ESPN reporting that Miami is thinking about trading Shaq

Either that, or the Suns have a deal worked out where they can flip Shaq for a couple of good hands.

 

Brass?

 

Jeez, you guys really want to reopen that debate? My point was not to go there (I guess I should've left out the R word), but only to point out that they weren't exactly miles away last year. But, since you're making an issue of it: Sun's best player gets get decked with blatant cheap shot by Spur reserve in front of their bench at end of blowout Sun win; in response two guys take a couple steps forward, but do not enter fracas or cause any problems, before promptly returning to bench; next day Suns have 2 key players, including their all-star starting center, suspended for it. Yeah, regardless of the letter of the rule, I feel safe saying the interests of justice were not served that day.

 

From Adrian Wojnarowski's yahoo.com column:

"What are they (expletive) thinking?" one Western Conference executive blurted late Tuesday night.

"I have no clue what they are thinking," one Eastern Conference scout said. "Shaq retired two years ago."

 

That bag of doorknobs was Kevin Garnett in a three way deal.

 

IIRC, Jefferson wasn't in the prospective Marion deal.

 

The Marion-to-the-Celtics deal was originally rumored to be Marion for Delonte West, Theo Ratliff and the #5 pick.

 

There was discussion of a three way trade that would see Garnett in Phoenix, Jefferson in Minnesota and Marion in Boston with other bodies and draft picks thrown in.

 

Marion's deal expires after next season, leaving Phoenix on the hook $16 mill in 08-09. Shaq's expires after the 09-10 season at $20 mill. So Phoenix is trading for a corpse that will hurt their cap for two years, instead of dealing with a malcontent who is easier to trade for, at most, one year.

Even if Marion mailed it in next year (and his numbers this make that appear unlikely), at least they'd free up $16 mill in cap money for 09.

Terrible, terrible deal for the Suns.

Oh, and anyone seen that ad for Vitamin Water with Shaq as the jockey where they list him at 7'1", 312 pounds? Shaq hasn't seen 312 since Li'l Penny was gettin all the endorsements.

 

Change that "3" to a "4" and it might work, bigpern.

 

The Suns wanted to get out of Marion's monster contract, so they add Shaq's even more bloated one? What in the name of Jim McIlvaine is going on?

The Suns beat guy at the Republic made some good points — the Suns don't really run a five-man fast break, leaving Shaq time to get up the court, etc. — but this still doesn't make sense. Marion is a much more active player, and Shaq can barely get off the ground anymore. His rebounding is terrible these days and he can't defend anyone — and especially not the likes of Duncan.

As for Marion, this deal kind of cracks me up. He's whined the past 2-3 years about wanting to be the key guy, a la Joe Johnson in Atlanta. Only now he's in Miami, where he'll be a distant, distant second-fiddle to Wade. Heck, even Ricky Davis is still there chucking up wild shots.

 

The point of that rule should include "intent." For instance, if my kid is playing and gets decked in a game (and he has) my immediate reaction is to jump up and forward. I don't charge the court. I don't leave my place in the stands. But in the NBA's eyes, under that rule, if applied to high school crowds, would be to suspend me from being in the stands the next game.
The two Suns players jumped up and took a step forward. No more. Went no farther. Is that worth a suspension in a playoff game? No.

With that said, I am proud to say I am boycoitting watching the NBA this entire season because of that. I know that's stupid to probably 99 percent of you but it's something I can do personally that makes me feel better and get over it. Stern can bite me.