I couldn’t believe my ears when the ESPN sportscaster announced that Shaquille O’Neal had been traded to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Two years after an NBA Championship, Shaq will be moving again. Yes, the Heat are a lousy 9-40, but those are pretty high standards: trading someone after winning the championship just two seasons earlier. That’s a bit harsh. But again, if the price is right, in this case Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, you have to make the deal happen.
So who is this deal good for? Well, it’s good for both teams, but maybe not how you think:
Suns: For the Suns, this trade is a good thing for the foreseeable future. I think D’Antoni and Coangelo are thinking that Steve Nash only has a few more good years before he starts going south, and they want to win a championship before that happens. So they bring in Shaq, who for the foreseeable future can help the Suns. Shaq still has a bit left in that worn-out old frame of his to contribute to the playoffs.
For Phoenix to finally be able to compete with the big boys in the West, they really need a big, powerful center. Shaq is just that. Also, with all the Shaq vs. Kobe drama rears its ugly head on him again, Shaq may have a chip on his shoulder. A 7-foot, 350-pound hall of famer with something to prove is a dangerous thing. If the Suns’ only goal is to win a championship this year or maybe next, the trade was a good idea. However, in the long run, this trade was stupid. Shaq will be gone in a couple of years and now Marion is gone too.
Heat: For the Heat, this was a very good trade. One who can save his season in Shawn Marion is sure to revitalize a badly demoralized Miami team. Since their Championship, the Heat have gone downhill, to say the least. I don’t think any team has fallen out of favor as quickly as the Heat have. Two years ago, they were the best basketball team. Now, they are the worst, being beaten by the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. But now that Marion is in Miami, the Heat will get a full dose of what he’s needed all season: energy and defense. Wade and company will be able to score enough points to win games. But the question is whether they can put in enough defensive effort to avoid being outplayed every game.
Plus, Marion will not only help out this season, but he’s the type of player you can build a strong team around. With him, Haslem and Wade in Miami, the Heat straighten things out.
So I would say in the short term, the Suns made a pretty good trade. However, the Heat definitely got the best out of this transaction, as Marion and Banks will help out in the short and long term.