Les Alexander loves the big splash trades. I think Les, Morey, and Rick Adelman would absolutely jump at the opportunity to get a player like Shaq added to the mix.
I think Houston would do it. If I was the Suns GM, I would just hang up the phone. T-mac does not look more appealing than Shaq and they're both expiring. We might have to give up landry or brooks.
Yes, probably. I've been begging and pleading all along for another 4/5 scorer to offset Yao's yearly broken foot. Shaq suffices in that regard.
From the article you quoted earlier: "If the Suns were willing to accept Wallace and Pavlovic, they would slice $5.5 million from next season's books, as Wallace's salary decreases from $14.5 million this season to $14 million in 2009-10 and because only $1.5 million of Pavlovic's $5 million salary next season is guaranteed." The reason they were interested in those deals was primarily due to the nature of Pavlovic's contract. They preferred Wally because he made even less than Wallace ($13.8 vs $14) in 09/10. I didn't realize the Suns were that desperate to save money in the 2009/10 season. That changes my argument. I was saying that McGrady's expiring didn't provide much additional savings over Shaq's for 2010/11 but they have even shorter term financial concerns. I still say your idea won't work but now for a different reason. The only way Phoenix would be willing to do a trade with us this summer that is centered around Shaq-McGrady would be if we take several million dollars back above the value of McGrady's contract (roughly $28-30 mil incoming). The only way we can accomplish that without getting other teams involved would be to go severely into the luxury tax. I highly doubt Les would be willing to pay millions upon millions in luxury tax for a backup center so unless there is a way for us to dump salary elsewhere, we can't afford to take on Shaq ($20) + approximately another $8-10 mil in contracts to meet Phoenix's demands: "The Suns, though, remain eager to reduce their payroll by at least $7 million and up to $9 million to avoid paying luxury tax next season." They are referring to 2009/10. McGrady's contract > Shaq's contract so that straight up deal completely negates what they are trying to accomplish financially in 09/10 which is to cut payroll, not add to it. If they throw in another $8-10 mil or so in contracts, all of a sudden our owner is getting screwed in LT. I understand that Les is talking about getting "predatory" but I doubt he is going to spend millions in luxury tax for what would essentially be Yao's backup. If I understand our basic cap situation, going into the LT to get Shaq would also eliminate any other signings, including Artest and Wafer. Unless you can figure out a way for us to avoid taking on a ton of extra payroll to meet Phoenix's demands (saving millions in 09/10), this isn't going to work in a two-team scenario. The Rockets would be going heavily into LT and be left without money for Artest, Wafer or anybody else. Furthermore, just for the heck of it, let's assume we do a two-team trade with Phoenix that satisfies their demand to cut payroll and let's assume Les is willing to pay tons of LT for a backup C. This would roughly be our rotation: Lowry/Brooks Barry Battier Scola/Landry/Hayes/Dorsey Yao/Shaq (the $20 milion backup center) We look fine at the 1, 4 and 5 but we're totally screwed at the wing positions with no depth of any kind. Hayes ain't about to turn into a SG.
If Shaq joins the Rox, Shaq should start and Yao should play a limited role. Yao is injury prone and the Rox plays much better w/o Yao anyways. Yao shoudl play 2 mins max per quarter.
Agreed. But on the other hand, no one thought grant hill would ever perform as well as he did now on the Suns. So i am presuming that if Hill could come back for almost non-existant on the Magics to at least a consistant role player on the suns, Tmac would be able to do better with a lighter injury than hill had.
so just because its steve nash he would run with thim??? does he run differently?? t mac didnt even wanted to run couple feet to guard roy on that buzzer beater, how would he like to run and gun with the suns??
So let Yao backup Shaq. It makes more sense anyways. Shaq draws all the fouls to get them in the penalty, Yao comes in and takes advantage. And Yao is the closer when we need better free-throw shooting.
We don't need a backup for our "franchise" star. Who was MJ's backup? Who was Shaq's backup in LA? Who was Dream's backup? We just need a big body who can rebound, because he's only going to get 10 minutes behind Yao every game, for better or for worse.
Not that I am a big fan of him but he has won multiple championships with two teams and has led another team to the finals. i do agree with you that he is a pest to the team but it doesn't look like yao is going anywhere and it would be a great learning experience for yao to develop some inside presence.
He wants a contract extension, and he'll pout if he doesn't get it before the 2010 playoffs begin. Does anyone actually want to be paying him when he's 40 years old? I didn't think so.
Who ever can play atleast 70 games and the whole playoffs would be great. Either Shaq or Tmac would do but getting a chance to get the MOST durable player would be best.
If Shaq is still productive at 40 yrs old....why not? We paid Mutombo to do FAR LESS than what Shaq can do. Shaq and Yao don't hate each other, they respect each other. Yao would LOVE having Shaq as a teammate. This team needs another inside post up scorer for when Yao leaves the game. Shaq fits that bill to a T. Phoenix wants to save money, While Cleveland is balking, Morey can swoop in and offer a package involving T-Mac. This team needs to try to win NOW, not 3 yrs from now.
