SHAQ to Cleveland

[NovU]

Shaq promised PHX fans a ring when he got there. Too bad it didn't work out. Now they're not only shaqless but also in rebuilding status. That's gotta suck a lot for Nash who is hitting last pages of his career as pg life in NBA is short.

[Sauru]

this is a great move for the cavs, shaq may not be the shaq of old, but he is still better than most other centers in the game. he does not need to completly dominate the game, lebron can still do that just fine. at least now when teams throw 3 guys at lebron he can dump it to shaq, get guys like howard is foul trouble

[Hedonist]

Great deal for the Cavs.

And for Shaq to try and win his fifth.

I have Shaq & LeBron teamed up in my nba2k9 game as well. Not with the Cavs though lol.

[shadowgrin]

They might've been better off with Tyson Chandler.

But the Cavs doesn't have a PG like Chris Paul to raise Chandler's game.
Also, Chandler will just be mowed down by Dwight.

[Alejandrov011]

Now, talkin about the Suns side...

They're thin at PF and C, They have Amare who by now, will be their center, He will be the primary scoring option. The Suns will be a high octane offense again... But now they need another frontcourt player to help Amar'e, besides Lopez (not ready yet), Swift (bust) and Admunson(big balls), but I'm not sure that the can be NOW the starting 4 of the Suns

[shadowgrin]

Amare will stay PF. He had said before that he doesn't like playing the 5 spot, which is also a part of the reason they got Shaq (and then Amare bitched about not getting enough plays for him in the post, anyway...).

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

What a great monster-trade I am surprised about this deal

[tee-pane]

Will Ben Wallace play for the Suns?

[Hedonist]

I wonder if they'll keep Ilgauskas as back-up. Maybe not re-sign Varejao?

[shadowgrin]

Cavs priority is Floprejao more than Z. Z's getting old.

[Hedonist]

Yeah but Shaq's old too so he could use a good back-up to limit his minutes, at least during the regular season.

If they keep both then they would be really big literally.

[benji]

Will Ben Wallace play for the Suns?

Unlikely. Rumor is he will retire, and thus is a contract instead of a player. Newest rumor has Phoenix flipping him to New Orleans for Chandler.

[sidras]

its official now http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/shaq_ ... 90625.html cool

[NovU]

The Suns and Rockets have denied that they've had discussions about a deal that would send Amare Stoudemire to the Rockets for a package that would include Tracy McGrady.

However, there is now talk about trading Ben Wallace to the Hornets for Tyson Chandler. The salaries work, and the Hornets could benefit financially if Wallace retires or is bought out, while the Suns would get a much-needed starting center.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... NBA&id=453

Too bad people want him to retire.

[raptorsdynasty33]

Great trade. A win-win for the two teams. At least Shaq won't feel as out of place as he did in Phoenix. It's still hard to imagine Shaq as a second-option on offense though. They kicked him out of Miami because they wanted up-tempo with Wade. Things didn't work in Phoenix because he changed their style of bball. Hopefully Cleveland can find how to best utilize Shaq, which would mean playing half-court and going inside-outside first.

I know it's not quite the same situation, but doesn't the reasoning behind the trade resemble that of the reasoning behind bringing Shaq to the Suns? Cleveland needs an inside presence to compete with Dwight Howard, whose Magic defeated them in the playoffs. Phoenix needed an inside presence to compete with Tim Duncan, whose Spurs defeated them in the playoffs.

And the funny thing is, in the earlier portion of this decade, teams used to bulk up their front court in order to compete against Shaq and the Lakers (think Mavericks, Blazers, Kings). Now Shaq is being used to off-set more dominant post-players.

[vinceair]

Another great news Lebron and whole Cavs team will be more confident when shaq is there.

[FiZzO]

Now someone has got to come up with a Cleveland-ish nickname for Shaq!

[Alejandrov011]

Will Ben Wallace play for the Suns?

Unlikely. Rumor is he will retire, and thus is a contract instead of a player. Newest rumor has Phoenix flipping him to New Orleans for Chandler.

Chandler to Suns??? I like it

He doen't need to attack the rim, he won't use possesions so Amar'e can't argue about shooting.


Chandler is a better upgrade than Shaq, maybe is better in the lockeroom to

[Sauru]

they are talking about amare going to the warriors now, lole amare has been rumored to go everywhere this offseason

[shadowgrin]

because he's a whiny bitch that doesn't know what he wants despite being a talented offensive player with a bad nickname of Stat.

[Andrew]

Now someone has got to come up with a Cleveland-ish nickname for Shaq!

How about a play on the city motto with "The Big Prosperity"?

[Bodz]

According to this, Nash Wanted Shaq Traded

[Andrew]

Interesting...still, whatever the motivation, their loss is Cleveland's gain.

[mshooter24]

...it's a gain for Cleveland...one of the big man need to stay on the bench...it will be shaq or Z'?...what will happen in phoenix now since there's a rumor that Amare will be traded to Golden State...

[Andrew]

During the brief interview on ESPN he said he'd be willing to come off the bench if that's what they wanted but also indicated a preference to start and if he can maintain the same level of play he did last season, he's still too good and effective as a starting centre in the NBA to be in a more limited role off the bench. So right now, I'd have to say Ilgauskas will be moved aside and to the bench.