Following my 12th call of the day to get my thoughts on the current Shaq trade that is about to go down, I’ve decided that its time to put my paying job on hold for the remainder of the afternoon. With that being said, let’s recap what’s transpired around the league:
Miami sends Shaq to Phoenix in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks
Phoenix - Have you seen Shaq lately?
On the offensive side of the ball, Shaq fits in with the Suns about as well as Pacman Jones at a Hannah Montana Concert. For a team that thrives in a run and gun style, pushing the tempo, and getting up quick shots, this doesn’t add up. At 35, Shaq can hardly move around the court, he can’t power over opposing centers anymore, he’s non existent on the offensive glass and he has limited athletic ability left, which makes it very difficult for Shaq to finish around the rim.
Defensively, Shaq is an even bigger liability. He can’t get out to contest bigs that shoot from the perimeter, he lacks the speed to hedge out on the pick and roll with time to get back and cover his man, and it’s very tough for the big fella to protect the basket.
Oh and by the way he has another 2 years remaining on his contract that will cost the Suns $20M per season. For a team looking to shred payroll in order to get luxury tax relief, this doesn’t help matters.
There’s no question Shaq is still a mid-tier center in this league, but opposing teams no longer fear “The Diesel.”
It will be interesting to see how this actually plays out, but I really can’t see how this trade made Phoenix more equipped for this season’s playoff run.
Miami – The Heat are a team that needed to make personnel changes in order to get back to their winning ways and this trade certainly fits that billing. Marion is one of the most athletic players in the league, he can defend, run the court and he plays with a youthful style that is currently missing from Miami’s lineup.
Marion will play alongside D. Wade and should flourish in a #2 role. Where Dwayne Wade needs the ball in his hands to be successful, Marion is the complete opposite. Wade can break down the defense at the top of the key with his standard high screen or isolation and Marion can slash all day long and get scrappy buckets and offensive rebounds. Marion will also take the assignment of guarding the opposing teams best perimeter scorer. Marion and Wade will form a very exciting, formidable duo.
Marcus Banks is also a guy that could be utilized under Pat Riley. Banks is a top tier on the ball defender, who can find a role in the Heats more conservative offense. Without a solid point guard on the Heat roster, this should reinvigorate Banks career.
Pat Riley very recently claimed that when healthy Shaq is still a dominant center in this league. Nobody actually believed him, well, except Steve Kerr.
Recent Trade: Pau Gasol to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol, and two protected first round draft picks from the Lakers in 2008 and 2010.
The Grizzles are a team going nowhere; they’ve never been headed in the right direction and owner Michael Heisley wants to sell the team this summer. Therefore to make the team more attractive, he decided to part ways with a big salary and add expiring contracts and future draft picks in return.
With very few teams looking to bring in big contracts and unload expiring ones in return, Memphis decided to settle.
To bring back a slew of players that include: a career underachiever (Brown), a retired player who was an assistant coach with the 76ers (McKie), a player who isn’t even good enough to make an NBA roster right now ‘younger brothers rarely pan out’ (Gasol) and 2 protected draft picks… for a legitimate 20 and 10 guy, is depressing.
Since entering the league over 6 seasons ago, Memphis made Gasol the cornerstone of their franchise. As I’ve said on multiple occasions, in order to win in the NBA you need a superstar to build around, something Gasol is not. It shouldn’t have taken Memphis this long to realize that Gasol is better suited as a second option.
In Los Angeles, Gasol will get to play off Kobe Bryant and not be relied upon to lead the team. He brings the Lakers a legitimate post presence that can create his own shots and finish off the guards penetration. He can demand a double team on the block and he brings more height and length to an already big Lakers frontcourt. Gasol, coupled with Bynum and Odom combine to makeup a concrete front line that will be very difficult to score against.
The Lakers now have the parts in place for a championship run and a happy Superstar.
Miami sends Shaq to Phoenix in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks
Phoenix - Have you seen Shaq lately?
