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

PHX won't keep their #1 seed with this trade, although I agree it's more of a "postseason" move than anything. The Hornets won't be around at the top come April either, looks like we may have to play the Mavs again Round 1...

Wow, what a move to pick up Korver by Utah... That's exactly the kind of shooter the Rox need. Mike Miller, Morey, make it happen!

 

I just heard about this deal. My initial reaction- it reminds me of when we got Barkley, so it's a mixed bag. Sure, he made us good for the year, but that was it- it was all downhill from there. (but we should have won a ring that year (&^*%*^% cheating ass Jazz).

I would have kept Marion.

 

All the Suns have done the last few years is win a lot of games in the regular season only to get bounced in the semis or conference finals every year. Marion is not as effective in the playoffs as he is in the regular season. And he just flat out disappears against the Spurs.

The Suns need a shake up. Their offense will not be as run-and-gun, but it doesn't need to be.

 

because they were successful stopping him with Marion ? The spurs have eliminated 3 Suns teams with Marion on it.

This is a good trade for phoenix

 

We got plenty of people this offseason including rookies. We have the personnel. It's just about them playing up to the levels they are capable of together.

 

This is a good trade

for

Houston. Yao would rather defend Shaq than defending nobody, and shaq cannot realy front Yao, can he? Matrix is the only one can guard TMac one on one.

I think the suns are more worried about the playoff matchupes between the spurs and the lakers. This trade does make some sense, but it's not a bad news for us.

 

The Suns are done if they do this. Title hopes gone.

Marion is the only guy in the NBA who can score 18 points a night and grab 12 rebounds without ever having a play called for him. He gets to the rim, has a decent(although ugly) shot, and is the best defender on their team because of his length. I don't care if he cries about not getting respect, he deserves respect.

The Suns don't want to extend his contract and pay him more so they are going to get Shaq??? Nothing like putting $20 mil on the books for a player who is hurt more than T-mac, and when he does play, only can play at a high level for spurts.

I hope this goes through so the West doesn't have to worry about the Suns anymore. Other than Nash, Marion holds that team together. Pull one of the lynchpins, it all goes down.

 

Nash's greatness won't be reduced one bit in a half-court system. But slowing down will affect the entire Suns offense because the number of easy baskets will be reduced. The guy who will be affected most is Barbosa. In half-court, he's just another player and when his outside shot is off he's below average. Moving Amare to PF will reduce his quickness advantage. He may not like playing C but that's his most effective position. D'Antoni hasn't really put in a lot of half-court sets besides the pick-and-roll. Is he suddenly going to add a bunch of plays to their offense?

Making this kind of adjustment during the season will be tough on the Suns and I have my doubts.

 

This would be the only way to explain it. I still think it is too early to do this for them though. I don't thinks Suns management would just give up . . . yet.

Unless Marion is really making a lot of noise in the locker room, I still think the Suns are legit title contenders for at least two more years.

No excuse.

 

This is probably the smartest thing the Suns could have done! Playoff are won by defensive match-ups and adjustments. At this point, the better teams in the west have proven that they can make the adjustments to stop the Suns in a best of 7. Now, teams will have to re-think the way they will play the Suns. The way to beat a running team has always been to slow down the game. If oppents do that now, they would be playing Shaq's game.

Getting Shaq just eliminated most of the need for anyone else to play defense inside the paint. Amare is now free from the low post, and doesn't have to bang heads with Yao, or Duncan. It'll do wonders for his game.

Shaq is on a team where he doesn't need to put up 20/10 every night. Not to knock the heat, but they need a Shaq to go at least 20/10 to have any shot at winning this year.

I would also bet that Marion made it clear that he would opt out after the season. Better to get Shaq now, than to get nothing.

 

Whoa I didnt know Steve Kerr posted here.

 

This league is getting crazy.... I don't think Shaq can run with those guys and if Suns gotta change their style to a half-court team, it would be a waste of talent of Nash, barbosa, amare, since Suns half-court offense really sucks now and I can't imagine if Shaq can help on this, he's 35...

Just nonsense at all.

 

I don't know whether this has been posted here yet (I kind of skimmed through the thread), but strangely enough, the thought dominating my mind in the aftermath of this trade is: how does this affect the "do over" game between Miami and Atlanta?

 

I think Marion is a lot more valuable than Shaq. This will make Phoenix worse. On the other hand, they can play more different styles now.

 

Agreed.

Marion is underated, but they do have similar parts that can pick up the slack for them.

Phoenix is an old team now.

Nash
Shaq
Hill

3 of their most important pieces are all past 35 years old.

DD

 

Marion sux in the playoffs anyway cuz he cant create his own offense and the suns can't run as much in the playoffs

 

lets hope shaq doesnt fail his physical

 

He's put up pretty monster numbers in the playoffs. Plus he's a defensive force that has given McGrady absolute fits. I think he's a much much much better version of Andrei Kirilenko and I'd love to have him on the Rockets were it at all possible.

 

I'm disappointed in many of you. It is obvious that Phoenix is doing the classic "thinking outside the box". Look - they have not been able to get past SAS the last couple of years in the playoffs (although cheap shot Horry had a lot to do that), and they probably knew that the Matrix was going to leave after this season and not to mention is probably a clubhouse cancer. Doing this trade eliminates that last issue (sometimes it is the addition by subtraction) and it also makes teams like the Spurs and Lakers think twice on how to defend the Suns.

The Suns aren't a very deep team - usually playing 7 a night (Marion, Nash, Stoudemire, Hill, Bell, Diaw, and Barbosa). Shaq probably plays 25 minutes a night and the team still runs and guns when Diaw is in there for him. Hell, this might mean more minutes for former Rocket great, the Polish rifle, LOL. But seriously, the Suns know that they are going to be in the playoffs and this move was strictly done for the playoffs and to get something for Marion instead of losing him for nothing. Is it possible that the move is over-reaction to the Lakers deal for Gasol? Probably, but I think, considering their circumstances, it was a move that the Suns had to make. And don't EVER sell Shaq short. Yes, he has been awful, mediocre at best. But this deal will re-vitalize him and when the Diesel is revitalized, I wouldn't dare bet against him and his team. And no I am not Steve Kerr.

 

As far as the trade goes, I like it for both teams. While shaq isn't an amazing defender his presence alone will make a difference on both ends of the court. I don't think he'll slow down Phoenix either....you don't need 5 men to run the court to have a running game. The centers job is to rebound and get the outlet pass going..............Shaq can still do that. He's no longer a dominate force, but the guy still puts up pretty decent numbers and is far from being totally done. Marion was gonna want big bucks anyway, so why not get rid of him now?............Phoenix still has plenty of fire power with Nash, Amare, Barbosa, Bell, Diaw (who might return to his old form before when Amare was injured), Hill, and now Shaq (who I think will benefit from Nash's penetration in the half court set).............