Why Did Everyone Want Shaq Traded?

[The Diesel]

Hey guys,

Considering Shaq is my favorite player, I was just wondering why so many Suns fans wanted him traded this summer and why so many were happy when he was traded.

Why are you guys happy he's gone considering he was the team's best player last year?

Thanks.

[le crapaud]

I think part of the answer is an other question...Why suns traded Trix for him a year and a half ago?

Obviously, Shaq isn't the one to blame for. This trade has just destroyed the team, their chemistry, their way to play. Impatience of our FO combined with this rape/trade between grizzlies and lakers who brought Gasol to lakers made them panic.

Shaq played well with suns, no doubt about it, but what about his teammates? When Shaq's game has begun to rise, others players declined (mostly last year) even if STAT played well alongside him. Some of them were completely lost seeing their status changed. (Nash lost keys, Diaw was absolutely useless)
Shaq was the best player because suns were forced to adjust, it could have worked if...well if Shaq adjusted suns style of play.

Since run & gun is re-established and expectations are lower it seems fair to part ways with Shaq, give him a shot to get a ring with LeBron and offer a chance suns to regroup. I wanted Shaq to be traded not because I hate him, just because he wasn't the right guy at the right place and time.

[The Diesel]

In regards to the Shaq trade, the one guy that I'm really disappointed in is D'Antoni.

After all, it's been confirmed that he was the one who pushed for the trade harder than anyone and after just half a season, he quit.

He owed it to the organization to give it a full year with Shaq considering he was the one who pushed for the trade.

Shaq did everything that was asked of him and played much better than anyone could have expected.

[dantian]

Shaq or Nash, one of them has to be traded. I'd rather Nash be gone but most Suns fans prefer Nash and one and done.

[dantian]

In regards to the Shaq trade, the one guy that I'm really disappointed in is D'Antoni.

After all, it's been confirmed that he was the one who pushed for the trade harder than anyone and after just half a season, he quit.

He owed it to the organization to give it a full year with Shaq considering he was the one who pushed for the trade.

Shaq did everything that was asked of him and played much better than anyone could have expected.

I wouldn't blame anyone, particularly not DA, for Shaq trade. With Marion, this team was going nowhere, at most 2nd round and done. So, Shaq was risk and unknown. We had bad luck to be matched with the methodically most sound team in Spurs that first season. The defense issue with Shaq/Nash got exposed, which was actually the death sentence already there for any chance to win a championship with both of them. The Porter experiment was a grand failure. Now, Suns chose Nash instead of Shaq for a one-and-done type season. Rest is history.

[lilfishi22]

Shaq had always had a big ego, but seeing how close we were to a championship Shaq kept his ego and role in check for D'Antoni and for the team. Porter made a mistake of making Shaq our go-to guy because:

1. It defeated the whole point of bringing Shaq in. Shaq was brought in to be a role player who could, with the best of his abilities, take Stoudemire to the next level.
2. Unleashed his ego. By the 5th game, he was already demanding more touches.
3. Slowed our offense down to a crawl without improving our defense.

Shaq did more than he needed to and if D'antoni had stayed and Shaq got into shape and did exactly what was asked of him when he was first brought here, we'd have a championship right now. I'm not saying Shaq cost us the championship nor am I saying we were within arms length of the trophy, all I'm saying is that we didn't "handle" Shaq properly. Had we "handled" him (ego/role) properly we may have had a system which worked from the start, which would've won us more games, maybe gotten our vets to buy into the system and who knows maybe inspire our guys to play some D. May be far-fetched but sometimes big dilemmas stems from the smallest problem.

[rsavaj]

IMO D'Antoni doesn't owe us ANYTHING. He turned our fortunes around and brought a mini-revolution back to the NBA, and for that I'm eternally thankful.

[WTFsunsFTW]

I personally had no issue with Shaq. He was lean, mean and dominating and did was was asked of him after Porter left.

The only issue I could see is that he went from "im just here to fit in and do what I do" to "when shaq gets touches, he delivers. I need more touches."

I am still trying to understand why we traded him and didnt get a replacement.

At least get JJ Hickson back from Cleveland you morons!

[MaryvalesFinest]

He just didn't fit well with the Suns style of play. He's still a very good player that would do well on halfcourt team like the Cavs but when he was on the Suns the main part was he clogged the lanes which disrupted the Nash-Amare pick and roll which made them so sucessfull. Also he didn't command alot of double teams like he did in the past to open the lanes and other teams realised that and were letting Shaq get 17-8 or so a game. The only thing I'm confused about is not getting a first rounder back in the deal but they did get a good trading chip back in Pavlovic and saved money on the Wallace buyout so I guess the second rounder was the throw in.

[Gorilla Warfare]

Shaq was the man, but unfortunately I had a feeling he was brought in to put more seats in the arena, they knew he wasn't going to mesh well with team because of his size. It was exactly like Kerr said "If this works I'm a genius, if it fails I'm an idiot". We all saw that coming from a mile away. Nothing against Shaq but we really shouldn't have gotten rid of Trix for him. And to be honest I really would have rather kept Shaq instead of trading him to the Cavs for nothing.

[chrice]

IMO D'Antoni doesn't owe us ANYTHING. He turned our fortunes around and brought a mini-revolution back to the NBA, and for that I'm eternally thankful.

Agreed. Him and Nash helped turn this franchise around to one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Yet, he got a lot of blame which I don't think he deserved.

[DirtyDez]

IMO D'Antoni doesn't owe us ANYTHING. He turned our fortunes around and brought a mini-revolution back to the NBA, and for that I'm eternally thankful.

D'Antoni was smart he left when he knew this team was done, blaming Kerr for D'Antoni leaving is absurd

[RunDogGun]

IMO D'Antoni doesn't owe us ANYTHING. He turned our fortunes around and brought a mini-revolution back to the NBA, and for that I'm eternally thankful.

Agreed. Him and Nash helped turn this franchise around to one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Yet, he got a lot of blame which I don't think he deserved.

He deserves some of the blame. His terrible GM skills put us in many financial issues. He is also the one who said we didn't need KT, but somehow thought he could add Shaq to the line up. He passes on TT, and signs Banks, who he would not play. Before the Banks signing, he rushes to get Pike, who couldn't even get on the floor in CHI, and signs him to 2 year deal. He rarely developed his rookies, and after Ivaroni left, he would not hire a defensive coach that could also help our bigs.

Mike also made some huge mistakes in rotation and timing of TOs, which allowed many teams to come back from down 18 to a one point lead. He had terrible in game adjustments, and seemed to get out coached in the playoffs by Pop. Now he was great at offense, or allowing Nash to run this team, and for that, I am happy.

[RunDogGun]

IMO D'Antoni doesn't owe us ANYTHING. He turned our fortunes around and brought a mini-revolution back to the NBA, and for that I'm eternally thankful.

D'Antoni was smart he left when he knew this team was done, blaming Kerr for D'Antoni leaving is absurd

Or a big giant puss, saying stuff like I decided to take my ball and leave. How old is he? Wow, he was asked to add some defense to his coaching, what a demanding guy Kerr is.

[TXSun]

I'm not everyone. Bad trade in my opinion, we have nothing to show for the trade.

[hunterxaz]

should have never made the trade in the first place. suns would have been a playoff contender and won more than 5 playoff games during the shaq tenure with marion. jrich was a bad trade too. can't figure out how kerr pulled the trigger on those. shaq isn't a good fit for the suns. still a good player, but he'll decline for sure in CLE. Doesn't have the same support that he did here in regards to training staff.

[twinthunder3]

because he got too fat.