I don’t really understand this trade. Phoenix will get Shaq for Marion and Marcus Banks. Now I know Marion has been unhappy there for a while, but most nights he’s still playing pretty good ball, though he often runs around launching his weird jumper with a really sour look on his face.
But Shaq? Is this the best Phoenix can get for Marion? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Shaq, but his best years are behind him and he can barely suit up for half the games let alone play in a run and gun style offence. Seriously, since Shaq came to Miami after Kobe ran him out of LA, he has played in 73, 59, 40, and 32 games each year. Sure this year isn’t done yet, but I don’t see him playing more than 55 games this season. Needless to say the happy days of Shaq being “A Rappin’ Genie With An Attitude” are behind him.
I think this is a panic move after having seen their bitter rivals land Gasol. I can’t explain this trade. Sure Phoenix needs toughness, defence, someone who can grab boards, but I don’t think Shaq is the answer. But maybe I’ll eat my words if Shaq heals up nicely and plays like only The Daddy can in the playoffs. He could still be a force that will demand double teams and dominate in the paint, but I really don’t see that happening.
Colangelo must be shitting himself. He built this team into an exciting team that seemed destined to win a championship at some point in the near future. He built it, the wins came, then he left to do the same thing in Toronto, leaving the franchise to win without him. But since Colangelo left this team has hit a plateau, and this year has declined. Maybe ridding themselves of Marion and his sour face and wonky shot will make Phoenix fun again, but I don’t know. I think they should have tried harder to pull the deal on a KG trade in the summer. For what Minnesota got, Phoenix could have packaged a deal very similar around Marion without giving up Stoudemire, now Phoenix is going to have to eat Shaq’s massive salary, his ego, and his bum hip for 2 years. I smell buyout coming next summer.
Oh ya, but this deal is pending Shaq passing a physical. I don’t think anyone in professional sports has not passed a physical.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Scott Cameron // Feb 6, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I must admit, I like this trade. Marion is good, but in all the years of watching him, I’ve rarely seen him create shots for himself; the Daddy can still rock it in the post, so I don’t worry about that. Also, one of the arguments that’s floating around is that Shaq will impede the Suns fast break. Since when do all five players have to sprint upcourt for it to be a fast break? The Nets, just a few seasons ago, were the fast breaking team of the East, and they had Jason Collins and Deke - who certainl didn’t sprint the court. Instead they had young, athletic talent in Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, and RJ running hard and finishing. Similarly the Showtime Lakers had Byron Scott, Coop, AC Green, and Kurt Rambis (of all people) catching the dime from Magic. Kareem rarely entered the opposing teams half. Also with Shaq you get the best passing center, with the possible exception of Brad Miller, and maybe Ziggy on a good day. I trust Steve Kerr’s decision to get rid of an unhappy player, and the rule, in my opinion still stands: if you can get the Daddy, get him. Can you dig it?
2 Sean // Feb 6, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I agree with you to a certain extent. Yes, the Suns can still be a quick strike team, they still have Stoudemire, Hill, Barbosa, Bell and Nash to get fast break points, so that is still in tact. And with the addition of Shaq, they get the needed D and big man they desperately need. Furthermore, when fast break points don’t fly, they can run half-court sets and pick and rolls with The Daddy. Don’t get me wrong, this COULD be a good move. However, Marion helped Nash on defence more than I care to acknowledge. Marion helped cover for Steve’s non-existant D. I could see Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Deron Williams or many other guards going off on Phoenix now without Marion’s D helping Nash. Furthermore, getting Shaq fucks them for cap space for 2 more years with Shaq eating $20 million a season and how many quality games can he give you? Was Shaq sitting out in Miami more cause he wasn’t happy or is he seriously deteriorating like a fart in the wind this quickly? If Shaq is healthy enough, this deal might bring them a finals appearance, but if Shaq is really on his last legs, the Suns will eat a lot of salary for a 40 games a year guy that can’t bring it every night. I just wonder if this is the best deal they could have gotten for Marion. I think KG was gettable in the summer with the right group of guys packaged around Marion (I know they wanted Stoudemire but I’m sure they would have taken Marion with a nice supporting cast). I just wonder if this is more of a reactionary move after the Lakers got Gasol.
Just heard Shaq talked to Steven Nash personally and said “I will not let you down”. Sounds like we could have a motivated Daddy…I might eat my words.
3 Scott Cameron // Feb 6, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Well played. I like this website, and I’ll be further adding questions and comments to keep you on your toes. But good answer. See you in a week or so.
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