On the offensive side of the ball, Shaq fits in with the Suns about as well as Pacman Jones at a Hannah Montana Concert. For a team that thrives in a run and gun style, pushing the tempo, and getting up quick shots, this doesn’t add up. At 35, Shaq can hardly move around the court, he can’t power over opposing centers anymore, he’s non existent on the offensive glass and he has limited athletic ability left, which makes it very difficult for Shaq to finish around the rim.
Defensively, Shaq is an even bigger liability. He can’t get out to contest bigs that shoot from the perimeter, he lacks the speed to hedge out on the pick and roll with time to get back and cover his man, and it’s very tough for the big fella to protect the basket.
Oh and by the way he has another 2 years remaining on his contract that will cost the Suns $20M per season. For a team looking to shred payroll in order to get luxury tax relief, this doesn’t help matters.
There’s no question Shaq is still a mid-tier center in this league, but opposing teams no longer fear “The Diesel.”
It will be interesting to see how this actually plays out, but I really can’t see how this trade made Phoenix more equipped for this season’s playoff run.
Miami – The Heat are a team that needed to make personnel changes in order to get back to their winning ways and this trade certainly fits that billing. Marion is one of the most athletic players in the league, he can defend, run the court and he plays with a youthful style that is currently missing from Miami’s lineup.
Marion will play alongside D. Wade and should flourish in a #2 role. Where Dwayne Wade needs the ball in his hands to be successful, Marion is the complete opposite. Wade can break down the defense at the top of the key with his standard high screen or isolation and Marion can slash all day long and get scrappy buckets and offensive rebounds. Marion will also take the assignment of guarding the opposing teams best perimeter scorer. Marion and Wade will form a very exciting, formidable duo.
Marcus Banks is also a guy that could be utilized under Pat Riley. Banks is a top tier on the ball defender, who can find a role in the Heats more conservative offense. Without a solid point guard on the Heat roster, this should reinvigorate Banks career.
Pat Riley very recently claimed that when healthy Shaq is still a dominant center in this league. Nobody actually believed him, well, except Steve Kerr.
Recent Trade: Pau Gasol to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol, and two protected first round draft picks from the Lakers in 2008 and 2010.
The Grizzles are a team going nowhere; they’ve never been headed in the right direction and owner Michael Heisley wants to sell the team this summer. Therefore to make the team more attractive, he decided to part ways with a big salary and add expiring contracts and future draft picks in return.
With very few teams looking to bring in big contracts and unload expiring ones in return, Memphis decided to settle.
To bring back a slew of players that include: a career underachiever (Brown), a retired player who was an assistant coach with the 76ers (McKie), a player who isn’t even good enough to make an NBA roster right now ‘younger brothers rarely pan out’ (Gasol) and 2 protected draft picks… for a legitimate 20 and 10 guy, is depressing.
Since entering the league over 6 seasons ago, Memphis made Gasol the cornerstone of their franchise. As I’ve said on multiple occasions, in order to win in the NBA you need a superstar to build around, something Gasol is not. It shouldn’t have taken Memphis this long to realize that Gasol is better suited as a second option.
In Los Angeles, Gasol will get to play off Kobe Bryant and not be relied upon to lead the team. He brings the Lakers a legitimate post presence that can create his own shots and finish off the guards penetration. He can demand a double team on the block and he brings more height and length to an already big Lakers frontcourt. Gasol, coupled with Bynum and Odom combine to makeup a concrete front line that will be very difficult to score against.
The Lakers now have the parts in place for a championship run and a happy Superstar.
5 comments:
Don't sleep on the diesel, he will take some time to get healthy and look good come playoff time. Lots of bigs out west buddy.
Perhaps the Suns made the trade to generate addtl $$$. Adding Shaq adds people in the seats - no doubt about it!
Shaq fits in with the Suns about as well as Pacman Jones at a Hannah Montana Concert - CLASSIC!
Shaq is not adding people in the seats. He's only filling up one additional chair -his own-
The dude cashed his chips in a couple years ago.
The only possible benefit Phoenix got out of this trade is that the streets will now be safer.
Pacman at Hannah Montana Concert- hysterical...
-Tick Tick
For the londest time I couldnt realize why u love Shawn Marions game so much but then it hit me, his j makes urs look like larry legend. late
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