Shaq to Phoenix leaves me scratching my head.

Just more chances for Bynum to dunk on Shaq.

I do like it when these trades happen so we can answer some questions, like: will Marion be just as good independent of Steve Nash? Can Steve Nash make Shaq a better player? Inquiring minds want to know.

Riley dodged a bullet with this one.

Dumping all those pounds and salary before it killed his franchise is the luck of the Irish squared.

dave m,

Marion does everything Shaq does but better. And he does everything the Suns need him to do. The Suns say they're getting Shaq for D, when he's not a defensive presence. He can't stay out of foul trouble. Like I wrote earlier he's had at least 4 fouls in 21 of his 32 games. And the Suns just gave away their best perimeter defender in Marion. Shaq can't move and protect the rim so guys will be flying through the lane and all he can do is reach and grab and pick up fouls.

He also can't shoot free throws so they'll go from being one of the best free throw shooting teams to an average one.

The Suns have just gotten worse in several areas. I'm thrilled!

I went over to read the Phoenix fan's perspective, and I was surprised to see very little outrage over the trade.

This worries me a little bit. Not much, just a little.

Prince,

"i swear to god my girlfriend just said the exact same thing. "whats wrong with you, why do you look so confused?" i try to explain it to her and she says " well thats good then". my response is "am i missing something? is this somehow a genius move and my tiny mind can't understand it or is it really as silly and knee-jerk as it seems"

Exactly! There's a part of me that's frustrated over not being able to figure out why Phoenix thinks this can work. That I can't figure out how to make 1+1=3 is somehow making me feel like the idiot. And it's pissing me off. haha

AK

Yahoo is reporting that Smush may be included in the Shaq trade. Imagine that! ROTFL!
It's a comedy beyond a Laker fan's wildest dreams.
Smush's matador defense plus Shaq's no D on pick-n-roll...I can't wait for the Lakers to pick the Suns apart.

AK,
Just wondering, when does the Nash contract expire? How about the Shaq contract? Okay, how about the Lebron contract? ..... humm

Is it possible the Suns are looking for some huge expiring $$$ that will coincide with certain free agents down the road? Hard to figure they'd give up on the next couple years in a scheme to go after LB. Something is up because Shaq to Suns makes no sense.

That trade would be good for the Lakers.

Andrew T,

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm very happy about it. My initial reaction when this came up (I believe it was during the "Real Time" Game thread) was "I hope they do it, because it makes Phoenix much worse." But mind you, that was also when I didn't think it would actually happen, because it was too ridiculous.

I'm still excited, but I think the confusion is preventing me from feeling truly elated. Right now, I feel like I did when I walked out of that George Clooney flick, "Syrianna." Very interesting movie and I enjoyed it, but not the easiest plot in the world to follow.

But assuming I eventually do fall asleep, I should feel much more giddy about it in the morning. haha

AK

Charles can put Shaq in his faves now! Pookie is not going to be happy, but he'll be when he sees how athletic Shawn Marion is!

-
Haslem
Marion
Wade
Rose (lottery pick)

Not bad for next year.

Oh please trade Barbosa for Smush! Please!

I'm sorry, but WHAT IS GOING ON?! Why would the fastest team in the NBA thats currently sitting atop the West, make what seems like a panic-y trade, for one of the slowest players in the game? Not to mention he has a bad hip and bad knees and basically bad joints altogether. You've all seen his Icy Hot commercials!

Xodus - sorry to disagree but Marion and Shaq have totally different games, not to mention different positions. This isn't about comparing the two of them, it's about the Suns are trying to add a different type of low post presence and whether it will work or not.

fkillah - I'm not saying they'll have a better front line than us. I'm saying that we shouldn't summarily dismiss what this could bring them. We do that at our own peril. "Oh please" youself pal.

novolakers,

Where are you hearing these things? Ric Bucher? Haha. He'll be fine.

This PHX/MIA trade should now place Pat Riley far out in front in the race for the Executive of the Year award. He sure gets my vote. I was LMAO hysterically when I saw the bullet on the 4 letter network. I thought Mitch had it locked up, but Pat has blown him away with this one.

Here's the quick breakdown.

The last thing the Suns should do is slow their offense down. In fact, they should speed it up. Lots of teams this year have shown that they can play the Sun’s pace and even exceed it. Think the Lakers when Bynum was in the game. We basically ran almost at their pace, got as many easy basket as they did, except we killed them on rebounds and defense.

Take away the Suns speed and high powered offense and their weaknesses become more apparent. They don’t play bad defense because they put up 110 points, but slow it down and that defense becomes questionable. Don't forget, Marion rebounds and aside from muscling players plays better defense than Shaq.

This deal is such a good thing for the Lakers. It shouldn't even be compared to the Gasol trade. We traded for a seven footer with All-Star talent and didn’t even give up any one of our TOP TEN players.

The Suns are going to trade their 2nd or 3rd best player for a guy who plays limited minutes, doesn’t fit into their system, and might actually be worse.

