I heard an unknown sports radio guy say that it was driven by the human factor: Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire hate each other. Shaq lands back in contention - not unlike former Blazer Damon Stoudamire now with the San Antonio Spurs. Maybe the Suns felt they had to do something to counter the Lakers getting Pau Gasol. Did they jump the shark? Maybe but if anyone can feed Shaq down low, it's Steve Nash. Of course the middle will be clogged for Steve's sprints to the basket, and Shaq won't be able to run with them up the court. I'm intrigued to see how these moves work out, and as always, I'm hoping for Lakers misery. If the Suns do get better it would be hoop justice. If any team got robbed by the crooked ref last year it was them.

The sports columnists are mostly saying it's a big mistake made out of desperation. Could be. I think Shaq will be played in Eric Dampier mode--about 15 - 20 minutes a game, to rough up the opposing center. The rest of the time, Stoudamire and Boris Diaw and Brian Skinner will play center and the Suns will still run and gun. Nash can operate in a set offense just as well as in an open game.

Shaq should come in handy in the rough and tumble NBA playoffs when the whistles tend to disappear. Shaq is a fun character too...at least from what little I know from his T.V persona.

I've started writing the Blazers off this year. Too much perimeter shooting. Shaq coming west may make the NBA fun to watch again for me.

I'd put GM Steve Kerr's opinion ahead of the sports columnists any day, and not just because I like him. His family and mine used to cross paths back in the Middle East days. He's an outstanding human being and he has quite a knowledge of the game.
Maybe he can even teach Shaq how to shoot a freethrow. Okay, I'm kidding.

I think Phoenix saw what the Lakers were doing with Gasol/Bynum and the Spurs had with an inside game and thought they needed to do something if they wanted to make it to the finals.

Having said that, I think Miami got the better end of the deal (at least until Wade probably leaves.) Be thankful they didn't talk Portland out of an inside player.

Reasons why this is a good trade for PHX:

1) Shaq leaves his family issues behind in Miami and can concentrate on balling.

2) Shaq is pissed-off at all of the "experts" saying this is a bad trade for PHX. Shaq always plays well mad.

3) Shaq wins NBA titles after being traded. He did it in LA and MIA.

4) Shaq gets to play with high-end talent in Nash, Amare and others. Nash will feed the ball to Shaq all night and Amare will take the defensive pressure off Shaq at both ends of the court.

Phoenix in the NBA finals.

I've started writing the Blazers off this year. Too much perimeter shooting. Shaq coming west may make the NBA fun to watch again for me.

That statement boggles the mind. Did I miss the sarcasm?

not a good trade for PHX, but they're desperate for a championship.

Shaq definitely will *not* start--the team has basically said so. he's now a poor defender and a slow, lumbering, frequently injured offensive player who rarely has full game stamina.