our best player last year and you guys are desperate to keep Lebron happy by adding a center who can hold his own against Dwight Howard. I really hope we decline it unless we get JJ/ 1st rounders. There are better offers from Chicago and possibly Philly we could pursue than just a straight salary dump.