Shaq to Cavs

[fm8418]

Report: Suns trade Shaq to Cavs - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

Cavs land Shaq for Wallace, Pavlovic - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached an agreement in principle to acquire Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal(notes), multiple sources involved in the talks told Yahoo! Sports late Thursday night.

Cleveland will send Ben Wallace(notes), Sasha Pavlovic(notes), the 46th pick in Thursday’s draft and cash to the Suns for O’Neal.

Cleveland and Phoenix were both juggling multiple trade possibilities with other teams, with the Cavs involved with as many as six trade scenarios.

Yet the disappointing Eastern Conference finals loss to the Orlando Magic left Cavs GM Danny Ferry with incredible pressure to accumulate talent around James in the final season prior to his 2010 free agency. James has blessed the O’Neal trade, especially because it should give his overmatched frontline a chance to compete with Dwight Howard in the playoffs. Ferry and Phoenix GM Steve Kerr are close friends and had talked off and on about a Shaq deal since the February trade deadline.

O’Neal, 37, makes $21 million next season, and the Suns were determined to move him in a package that would save them money. Wallace made $14 million and could take a buyout to retire, and only $1.5 million of Pavlovic’s $4.9 million salary is guaranteed.

[gregsta]

saw this coming

[wolffer12]

in breaking news the sun sets in the west too.

[MotorBoatinSOB]

Still not going to be enough to win a championship IMO

[crazybearsfan22]

Originally Posted by wolffer12

in breaking news the sun sets in the west too.

Funny.

[rwgorilla]

IMO if the cavs win the championship it will be a repeat of the "can kobe win w/o shaq" arguement...lebron will have to win one without shaq to prove himself

[gizmo675675]

Shaq better tap in to that fountain of youth again. I think its good and bad all in the same hand, for the reason that the Cavs run a lot and Shaq better stay with um or they will have to slow down to utilize him the best IMO.
But I like how rwgorilla put it.

[fm8418]

it's not bad if they get Shaq from 08/09 and not 06-8

[iluvfish2]

I'd have to agree on the 08/09 Shaq verses the 06-08. But he has lost some weight, and even the 06-08 Shaq required one man to guard him. When he needs 2, then he's a force and this woud really open up the outside and/or lanes for Lebron and company. I like the move for the Cavs. This gives them two decent big men, that are both aged, but they could work together and both provide quality minutes, and both on the floor could create some interesting matchups. Althought free throw percentage just went in the crapper.

[pmac9286]

Shaqqqqq Deiselllllll!!!!!!!!! The Big Perogi!!!!!!!!!!! Cavs To The Ship!!!

[deboesports]

how is shaq gonna play basketball this year being handcuffed to ben stein for a whole year???

[Bigblue]

I think we'll see a motivated Shaq and this makes the East even more of a battle.

Garnett, Howard, Shaq... that's some serious center play. I'll tune in about May 2010 to see what happens.

[washingtonmark]

Originally Posted by iluvfish2

I'd have to agree on the 08/09 Shaq verses the 06-08. But he has lost some weight, and even the 06-08 Shaq required one man to guard him. When he needs 2, then he's a force and this woud really open up the outside and/or lanes for Lebron and company. I like the move for the Cavs. This gives them two decent big men, that are both aged, but they could work together and both provide quality minutes, and both on the floor could create some interesting matchups. Althought free throw percentage just went in the crapper.

Shaq is actually higher lifetime % then Ben Wallace Was.

[iluvfish2]

True..but I think most games typically could be won from the charity stripe. And coming from a guy that shot very poorly from the stripe, I can't really cant bash him, but then again I'm a far cry from being paid to score points.

[CaptainBOHICA]

they'll still suck.

[miller45452003]

Originally Posted by CaptainBOHICA

they'll still suck.

Go a fly a kite Captain!!!! HAHAH...j/k

[ohiomike]

Other moves still need to be made but the bottom line is that the Cavs situation today is much better than their situation yesterday. Ben Wallace, if he even plays again, is almost a complete non-factor on the floor. He can only play 20 min at best, is injured half the games, and is no longer an intimidating inside presence. Sasha Pavlovic has proven himself to be nothing more than a good athlete whose skill set does not translate into the NBA game. He can show flashes of competence, but typically plays on par with most talent that can be found in the NBDL. The Cavs essentially traded to non-factors for someone who can still contribute as proven during last year's all-star season. Shaq and Z being able to split time will allow for Cleveland to have a fresh talented Center virtually every minute of the game. Without question, this was a great move for the Cavs.

Now, they still need to address the void at the power forward spot with Varejao likely pricing himself out of the Cavs range and Wallace now gone. Hopefully between Hickson's continued development and signing someone through free agency (Brandon Bass?) they can address this gaping hole on the team. Turning Wallace and Sasha into Shaq is a nice start, but the Cavs definitely need to do more to become the favorites heading into next season.

[miller45452003]

Could there be a Hedo Turkoglu sighting ahead?

[gman71]

Only potential issue I see with Shaq there is the chance that the lane will be a little more crowded,making it tougher for Bron to get the hoop with the ease he's done in the past

[wolffer12]

Originally Posted by gman71

Only potential issue I see with Shaq there is the chance that the lane will be a little more crowded,making it tougher for Bron to get the hoop with the ease he's done in the past

I agree 100%... I think they are going to sign Rasheed Wallace to fill the void at the PF position. They need one more piece and I think Sheed would be the answer.

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by deboesports

how is shaq gonna play basketball this year being handcuffed to ben stein for a whole year???

Stein will take over for Mo Williams. He couldn't play any worse in the playoffs than Mo did.