[Miami Herald] Shaq-Marion Deal In Works (UPDATE: Done Deal)

The ONLY reason the Suns might be thinking of this deal is for the playoffs. Half court wins in the playoffs, and Shaq would help them in that effort.

 

If this is true it tells us a few things (or at least stuff I just made up):

1. Suns management (and possibly Nash) have realized this team isn't going to get a ring in it's current state

2. The locker room in Phoenix is probably turning rancid and Marion is the obvious choice to move.

3. Shaq isn't as committed to his rehab as we are being told. Or maybe the doctors are having a hard time finding a real injury.

4. Suns management is completely incompetent for not making a Garnett deal work one way or another.

Personally, if this team can get Shaq healthy and motivated (you know the way he is for a year after he is traded) then they are a better PLAYOFF team. For all that Marion brings he can't change the outcome of a game like a 75% full strength Diesel can. I don't see this as a bad deal or a huge gamble if Phoenix is that committed to trying to win now. Miami mortgaged their future for a Championship so why not Phoenix?

 

Agree completely on points 1 2 and 4.

1 This Suns team looks to have lost a step from last season. Grant Hill is old, Barbosa & Diaw have both taken a step backwards and Raja Bell is in decline. For whatever reason, Amare is kryptonite to Diaw.

2 Steve Nash said in an interview on TNT or ESPN the difference between this season and his prior years in Phoenix is that it isn't fun anymore. Their team chemistry will never recapture what it had before.

4 I blistered them over the summer for not giving up Amare for KG. The talk was they would only offer Marion plus spare parts. KG would have taken their team to another level. IMO, they blew a chance to become the title favorite.

 

Kerr trades Thomas and Marion for this? Ouch. I think Amare has to go, he plays so uninspired on defense during the season. I don't care about his bpg.

Marion, Wade, and Rose, Beasley, is nice.
Wade, Brand/Arenas/etc (potentially) and Rose/Beasley is nice too.

 

Come on, if you are the Phoenix Suns, you have to do this.

They have been trying to move Marion for awhile now, right? And Shaq gives them the guy to match up with Duncan.

I think Shaq is still good for 15 points on 60% shooting, 7 boards and 1.5 blocks.

 

Am I the only one who thinks this would benefit Phoenix? Assuming Shaq can get back on the court, you still have to account for his presence. If he is on a team where he can sit in the lane and have folks penetrate and kick to him he is still yamming it. Not saying he will be the Shaq of old but with him and Amare that is still two very big bodies.

As he showed with Yao earlier this season he can still play decent ball when he wants. Things slow down in the playoffs and you have time to rest in between games.

 

He would be better off getting Samuel Dalembert and trading away Amare. He will get up and down the court and play defense. Amare is the real reason they will never win a title. He can defend anyone. Weakside blocks isn't defense, cause if he only gets 2blk/game, how many rebounds is he giving up by not boxing out. They need him out asap whether its for Camby, Chandler, Dalembert, or someone of that caliber. Of course all but those who really know basketball will think this is insane.

 

I'm still 50/50 on this one. It makes sense but its so risky.

 

This makes no sense at all. I think Riley must have dug up some nasty info about Steve Kerr's wife.

It makes no sense whatsoever. Marion alone for Shaq is like taking candy from a kid. Then you make him give up his lunch money too.

Shaq fits into the Phoenix system like a soccer mom on the Texans OL. It does not make any sense. None whatsoever. And then you take away arguably their best defender, rebounder and all-around player. Where do you plug Shaq in the spread? Shaq draining 15 footers? Hah. Pick and roll with Nash? Roflcakes. Fast breaking? Epic lulz.

And then you're telling me that a franchise owner who has been so monumentally cheap that he sold 3 first round draft picks in two years for cash is going to add Shaq's >$40 million contract to his payroll?

I think somebody got pranked big time. Unleash the lolcats.

 

Strictly conjecture, interesting take on it though.

Is Phoenix Screwing with Dallas Over Shaq?

 

Totally agree. NO WAY Phoenix takes that kind of a contract on an injury-prone, aging, halfcourt player like Shaq

 

Apparently he is flying to PHX for a physical tomorrow... If the Suns are going to that extreme just to bait another team or the Heat are going to that extreme just to pump up Shaq's worth then damn. Cruel world.

 

It doesn't make sense to me.

I seriously think it is a big bad move for Sun. Maybe they overestimate current Shaq and underestimate Marion for his defensive capability and running style.

 

After reading a couple of pages on the main Suns chat forum, I think this thing may have legs. Suns fans are tired of their team and want a change. Maybe the organization agrees.

 

Amongst a sea of change sometimes staying pat makes you the best.
K. Thomas + Marion >>>>> Shaq

 

So, Dallas signs Van Horn to a 3-year deal with 1 year guaranteed, essentially an expiring contract, throws him in with Stackhouse, Dampier, and Harris, and brings in Shaq Daddy?????

 

I don't believe it will happen...but as strange as this sounds both teams will get better from it.


Heat: They will have a strong contender for next year with Marion and high draft choice.

Suns: Even with an old Shaq would have the new best-front line in the league after two weeks, Lakers (with Bynum), or

The Suns will do something they've never done in the last 10 or 20 seasons, which is overwhelm teams down under the basket. Amare wouldn't have as much responsiblity on defense. Shaq doesn't have to score 20 ppg for them to win, they already have Hill, Amare, Nash, Diaw, and Barbosa.

As good and young Marion is, he just doesn't impact the game, like that. Especially on team with shooters, like Nash and Barbosa....scorers on the perimeter like Hill and Amare. You can't double anybody on that team, especially with Shaq.

I think if the Suns make this move, they have good chance of winning the West....I can see why they might do it, their best chance was last year and three seasons ago when Nash first arrive.

With their current roster, it's a good chance they won't get past S.A., this year and possibly the Lakers along with the Jazz and NO. They may even be in tough series with GSW, the Rockets, and Nuggets. With Shaq, they may not run and gun as much, but that team will easily score around 102 - 104 ppg ,while they will actually win the boards and get alot of one on one opportunties.

 

I don't see what the Suns have to lose. This Phoenix team hasn't shown any signs that it is better than the teams that could not get out of the West for the past 3 years. Actually, all signs point to this team regressing and we haven't even made it to the playoffs yet where their post defense will be worse than ever thanks to them losing Kurt Thomas. Phoenix isn't going anywhere with the current roster so the worst thing that can happen is they do this deal, it doesn't work out and they don't win a Championship and Marion is gone. That was already going to happen. At least now they are giving themselves a chance.

I think there is more to this Shaq injury too. Why would Phoenix pull the trigger on this unless they have some information that leads them to believe that Shaq can and will come back strong this season?

Again, Phoenix management has to feel so stupid after missing out on Garnett and then seeing what he is doing for the Celtics.

 

K. Thomas? He's on the Sonics. Anyways whoever you're thinking of + Marion <<<<<<<< Shaq. Especially where it matters. In the playoffs. The only thing that would motivate Shaq is to give him a chance at another ring and it looks like he may just get that opportunity.

 

If they pull this of it would essentially be Hill replacing Marion and Shaq replacing Kurt Thomas.

As much as Shaq has declined he's still a near 60% FG% shooter and his rebounding isn't that far off from Marion's.

In some ways it's a better lineup but the gamble would be on Hill & Shaq's health and that doesn't look good.