here are my thoughts on "THE TRADE"
The Suns are NOT underachieving - not sure how a 34 - 14 record and 3rd overall behind the Celtics and the Pistons and 1st overall in the West can be described that way, but yes they have lost to the Timber Wolves 2x and bad nights happen or they just lost interest. We have seen the top 5 or 6 teams all tank some nights as the 82 game schedule is made to be endure more than conquered.. not sure how the Spurs survive the Rodeo Road trip year in and year out, but they seem to come back and begin their season after the all star break.
what we saw last night in the Lakers vs. Nets game was the emergence of a new team in purple and gold.. how long has it been since we have seen Kobe Bryant have so much fun scoring 6 points and WINNING???!!!! When Andrew Bynum gets back, this team will power through the rest of the west... i have no problems saying that... even adding Shaq won't help the Suns stop that team... and they will be fun to watch... like the Suns with a very active interior which Shaq can no longer provide.
The lack of inside dominance let alone presence has cost this team 2 great regular seasons with 2 bad playoff years... does this trade give them the strength to get past the Spurs? or the Lakers? or the Mavericks? hard to tell as Shaquille O'Neal is very damaged right now and needs to heal... not sure this was the guy to pick, but i doubt anyone else was available.
Did Shawn Marion have to go? maybe, but as good as he was, he can be replaced.. there are very few men in the league who can't be replaced and that is why deals are made... some times a guy is such a disruption, he needs to go, like Allen Iverson was a couple years ago and Vince Carter was with the Raptors.. when a guy becomes a distraction to the team... any GM will look to move him. I will miss Marion's skill, but i think that bringing in a winner will only enhance a fragile locker room.
Is this a "sacrifice at all costs deal"? i don't think so as Shaq will bring a lot to the table that we will never see... but the Suns will know that he is there and that alone will allow them to play a bit better.. maybe if nothing else, they will all start to play better defense if they really believe this deal puts them 4 on 5 on both ends of the floor...
the team dynamic just changed dramatically... i for one am willing to trust that the Suns know what they are doing... i won't change my Suns to the Raptors just yet... but if Shaq tanks... i will have to change... this team won't be the same if they give marion away for nothing... which some think shaq is at this point... we shall see...
