faba Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 physical Heat to receive Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks in exchange for Shaquille O'Neal. Posted on Wed, Feb. 06, 2008 Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@MiamiHerald.com [url=http://www.miamiherald.com/594/story/408024.html#x] JEFFREY M. BOAN/EL NUEVO HERALD Shaquille O'Neal has been plagued by injuries this season, and his numbers have dropped off dramat ESPN reported early Wednesday that the Heat has agreed to trade Shaquille O'Neal, the superstar center who arrived at the Miami Heat's doorstep in a diesel truck and then helped drive the team to an NBA championship, to the Phoenix Suns pending O'Neal passing a physical exam in Phoenix on Wednesday. The Heat is expected to receive forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks in exchange for O'Neal. ESPN's report followed a Miami Herald report that the Heat had informed O'Neal that a trade to Phoenix was a strong possibility. O'Neal, nicknamed The Diesel, was introduced amid much fanfare when he was traded to the Heat before the 2004 season. He rolled up to AmericanAirlines Arena in a diesel truck and never looked back as he and Dwyane Wade pulled the franchise into the Eastern Conference Finals and then the 2005-06 championship series, in which they beat the Dallas Mavericks. Since then, however, the franchise has declined, losing in the first round of the playoffs last season and standing about halfway through the current season at a league-worst 9-37. NO COMMENT Heat President Pat Riley, who has denied speculation of an O'Neal trade in the past, declined to comment Tuesday night. O'Neal has reportedly contacted Phoenix players. Though Riley has said otherwise, an official close to the situation said Miami has spoken openly in recent days of trying to unload O'Neal's contract and clear salary cap room for either next season or the year after, depending on whether Marion opts of his contract this summer. O'Neal is in the third year of a five-year, $100 million contract and is due $20 million each of the next two seasons. Riley said earlier Tuesday that O'Neal was scheduled to have an MRI procedure on his ailing left hip, which has kept him out of the past six games. ''We just want to see what it shows,'' Riley said. Riley gave no indication of when O'Neal might return, but said he must strengthen his leg before doing so. O'Neal, who will turn 36 on March 6, is averaging a career-low 14.2 points and was not named to this month's All-Star roster after 14 previous appearances. O'Neal is averaging 7.8 rebounds and has battled frequent foul trouble, which has limited him to 28.3 minutes per game. His field-goal percentage (58 percent) is sixth-best in the league. PLAYED LIKE A CHAMP Acquired by the Heat from the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2004, O'Neal averaged 22.9 points and 10.4 rebounds in 73 games during the Heat's championship season. But injuries limited him to 40 games last season, and his averages slipped to 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. This season, he has played in 32 of the Heat's 46 games. After this season, Marion can opt out of the final year of his contract worth $17.2 million. Marion, 29, a four-time All-Star and considered one of the league's most athletic small forwards, is averaging 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds this season. Banks, 26, was the 13th pick of the 2003 draft but has struggled to find minutes in his two seasons in Phoenix because he's playing behind All-Star point guard Steve Nash. He's averaging 5.2 points and 1.0 assists. After this season, Banks has three years left on his contract, worth a total of $13.4 million. If the Heat acquires Marion and he opts out of his deal this summer, Miami would have substantial salary cap space to shop in an appealing free-agent class that could include Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Antawn Jamison, Ron Artest and Corey Maggette. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Dumb trade for the Suns IMO....How the hell does Riley pull these trade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 The Suns need a defensive presence and it allows Stoudamire to move to forward were he can play better. Its a good move by the Suns. It also helps the Heat get younger with Wade and Marion. Good move all around if it goes through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 The Suns need a defensive presence and it allows Stoudamire to move to forward were he can play better. Its a good move by the Suns. It also helps the Heat get younger with Wade and Marion. Good move all around if it goes through. Suns offense is based around spacing and kicking out the ball to shooters. Shaq is gonna clog up the lane and Stoudamire wont have the room to roam around....Shaq isn't known to be a shot blocker plus he can't run in that offense....he's a half court type of guy. Can't see how you think this trade is good for the Suns. I know they wanna compete with the Lakers because they just got Gasoul but this still doesn't help them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 I think it does. It takes away driving the lane and its hard to post Shaq up. Its a presence. We shall see when it comes to the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Steve Kerr is an idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobe24jets Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 haha shaq is bum i hope tha lakers play them bums in tha playoffs thats a gurantee win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Jet Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 haha shaq is bum i hope tha lakers play them bums in tha playoffs thats a gurantee win -Realtalk- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arsis Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 How much longer do they think Shaq is going to be able to play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.S. Dylan Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I think he's going to come in and help. It hurts losing Marion but this might be just what we needed to beat those annoying Spurs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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