shaq to the suns?

[JT_55]

Shaq being a defensive liability is also not a problem for the Suns. It's the Suns we're talking about here.

But the Suns are already defensively challenged even with Marion. Now they trade him away (their best defender IMO), for a 35 year-old guy who has injury problems and is probably not 100%.

[kingjames23]

i bet shaqs numbers go way up once he gets healthy.

marion and wade looks scary on paper. if they can put a team around that core.... the heat will contend again in the near future.

[JT_55]

Depends on if Marion wants to re-sign after this year with the Heat. I mean, come on, he wanted out with the West-leading Suns. I don't think he will stick around with the Heat, unless maybe if he develops a partnership with Wade.

Signed,

one of the "kiddies"

Yes, that was for you, QBaller. Kiddie?

[[Q]]

yes, i said it. not in an insulting way, but i said it.

signed,

one of the "moderators"

[Axel]

Fuck the NBA.

Fuck this trade.

Fuck the Lakers.

Fuck Kerr.

This shit isn't even funny anymore. If the Suns actually cared about improving, they should have shipped out Diaw.

The Suns essentially weakened themselves on the front line, and became even weaker (as though that were possible) at the backup PG.

[The X]

if this trade goes through, it'll be hard to support Suns anymore....on the brighter side, I might enjoy watching the Heat now though....I still hope Sean Marks remains on active roster....I just hope the Suns' fun style isn't thrown out the door....

[Andreas Dahl]

[Old Grumpy Voice] I don't like it. [/Old Grumpy Voice] Hope it doesn't go through..

Yes, Marion (probably) wanted out, but I'm sure they could've gotten something better in return.
I'm guessing Shaq is already 'done' for and the Suns will be worse off with this trade.

It'll be interesting to see how Diaw reacts, and what the Heat will do before the deadline/in the off-season..

[Elbeen]

[Old Grumpy Voice] I don't like it. [/Old Grumpy Voice] Hope it doesn't go through..

Yes, Marion (probably) wanted out, but I'm sure they could've gotten something better in return.
I'm guessing Shaq is already 'done' for and the Suns will be worse off with this trade.

It'll be interesting to see how Diaw reacts, and what the Heat will do before the deadline/in the off-season..

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=j ... &type=lgns

Looks like it's down the wire.

I don't know if this is a great deal for the Suns.

[ixcuincle]

It's a bad trade for the Suns...since when did Shaq fit in a "Run and Gun" D'Antoni system?

Welcome back to the Western Conference , Diesel.

[buzzy]

Whoa.
I like it very much for the Heat, but what the fuck, that doesn't make any sense.

The Suns could've gotten much more for Marion .. but hey, at least it will be more fun to watch the Heat now. And finally Smush will get cut .. hopefully

[GaZuN]

I like that trade.. The both teams will only lose from it... (Maybe Miami will make some good games..But) That's trade will set at question the playoff spot for the Suns.. Their GM is big fool.. Whit Amare in your squad.. You must be a some big idiot to want The Old Papa - Shaq.. ... And for me Marion is the best player in Phoenix right now... But we will see.. That's only a rumor..

[Skills]

Nope it aint a rumor no more. It's official acorrding to ESPN.com
Bad deal for the Suns. Really bad.

[grusom]

From the Suns perspective, the good thing about this trade is that they are still a pretty good team without either Marion or Shaq, so they can basically just play the Diesel until he run of of wind (maybe 25 mpg), and then activate him for real in the playoffs, where he can still be effective in a half court style.

What I don like about is the future perspective. Shaq can be effective for a maximum of one more season (at best), and Marion obviously still had a lot of good seasons in him. I think they should have asked for at least one future 1st round pick - maybe not this year, but in 2009 or 2010 when the Heat had had a chance to get back on track.

From a Heat perspective, this trade is a no-brainer I think Wade and Marion will be a very entertaining duo.

[Leander]

What's the purpose of this trade? The Heat would be without a good center. Shaq would be gone, Marion is no C, Mourning is plagued by his injury and won't come back imo.

The Suns already have A. Stoudamire.

[Sauru]

i dont think it is exactly a bad trade for the suns, it is a gamble though. the are pretty much putting all these eggs into this basket so they may finally win a ring. best record or not this team would not have won the title and though i am not sure shaq will help them or not, i think its a good idea to take the risk and have a better chance at a ring with a motivated shaq. then again if he is not motivated and they dont win then it will of course look bad

[Silas]

Two years from now it may be a bad deal, but right now Shaq is still effective. He's certainly not who he was, but he can still pass out of the post, still draw defenses in, and still shoot a good percentage.

One of his biggest negatives is his inability to run the floor which is a big problem for Phoenix, but I wouldn't say its a terrible trade just yet. Everyone likes to play with Shaq, he will be a big moral boost. I am interested to see how it turns out.

[mjpoetic]

gonna miss him down here in south florida....looks like he has already headed to PHX for his physical and if he passes it, the deal should be announced later today. This is according to ESPN anyway. On the other hand....this will be great for Miami money wise!! We will be back in the playoffs before you know it.

[Patr1ck]

The Suns don't want Shaq for the rest of the league...they want Shaq for the Spurs. The Spurs are their "white whale".

The Spurs will just use Tony Parker to zip past Steve Nash instead of going into Duncan on Shaq/Amare.

Think of another Lakers/Suns playoff series. I would have to get tickets to that.

[Matt]

WOW.....STUNNING!!!!

alright, so now Miami has Wade + Marion......now imagine if they revisit those earlier talks with Sac about Artest. They'd have to give up Haslem + picks. If that went through, Miami would have Wade+Artest+Marion+top 4 pick. That's a much better defensive version of the Washington trio

[Skills]

The Heat gain a LOT of cap room.
The Suns LOSE a lot of cap room.
I still think the Suns could've gotten more for Marion..
But I think it's the problems Marion's having in Phoenix..

[cyanide]

This is a really, really bad trade for the Suns if it materializes. I'm not saying a Shaq-Stoudemire frountcourt doesn't sound scary; it does, but the Suns play up-tempo, and Shaq is 35. He's also injured, and not expected to run like Marion, rebound like Marion, defend like Marion and score like Marion. A Hill-Diaw-Bell rotation may work, but I'm not too optimistic about that.

[charley3fly]

Shaq might come off the bench and play only when they need him to - like against the spurs.

The Suns starters could be:

PG - Nash
SG - Bell
SF - Hill
PF - Diaw
C - Stoudemire

[Sauru]

isnt this marions last year under contract anyway? maybe i am wrong but if it is then maybe the suns are worried he will just walk anyway. if thats true then getting shaq and giving yourself 1 chance at a title is better than not trading and watching him walk

[buzzy]

Yeah, he's a free agent next year.

[Abctest123]

I just read this on RealGM and realized it myself: What happens now for that replay game between Atlanta and Miami?