<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>O'Neal reportedly could be traded away by Heat ESPN.com news services Updated: February 5, 2008, 9:07 PM ET Comment Email Print Heat Considering Trading Shaquille O'Neal The Miami Heat's season has come to this: Shaquille O'Neal may be on the trading block. Citing two sources close to the situation, the Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that the team has told the center that he should be prepared for a possible deal. A confidant of the 14-time All-Star center told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that O'Neal is ready for the Heat to trade him. "Shaq thinks something will happen," the associate said. The Herald goes on to report that a trade of O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks has been discussed. One of O'Neal's representatives told the newspaper that they were informed that talks with Phoenix were ongoing and serious. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports that this scenario has been rumored for a week, but it will not work without major modifications due to financial restraints. Sources say the Suns are considering scenarios, however. The Heat have a league-worst 9-37 record and have lost four straight. O'Neal has missed the last six games with a sore left hip. Heat coach Pat Riley said on Tuesday that O'Neal will undergo an MRI. ''We just want to back it up and see, after two weeks, what it shows,'' Riley said, according to the Herald. O'Neal led the Heat to the 2005-06 championship, but he is averaging a career-low 14.2 points per game, while adding 7.8 rebounds in 32 games this season. Trading O'Neal would open considerable salary cap room for Miami, which is due to pay the 35-year-old $20 million in each of the next two seasons. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.</div> Espn.com Lol, so Lakers were wrong for trading Shaq huh?
Miami traded for Shaq because they wanted to win a championship. You can't say they didn't accomplish their goal, but yes, things are not looking too good for them right now
our decision to trade him has been vindicated this season. riles should just buy him out, cause at this point no one's taking that 20 million per year on the 2 seasons he's got left.
As a Laker fan, this is the best thing ever. A player I hate on the downside of the downside of his career is getting traded to a team I hate. This trade is clearly triggered by the Lakers' acquisition of Gasol, but there is an astronomically high chance of this trade backfiring on the Suns. Love it. Plus, what could be better than seeing Shaq in the playoffs? The storylines for that series could very well make my head explode before the playoffs even begin.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 5 2008, 09:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Miami traded for Shaq because they wanted to win a championship. You can't say they didn't accomplish their goal, but yes, things are not looking too good for them right now</div> Bingo. The goal is to win the championship...the trade was made at the Heat did that...and the Lakers got a couple of playoff exits (and I saw that in the least baiting way possible). Clearly the Lakers are in much better shape then the Heat at this point, but still. In the grand scheme of things, the Heats end of the deal hasn't worked out badly for them.
Shaq wont keep up with that offense. lol. I honestly think Miami gets the better end of the deal if this happens.
You can't underestimate a rejuvenated Shaq though. Personally I want this trade to happen for all the same reasons Yodawg wants. This would add more fuel to our rivalry with the Suns and I hope we face them in the post season to spank them and bounce them out while we move on to a Championship ring! PJax exchanging verbal jabs with Shaq would be one for the ages. Bynum owning Shaq in the post-season would really validate him.
It's official he passed his physical, Shaq is now a SUN. http://www.sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/1640092
Talk about desperate to make headlines... This deal... idk. Shaq is too old and slow for their offense and his defense is sub-par.
This is pretty interesting, we shall see what Shaq can do with the Suns. A Marion/Wade duo should be pretty hot.
I don't think the Suns will have any trouble fitting Shaq into their offense because of all the shooters and passers he will have around him, their D is still weak. Shaq may be a large body in the paint, however Marion was the heart of the Suns' defense. Without him, they have one good defender in Bell, but not much else. I'm excited to see what this deal does to the Suns, the playoffs this season should be one for the ages. GO LAKERS!
I don't see how Shaq is going to fit in on the Suns. He's most effective in the halfcourt and the Suns aren't going to slow down for him. I have a feeling there's going to be quite a few possessions throughout games here that the Suns will be playing 4 on 5 on each end of the court because Shaq won't be able to keep pace. In the end, this trade, I think hurts them more than it helps.
