Cleveland has come to an agreement with Phoenix to send Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix for Shaquille O'Neal. Phoenix will aso receive the 46th pick in today's draft along with $500,000.
There's risk-reward in this transaction. Shaq is coming off a year in which he turned everyone's heads with a steady, productive season. Cleveland is looking to improve their playoff performance in which they were ousted by the Orlando Magic. Shaq is exactly what the Cavs need to defend Dwight Howard who demolished Ilgauskas and Varejao. Cleveland is only renting Shaq for the upcoming season to position themselves in the 2010 free agent class.
Phoenix appears to be headed for rebuilding mode. The team still has assets (Nash, Stoudemire, Barbosa) but all names have been mentioned in some trade rumors. Phoenix gambled on Shaq and crapped out by trading away Shawn Marion. Sitting in first place at the time of the trade, Phoenix became lottery fodder by the end of this season. GM Steve Nash is at a crossing point and all points appear to be "rebuild".
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4285489
Thursday, June 25, 2009
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