When I first read the Shaquille O’Neal for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks trade rumor on ESPN’s bottom line, I called my best friend and emailed my brother to laugh hysterically about it.  We wondered if this would be the point people officially recognized ESPN had lost all journalistic credibility. 

The next morning I get an early wake-up call from said friend.  The deal’s going down.  Unbelievable. 

Does Phoenix know something I do not?  Because what I know is this: 

1. Phoenix has the best record in the Western Conference despite playing more road games than every team but Houston with Shawn Marion leading the team in minutes, steals, and rebounds. 

2. Shaq has missed 14 of the last 18 games because of an injured hip.  The Matrix hasn’t missed 14 games in all of the past eight seasons.
3. Shaq is the slowest player in the league and an obvious flat-tire on D’Antoni’s Porsche.  Since his arrival four years ago, Coach Mike D’Antoni has stubbornly insisted his run and gun offense could win a championship on infinite occasions.  Is there another player in the NBA that is a worse fit for D’Antoni’s philosophies than Shaq?  No.  There’s not.

4. Although it’s a fantasy league, it should stand for some measure of an athlete’s on-court contributions.  In my league, Marion is ranked #1 – that is, he is the best player in the league.  Shaq?  He’s ranked 231st – that is, he wouldn’t start in a 30 team league.  Another way to look at it is this:  there were 229 better players to trade Marion for…in fantasy basketball.  Regarding the NBA, that number is debatable.

5. The Suns have consistently made questionable moves in the name of saving payroll for years.  But now they have added payroll and a lot of it.  Shaq’s contract is longer and more expensive in every season than Marion’s contract and will severely handicap the Suns maneuverability in the future – unless they win a championship this year and he accepts a buyout.

However:

1. I also thought Grant Hill was a bad fit for the Suns and he’s having his best season in years.

2. L.A. does have two young seven footers that would have dominated the Suns on offense and on the defensive possessions that they could get back on.  Shaq brings plenty of size and veteran know-how to deal with this problem.  Plus, he really would relish the opportunity to stick it to Mitch Kupchak, Jerry Buss and the rest of the Lakers.

3. Amare Stoudamire supposedly told management to make this happen because he was tired of playing out of position at center.  And Amare has managed to make $100 million dollars without ever stepping foot on a college campus.

4. The Suns have never made the NBA Finals with Marion.  (They were clearly the best team in last year’s playoffs and in 2004-05 before Joe Johnson was mugged).

5. A lot of players turn it on after a trade. 

Conclusion

Shaq will fail his physical and the trade will never go thru or Mike D’Antoni will use him primarily as an 8th man against most teams and give him 35 minutes per night against the Lakers, Spurs, Rockets and Pistons – all likely opponents in the playoffs.  Diaw has effectively started three games at center this season and did help lead the Suns to the conference finals from that position two seasons ago.

As for Miami, the most disappointing team in the NBA just made the best trade I have ever witnessed.  Marion is a superior player to O’Neal, cheaper and six years younger.  Not only do they get one of the best defensive players and producers in the league, but they may have also scored a starting point guard for the next three years.  Marcus Banks was an effective starter prior to moving to Phoenix where his playing time declined prominently behind Steve Nash and even Leandro Barbosa.  He’s just 26 and he had to pick up a few things playing against the two-time MVP over the past two seasons.

The most attractive part of this deal for Miami has to be shedding Shaq’s remaining contract which runs thru 2010.  Not only are they a lock for this year’s lottery, but now they have enough cash to make some major additions to the roster for next year – even if Marion decides not to opt out.  With Jason Williams, Ricky Davis, Alonzo Mourning and Shaq all coming off the payroll, they could make a legit play for some of next summer’s top free agents.  

Photos Courtesy of gem10.com and mysanantonio.com, respectively