As a Laker fan, I approve this trade.

dave m
You're forgetting one thing-this will be a complete change for the suns. In midseason they're making a move that will entirely change how they play. Now they only have half a season to incorporate Shaq, figure out an offensive and defensive system that will work with him in the lineup (run and gun won't work for Shaq), get their chemistry down, learn each others habits, etc. I just don't see that happening b4 the playoffs. While Shaq MIGHT bring them an inside presence to challenge Duncan and Bynum, incorporating him might cost the Suns this season.

Beezy

OHOH Shaq is back. That fat bastard is back in the West. Oh no!!! J/k. No worries. Weird trade. Don't really know what to think of it yet. If he's not really injured then I think it will be a tremendous upgrade but the team will have to play a different style with him in there. Oh boy. I do think they had to do this move in order to compete with us in the playoffs. It's a huge gamble that actually had to be made if you really sit and think about it. There was no way they could have beaten us in a series when Drew returns from his knee injury. At least now they have a chance of winning a playoff game or two if Shaq can 90 % healthy. Wow what to think?

Mitch for GM of the year!!
He doesnt only improve the LAKERS but also destroyes the SUNS by causing them to panic and make this trade.

dave m,

This is going to bring us some good times, like watching a bulldog trying to keep up with some rats. Your totally missing out on what the whole point of this trade is about. Phoenix is small and they wanted to move Amare to the four and get a big center to clog up the lane and play defense (aka-getting a bigger, better front line). Problem is, Shaq, a guy who has historically picked his spots on defense, can't do that anymore. At the same time, they are going to lose out on a great all around player in Shawn Marion. Terrible trade.

I know this is yesterday's news now, but it still bugs me... do people really think Kwame was not one of our top TEN players? Behind Walton and Vlad Rad? Really??

Well of course Nash will make Shaq better. MUCH MUCH BETTER. Just imagine how much better he could make Lamar, Kobe, and Gasol. Of course this is only possible if Shaq is healthy which I really believe he will be. He may be a bit slower or whatever. He's still only 35. Malone, Mourning and Kareem played into their 40's. You can't deny a big body. He can be effective if he's at least 90% healthy. I'm not a doctor but something tells me that he will be ready for the playoffs. WOW!!! I can't wait. I'm salivating right now like a famished little pup. I think this makes them somewhat of bigger threat than before. I don't think that they can withstand a lineup of Drew, Gasol, Kobe, Lamar, and Fisher. That's too too deep.

What may have been true 4 or 5 years ago is not true anymore -- the new canard that Shaq rounds into shape come playoff time.

I do recall that he showed a surprising level of fitness for almost the entire 2004 - 2005 season but he ran on fumes during the playoff of that same season.

In the 2005 - 2006 season, meanwhile, he reverted to his practice of loafing about during the regular season and work into his peak during the playoffs yet again. Championship notwithstanding, he was not the fearsome playoff performer that we saw during his Laker days (there was a compelling reason why Wade was awarded the playoff MVP trophy, as it were). It was starting to become apparent that the Shaq that Shaq himself thought can be summoned according to his will now only exists in his ego, memories, and record books.

The mind may be willing but the body has clearly become very weak even for a man of his considerable gifts.

Last season and the current one really are but a continuation of his declining contributions. This decline is not only limited with respect to his playing skills but, even more tellingly, his physical state.

Shaq may only be 35 years old or so but the poor bastard put in almost 15 years of pro ball at its highest level while playing the game's most rugged position.

A large number of people think that the man can still "turn it on" for the playoffs when, sadly, he hasn't been able to produce anything close to what we expect him to do since the first part of the 2004 playoffs.

Still, it takes a whole team to win a championship but, for those who think Shaq can help bring one, Shaq is the proverbial last bullet in the clip that is largely more likely to miss than to hit.

I've always like Steve Kerr. I like him even more now.

Always said Phoenix can't win the NBA horesrace with ponies. So Kerr trades their pony for the baddest biggest DEAD horse they could find. LOL.

AND he brings his own jockey, a guy named Smush! Ah divine comedy.

is this comedy central/pacific

what a sequence…

smush to the suns in the package
shaq's picture http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports
Pookie in Barkeley's faves

a real FAT tuesday. this is becoming too hilarious

we Should separate from the EAST. LBJ and KG can fight for the MVP. in the west we r playing for the NBA or WBA.

thanks all

"So, how long til the cockaroaches come out and say Gasol is better than Kobe."

so, HELLO from spain (EUROPE)

Have no fear, man, i won´t say that gasol is better than kobe cause it´s false. BUt gasol have done this numbers during 7 years in memphis without teammates. He played all star, won the fiba world championship and won rookie of the year without kobe.

Gasol will be better with kobe, of course, as well as kobe can be better with pau. THIS IS A TEAM GAME.

Anyway, Pau is not the man. This is kobe´s team, we all know, and the responsabilty is over his head. But pau can help to make a champion team. He understand this game. BTW, i hope people in LA will be comprenssive with his defence game. Pau´s a really great offencer, but also an awful defender.

P.S.: I stayed wake up till 4 am watching the game!! I´m working-sleeping, lol.

GRACIAS DESDE ESPAÑA FOR TRADING GASOL(EUROPA)