Suns, Heat agree to Shaq trade

By Johnny Ludden, Yahoo! Sports

No longer confident they can win a championship with their current roster, the Phoenix Suns are close to completing a blockbuster trade that will bring them Shaquille O'Neal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.
O'Neal is scheduled to travel to Phoenix aboard a private plane Wednesday, the source said, to undergo an MRI on his ailing left hip. If he passes the physical, the Suns will complete the trade by sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.
The Miami Herald first reported the Suns and Heat were in serious trade discussions involving O'Neal.
Frustrated by Miami's dramatic dropoff this season – the Heat own the NBA's worst record at 9-37 – O'Neal had begun telling teammates he wanted to be traded but never thought a deal would come to fruition, a Heat source said.
The trade represents a dramatic change for the Suns, whose run-and-gun, small-ball style had revolutionized the league in recent seasons. That same style, however, had failed to bring the Suns a championship, and team officials had become increasingly skeptical about their chances of contending without giving Amare Stoudemire some help on the front line.
While praising recent improvement in Stoudemire's defense last week, Suns general manager Steve Kerr said the team still was doing Stoudemire a "disservice" by playing him at center instead of his more natural power forward position.
While last week's loss to a San Antonio team that was missing Tony Parker again raised some doubts, it was the Lakers' acquisition of Memphis forward Pau Gasol on Friday that ultimately spurred the Suns to consider aggressively looking for another big man. League sources said the Suns also had conversations about Charlotte's Emeka Okafor and Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert in recent days.
O'Neal, 35, still is a physical presence but seems a poor fit for Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense. Suns coaches, however, watched film of O'Neal on Tuesday, the source said, and came away thinking O'Neal's strong passing skills from the high post would work well in their half-court schemes. The Suns also have shown increasingly more confidence in playing forward Boris Diaw next to Stoudemire and think that combination will suffice when O'Neal isn't on the floor.

This makes Phoenix a contender. Shaq has lost a step but he still is a top 5 center who can dominate games on both ends. The Suns have finally realized what I've been saying for years and that is their style will never beat a top team that plays defense. Kudos to Phoenix for finally figuring it out.

IF Shaq can stay healthy. I have a feeling that if he wasn't getting paid $20,000,000 a year he would retire.

Charles Barkley still lives in the Phoenix area from the time he played there. He needs to show Shaq all the good strip clubs they have there and to talk business.

"Suns, Heat agree to Shaq trade"

Bit misleading, don't you think? Deal isn't done yet.

It will be good for Shaq to get out of the Miami area and away from his divorce proceedings for a little bit. I hope he can get healthy and in a dream world aide the Suns in knocking Kobe and Co. out of the playoffs.

its mind boggling to me that they would agree to take on a 20 million dollar contract for this over the hill player

Great trade by Miami. Heat get a good PG to dish to D.Wade and Marion, along with Wright, and they should be a fun team to watch.

Pat Riley must have pics of Steve Kerr with a Dead hooker or something...WOW

Message to steve Kerr...there are easier ways to fire the your head coach...you're the GM...wow

It appears to be a bad trade by Phoenix on the surface. But if Kerr doesn't like Marion, doesn't like his game, or doesn't think that he can be resigned at the end of the season then it might not be such a bad move. Another thing to remember is that Shaq's contract runs for two more years but a year from now Phoenix could look to move Shaq to a team already locked in on a couple of players long term but looking to get under the cap. Phoenix and Dallas have proven that you can't win a championship trying to outscore everyone.

Shaq has nothing left in the tank, a figment of his former self, great job by Miami getting rid of that contract and broken down body

This move might reenergize Shaq, it also means Stoudamire won't have to guard other teams centers all the time, something he's had to do most of his career.

Suns vs. Lakers playoff series with a healthy Shaq would be a huge for the NBA.

Great trade for the Heat. If they only got Banks it'd still be a good deal for the Heat. Shaq is really old and very injury prone. The Heat get rid of his broke down ass and his $20 mill a year. Marion is a very good player who is now in his prime. Unlike Shaq who's past his prime. The only thing I hate about Marion is that pussy 3pt shot, he looks like a girl shooting a 3. Other than that the Heat created some cap space so they can get some decent free agents after this year. What a steal for the Heat.

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns acquired Shaquille O'Neal in a stunning, blockbuster deal that sent four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.

The improbable pairing of the speedy Suns and the slow but once-mighty O'Neal became official when he cleared a physical exam yesterday.
O'Neal didn't talk to reporters, but he received a loud, long standing ovation when introduced on the big screen while watching the New Orleans-Phoenix game from a suite at US Airways Center.

First, he stood to acknowledge the cheers with both arms open. He sat down again, but as the cheers continued, he got up once more. He pointed to the championship ring he was wearing, then gave a thumbs up. The crowd went wild.

The trade, a dramatic move by first-year Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr, signals an unexpected change in philosophy for the Suns, adding a 7-foot-1-inch, 325-pound center who has won four NBA championships but has been plagued by injuries in recent years and turns 36 March 6.
O'Neal has been out with a hip injury and underwent an MRI in Miami Tuesday. He flew to Phoenix yesterday for the physical.

"I'm well aware that I'm on the line," Kerr said. "That's my job. That's why I'm sitting in this seat."

O'Neal has averaged 25.6 points and 11.5 rebounds in his 16 seasons. This season, plagued by injuries and going through a divorce, he's averaging 14.2 points. His 14-year streak as an All-Star choice came to an end this year.

"We have to move on with our team," Miami president and coach Pat Riley said. "This is not the most desirable place to be right now."

O'Neal will make $20 million this season and $20 million each of the next two. Marion makes $16.4 million this year and could opt out of the $17 million final year of his contract after this season.

O'Neal is leaving some unfinished business. Atlanta and Miami must replay the final 51.9 seconds of their Dec. 19 game in Atlanta March 8, but now O'Neal won't be with Miami. Thus the question: Will Marion and Banks be eligible? "The league doesn't know. They'll have to make a determination," Hawks general manager Billy Knight said.

The replay is necessary because the Hawks' official scorer ruled incorrectly that O'Neal fouled out.

By Bob Baum

Associated Press / February 7, 2008