I think the trade for shaq is a great one for the Suns...

[jordanrules23]

Steve Kerr knows that the up-tempo style doesnt win Rings... lakers got Gasol and Spurs have Duncan.....The Suns have Amare and Shaq, while he's in there they will play half-court O, and while hes not the will push the Tempo...he will only play 20-23 min a game....mostly in the 4th qrt of the play-offs, i think this will make the Suns the Fav to get out of the West....And Marion was becoming a cancer to the locker room....

[BigWeiner]

I don't think it's great, but I don't think it's bad as long as Shaq is somewhat healthy. If he's healthy and they can play Grant Hill/Raja Bell at the 2 and Diaw at the 3, that's the nice lineup. It'll be really fun to watch. I think the Spurs need to get Vince Carter, what do you think?

[molta02]

don't think its as bad as everyone thinks. marion had to go, banks had a terrible contract.

don't know how well shaq will fit in their system, but it might be beneficial to him not having to be main guy. should get some easy shots/dunks w/ nash too.

[jordanrules23]

I don't think it's great, but I don't think it's bad as long as Shaq is somewhat healthy. If he's healthy and they can play Grant Hill/Raja Bell at the 2 and Diaw at the 3, that's the nice lineup. It'll be really fun to watch. I think the Spurs need to get Vince Carter, what do you think?

i personally think carter is not a team player, didnt they just get Stodamire>? Damon?? the Spurs??? He will be great off the bench....

[BigWeiner]

Of the players that are available, Bibby, Artest, Kidd, Vince Carter. I think the Mavs should just trade Harris for Kidd and make their run, and I think the Spurs should get Vince or Artest to play small forward.

[zeib10]

I think I may be the minority here but I think that the Suns got robbed. Sure I understand that it is different at playoff time versus regular season but this is insane.

The Suns panicked. I feel that they would have won the title last year if it wasn't for Robert Horry. They added Grant Hill to an already strong squad. They have the best record in the West as of today.

Marion is a great player who does everything well and a lot of times he is a stat stuffer. He averages 16ppg and 1.5 blocks. He also leads the team in rebounds (9.9) and steals (2.2). Bad guy or not he plays hard EVERY night. He runs the floor all the time. He usually guards the best player, although Bell is a helluva defender. He can rebound. He can shoot the 3.

Shaq has been done for a few years now. Even if he only plays at playoff time, he will be out of shape. If he is only going to play 20 minutes, why trade a top notch player for a part time player?

Bad move Suns taking your run and gun style to a slow down offense without adding an impact slow down player.

I pegged them for the NBA title but I am positive they do not escape the Western Conference.

[DDP713]

I think I may be the minority here but I think that the Suns got robbed. Sure I understand that it is different at playoff time versus regular season but this is insane.

The Suns panicked. I feel that they would have won the title last year if it wasn't for Robert Horry. They added Grant Hill to an already strong squad. They have the best record in the West as of today.

Marion is a great player who does everything well and a lot of times he is a stat stuffer. He averages 16ppg and 1.5 blocks. He also leads the team in rebounds (9.9) and steals (2.2). Bad guy or not he plays hard EVERY night. He runs the floor all the time. He usually guards the best player, although Bell is a helluva defender. He can rebound. He can shoot the 3.

Shaq has been done for a few years now. Even if he only plays at playoff time, he will be out of shape. If he is only going to play 20 minutes, why trade a top notch player for a part time player?

Bad move Suns taking your run and gun style to a slow down offense without adding an impact slow down player.

I pegged them for the NBA title but I am positive they do not escape the Western Conference.

I agree 100% I think that the Suns definitley panicked after Lakers added Gasol, knowing that they can't compete against some of the wests best frontcourts.

The Suns biggest need was to add a defensive pressence in the middle as well as someone that could finish offensively.
I don't see Shaq doing much of that unless nash is feeding him the ball near the rim.

Shaq will always be 7 feet tall 300 pounds and he can still throw down a powerful 2 hand dunk when open under the rim.....BUT the suns WILL miss marions intangibles on offense and defense. Marion is a better rebounder and defender than shaq. I understand why phoenix made the trade, but they made it prematurely to block dallas from getting shaq.
If your biggest need is to add a Center that demands space in the paint why trade shawn marion to get one that is past his prime and has been injured for most of the year?

[GrandPa]

And if The Big Aristotle is in the game in the 4th quarter, Suns opponents now have someone to foul.

[flarendep1]

Steve Kerr knows that the up-tempo style doesnt win Rings... lakers got Gasol and Spurs have Duncan.....The Suns have Amare and Shaq, while he's in there they will play half-court O, and while hes not the will push the Tempo...he will only play 20-23 min a game....mostly in the 4th qrt of the play-offs, i think this will make the Suns the Fav to get out of the West....And Marion was becoming a cancer to the locker room....

The one problem with playing Shaq in the 4th quarter is that you cant play him in the 4th quarter with the game on the line. HACK A SHAK! Because he cant make a free throw, he cant be in there to close the deal.

[DDP713]

And if The Big Aristotle is in the game in the 4th quarter, Suns opponents now have someone to foul.

haha good point

as a Laker fan the greatest part of this trade too me is that the Lakers slid a missing piece into there lineup that has been sorely needed, without touching the core of the team and key bench guys like farmar, radmanovic, turiaf....
the suns onthe other hand added a bright green piece to a red puzzle! this team was built to run n gun with glimpses of defense along the way and marion has always been a HUGE part of that....I just dont see how the suns are benefiting here besides gaining a couple inches and 50 pounds at center....

yeah amare will be better suited at power forward, and there wing players (hill,diaw,barbosa,bell) will be fine BUT you didnt have to trade marion to fill a defensive need at center ESPECIALLLY someone that can barely run up n down the court....if shaq was headed to dallas or san antonio i'd be a little concerned as a Laker fan but not this move...GREAT trade for miami

[tech fan]

this was a terrible trade for the suns.Marion was one of the top stars on the team avg 36 minutes a game and all you are getting is Shaq who will give you 17 minutes a night and while he is in the game you have to change your entire offense.THis will help the suns in rebounding and defense as this is not amare's strong points but this was a panick move.Giving up a top 5 player for a guy that is not even a top 5 center in the game right now.But this could light a spark under Shaq and get that fire going again where he was dominant inside.