[vastrightwinger]

"Miami Heat have already agreed to send O'Neal to the Suns in exchange for All-Star forward Shawn Marion and out-of-favor guard Marcus Banks. Miami is simply waiting for Phoenix management to complete a medical examination of O'Neal and formally accept what would rank as one of the most unexpected trades in league history."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3232862

Not that this is a blockbuster trade but it certainly suprised us here in Miami.

[Sly Fox]

The Heat just stole the Suns blind.

[ToTheLeft]

The Heat just stole the Suns blind.

Yup.

[thepostman]

yes they did...Shaq has nothing left in the tank

[blwall1416]

the NBgAc = No Body gives A crap.

[olldflame]

I tend to agree that this is a bad trade for Phoenix. I think I understand their reasoning though. Their team as constituted was fun to watch, but was not going to win a championship because as great an athlete as Stoudamire is, he is a liability when it comes to playing post defense. He will be a beast at power forward. They are hoping a change in scenery will reinvigorate Shaq enough to give them some quality post play. Marion is a good player, but they have other guys who can be productive with his minutes.

[thepostman]

also marion wanted out of there anyways....but still...Shaq is not the best way to go...but who knows it may reinvigorate Shaq like you say....it still doesn't change the fact that Miami probably can't believe that they could actually get rid of shaq and get a very good player in marion....

[WinthropEagleFan]

Wow..as a Heat fan, I'm amazed they were able to get Shawn Marion in this deal. It definitely doesn't solve all of the Heat's problems (they need alot more than one trade to do that), but Shaq is on the tail-end of his career, so I'm happy they were able to get alot of value out of him in a trade while they could.

[Rocketfan]

Wow..as a Heat fan, I'm amazed they were able to get Shawn Marion in this deal. It definitely doesn't solve all of the Heat's problems (they need alot more than one trade to do that), but Shaq is on the tail-end of his career, so I'm happy they were able to get alot of value out of him in a trade while they could.

Marion can opt out of his deal at years end.....his tenure may be short lived....but you do free up some cash at least if that happens.

[WinthropEagleFan]

Wow..as a Heat fan, I'm amazed they were able to get Shawn Marion in this deal. It definitely doesn't solve all of the Heat's problems (they need alot more than one trade to do that), but Shaq is on the tail-end of his career, so I'm happy they were able to get alot of value out of him in a trade while they could.

Marion can opt out of his deal at years end.....his tenure may be short lived....but you do free up some cash at least if that happens.

Exactly...

[TDDance234]

I'm probably the only one--I like it for Phoenix. They'll use him like they used Thomas to start their fast break and he frees up Amare to go up against smaller guys. Losing Marion won't hurt as bad as you'd expect with Hill playing above his head this year.

Miami gets a good deal as well, creating over $15million in cap money next year. I don't think Banks was just a throw-in, he probably replaces Williams as the starting PG for that team. A nucleas of Banks, Wade and Marion (if they can convince him to stay) is very solid.

Good deal overall, IMO.

[bigsmooth]

agreed TD. stoudamire gets to move back to his PF position anyway. a good overall trade IMO.

[sweetnahmah1]

I hope Shaq and the Suns win the champioship just to prove everybody wrong......not gonna happen

[Rocketfan]

For the record i like this trade overall as well.....Espn details a lot of my reason why here...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime ... ime-080207

I don't really like the NBA, but watching the Lakers, Spurs, Suns and Mavs down the stretch is going to be fun i think.


Also this made me laugh, but its very true:

Reason #4 of things to know about the Shaq deal.....

The Suns love that so many outsiders are down on the trade.

Or so they claim.

Kerr, in particular, couldn't wait to share the story about a meeting Wednesday with D'Antoni and other Suns staffers during which O'Neal pointed up at a nearby TV that flashed some unflattering results from an ESPN.com poll.

Kerr quoted Shaq as saying: "Seventy-one percent of people in America apparently think this is a bad deal. That makes me angry. And I play better when I'm angry."

[jcmanson]

Kerr quoted Shaq as saying: "Seventy-one percent of people in America apparently think this is a bad deal. That makes me angry. And I play better when I'm angry."

Please. Shaq stated before this season started that he was more focused than ever on trying to win a championship, and look where that got him.

[thepostman]

This trade does make things more interesting that is for sure...I think that this trade in no way hurts the Suns....but I am not sure if it makes them any better...but now worse...

As for Miami, they couldn't be happier...they get marion who will opt out which will give Miami some flexibility.....my hope is that Udonis Haslem is the next guy on his way out and to the Magic...there have been rumors that the heat are interesting in JJ...but yeah...anyways

the NBA has been a lot of fun to watch this year...especailly everything going on out west...I know most on here aren't huge nba fans...but it has gotten better in the last few years in my opinion

[bigsmooth]

whay are you so sure marion will opt out postie?? i think riley is gonna sell the marion/wade relationship to him and build through free agency. and though the east is getting better, it will not take that much for the heat to get back in the playoffs.