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A clear, desparate indication of the Suns waving the "white flag" on their season. Further buoyed by the recent Gasol-to-the-Fakers trade.
Sources: Suns a 'yes' away from acquiring Shaq for Marion
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
The seemingly improbable pairing of an aging Shaquille O'Neal and the run-and-gun Phoenix Suns is a "yes" from the Suns away from happening, according to NBA front-office sources.
Sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that the Miami Heat are poised to send O'Neal to the Suns in exchange for All-Star forward Shawn Marion and out-of-favor guard Marcus Banks. Miami is just waiting for Phoenix management to either accept or reject what would rank as one of the most unexpected trades in league history.
"It looks like it's going to happen," said one source close to the situation. "We should know for sure by tomorrow."
Another sign that the deal is imminent: ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported Tuesday night on SportsCenter that O'Neal is scheduled to travel to Phoenix on Wednesday, presumably to take a physical.
The Miami Herald first reported on its Web site Tuesday night that the Heat have informed O'Neal that they are shopping him and that talks with the Suns were serious.
That apparently surprised O'Neal, but also pleased him. Sources say that the 35-year-old -- in the midst of his least productive season and with the Heat cratering from a championship in 2006 to a 9-37 record less than two years later -- is eager to leave Miami and his deteriorating relationship with Heat coach Pat Riley. The Associated Press, furthermore, quoted an O'Neal associate Tuesday night as saying, "Shaq thinks something will happen."
As for Marion, Bucher reports that the 29-year-old is in favor of the proposed deal and quotes a source close to Marion as saying there's a "good" chance that the trade would happen.
Making a move for O'Neal appears on the surface to make little basketball or financial sense for the Suns. His arrival in Phoenix would undoubtedly prompt widespread skepticism about his ability to keep up in the Suns' high-octane system. The two years and $40 million remaining on O'Neal's contract after this season also clashes with the Suns' recent pattern of trading away players (such as Kurt Thomas) and draft picks in an attempt to reduce payroll and eventually drag themselves away from the NBA luxury-tax line of $67.875 million.
The Suns, though, have been plagued by well-chronicled concerns about their chemistry for well over a year, generally focusing on the occasional dissatisfaction voiced behind the scenes by either Marion or Amare Stoudemire. In the locker room as well as the front office, sources say, there are factions that have believed for some time that one of them would eventually have to be traded.
Going through with the deal, then, would suggest that the Suns believe that they can immediately improve their chemistry with this change. The Suns would also be banking on the idea that the trade would give them the injection of size they've lacked since Steve Nash was reacquired as a free agent to play for coach Mike D'Antoni. Phoenix would also hope to rejuvenate O'Neal after a season in which his effectiveness and durability have been doubted louder than ever.
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said on his weekly radio show on Sports 620 KTAR in Phoenix on Tuesday night that the story caught him by surprise.
"The trade deadline's coming up so I'm sure there's talk all over the place," he said. "In our day and age now, you make one of those phone calls or answer a phone call everybody in the world knows about it. Other than normal business, I don't know anything that's going on."
Asked if any deal was close, D'Antoni said "No, no, no."
O'Neal has missed Miami's last six games with a sore left hip and did not speak to reporters after Tuesday's practice. Riley said earlier 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.
O'Neal helped Miami overturn a 2-0 deficit against Dallas in the 2006 NBA Finals but is averaging a career-low 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in 32 games this season.
Bucher reported on ESPN2's "NBA Coast to Coast" last week that the Heat were indeed shopping O'Neal, but Riley issued a strong denial in response.
"I'm done talking about rumors and reports," Riley said. "But, no, there's no truth to that."
Said O'Neal last Friday: "[Riley] hasn't spoken to me. He hasn't talked about it. I've been in the league 15 years. I've seen it all, been through it all. I've just got to sit back."
Marion asked to be traded before the season began but has generally avoided talk of the subject since then. He is set to make $17 million next season, the final year of his contract, but can opt out of the deal after this season and become a free agent.
Suns owner Robert Sarver insisted two weeks ago that none of the Suns' core players would be traded this season.
Senior writer Marc Stein covers the NBA for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Last edited by Matchman; 02-06-2008 at 01:06 AM.
A clear, desparate indication of the Suns waving the "white flag" on their season. Further buoyed by the recent Gasol-to-the-Fakers trade.
WTF are the Suns smoking here?
I would actually feel bad for Phoenix if this happened.
Cant see the Suns taking on that contract.
C'mon ppl, you know it's that time of the year for just about every news outlet to start tossing Marion's name in every possible trade scenario.
This would be a stooopid trade for the Suns.
Me neither. Sarv wouldn't s out an extra couple of million over a few years for Tim Thomas after proclaiming he had started a Tim Thomas Fund. Ended up with Marcus Banks by the way.
They aren't willing to give a more productive Marion $20,000,000.
This would be the king of all idiot moves.
Though some comments from Riles about Shaq only being hampered by injuries and not age are starting to make sense.
Few teams would want Shawn Marion. Even fewer would take on Shaq's contract, but penny pinching Sarver will? Deal not happening.
this would have to create a domino effect for other trades for the Suns. They already are at the cap/tax threshold for next season w/ potentially 9 players signed. If Shaq were to get added they would then be at 8 players and the same salary.
Skills aside, this makes absolutely no sense for the Suns financially and i have a hard time believing there are any serious talks going on.
God, Shaq is done. Why would Phoenix ever trade for his monster $60 million contract? What a steal for Miami if true.
Gotta admit though, Shaq on a running team would be a great sight!
Lol At Shaq Running With Phx.
LOL @ Shaq trying to run PERIOD!
He'll lose 250 pounds after spending just 45 seconds on the court
I bet this is nearing the end of Marion in PHX even if this deal doenst happen. He was already disgruntled going into the season and has been quiet til now. Im sure hearing his name in trade rumors is going to put him over the edge and demand a trade again
Ha. Who are you kidding? I can name about ten or fifteen teams that would trade for Marion. Indiana for one, Sacto, Miami, New Jersey, Atlanta, Cleveland and alot more. The man can defend four posistions, is a top three defender and would easily be a 20 and 10 guy on a lesser team. Saying few teams would want Marion is like saying America wants George W. to be elected to a third term. Jesus Christ what a statement.
This is supposedly a done deal, just waiting for the news conference!
This deal makes no sense for Phoenix. Shaq on a run & gun team? And with such a huge contract? No way....
Who are you kidding?
This is supposedly a done deal, just waiting for the news conference!
...thank you PHX for making this deal....youll lose Marion and Shaq will probably miss a ton of games and be out of shape for playoffs. enjoy that fat contract.....soon you guys will be playing with only 4 players bc your owner who is already cheap will realize he has f'ed up and want to save money
What is Phoenix thinking?
1) Shaq is old and not anywhere near what he was just...2 years ago.
2) They're a run and gun team. Shaq can't run, or gun. By the time he gets in the front court, the Suns will be back on defense. (If they were to play defense)
that don't bail out The Heat they signed him to that stupid contract make them ride it out. What are the Suns thinking bad trade Shaq is fat and slow. Just say no the Shaq
The suns saw the lakers make a move and now believe they must do the same, its the sign of a team that isnt confident in what they have and will make a drastic move that will be the demise of their team
Why the would anyone trade for Shaq? He's a HAS BEEN, and NEVER WILL BE good anymore. PERIOD.
It's not about cap space, why the would any of the stars want to go to Miami? Ugh ...
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