The trade of Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday was more than just a contract dump for the Phoenix Suns.It also was done to satisfy point guard Steve Nash.
According to an NBA source, Nash expressed his displeasure with O'Neal during a meeting last week in New York with general manager Steve Kerr.
Nash, still one of the best point guards in the NBA, will become a free agent after this season if the Suns can't sign him this summer to a contract extension.
Nash had grown weary of O'Neal's inability to keep up with the fast-paced play that the Suns had been so successful with in the past and with O'Neal's demand to be a bigger part of the offense.
The Suns shocked many around the NBA when they acquired O'Neal midway in the 2007-08 season, giving them a low-post presence that was contrary to the way they had been playing. They still won 55 games after he was acquired but lost in the first round of the playoffs. This season with O'Neal, they failed to reach the playoffs.
O'Neal was in the final year of his contract that will pay him $20 million. Nash will be making $13 million this season.
Latest Shaq Photos
In this April 3, 2009 photo, Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal runs up the court against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix. The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to acquiring O'Neal in a trade that would pair him with MVP LeBron James, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP
FILE - In this May 26, 2009, file photo, Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal points to members of the Cleveland Cavaliers before Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals between the Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic in Orlando, Fla. Even though he hasn't played a game for any team in two months, the NBA Finals has been played in Shaq's shadow, with the center's enormous footprints all over it. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
AP
FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 06: Johnny Rutherford and Shaquille O'Neal pace the field before the start of the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal;Johnny Rutherford
Getty Images
FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 06: NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal changes a tire on the #2 US Air Force Luszo Dragon Racing car driven by Raphael Matos prior to the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal
Getty Images
FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 06: NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal gives the command for drivers to start their engines prior to the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal
Getty Images
FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 06: NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal gives the command for drivers to start their engines prior to the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal
Getty Images
Shaquille O'Neal changed a tire for Indy Car driver Raphael Matos before the start of the Bombardier Learjet 550 IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2009. O'Neal served as grand marshal for the race. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
MCT
Shaquille O'Neal holds up a tire from Indy Car driver Raphael Matos that he changed before the start of the Bombardier Learjet 550 IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2009. O'Neal served as grand marshal for the race. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
MCT
Phoenix Suns basketball player Shaquille O'Neal speaks at a press conference before tonight's Bombardier Learjet 550 IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (Kelly Chinn/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
MCT
Phoenix Suns basketball player Shaquille O'Neal speaks at a press conference before tonight's Bombardier Learjet 550 IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (Kelly Chinn/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
MCT
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Steve Nash is a smart guy. He saves his team from wasting $20 million, while also saving Kerr's job for another year. Perhaps Nash will have Kerr's job some day. Shag will sell some tickets, and little else, while missing games due to injuries to his over the hill body. This is his last big pay day. Hope he has all of his bills in order. James won't find it any easier to win a championship. Good for Phoenix. Patch
They should have traded Nash. You can't win with an old slow point guard.
Exactly...Nash gets abused by anybody quick. Tony Parker makes him look like he's just some guy at the YMCA
shaq will destroy the cavs offense just like he did with the suns. cavs, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. so much for being atop the nba east next season.
Shaq was the best player on the Suns last season. Period. They didn't make the playoffs because the team didn't play defense.
Kerr is an idiot,he got rid of Shawn Marion for Shaq, a terrible move, and made an even worse move when he hired Terry Porter and fired Mike Dantoni, Nash will continue to perform 120% each game.
bring back the HAWK!!!!!!!
Yeah Well it doesn`t bother me any. I am a Mavericks fan.
The Suns ought to return to their form from past years now that Shaq has moved on. He was about as mobile as the Washington Monument. The trade that got rid of Shawn Marion did not fare well for the Suns. They keep getting rid of their defenders (Marion, Raja Bell, Diaw) and keep bringing in good players wbo don't do well in the up-tempo style of the run & guns Suns.
yeah i think your right they'll return to there old successful in the regular season but cant get it done in the post season team we're accustomed too
The sun's should bring back that compulsive gambler charles barkley. Wasn't Shaq supposed top retire thpugh? I agree they should've never Got rid of D'antoni. Or if they did go after Flip Saunders. I'm a wolves fan at least I was when KG was in MN.
How many rings has Nash won doing it his way?If management wanted to deal Shaq because they think that makes them better (and it may)then fine but someone who's never won a championship should keep quiet
Good point Mark. Everyone talks about how exciting Phoenix brand of basketball is. Well does it win championships? Shaq does.
Shaq never fit that offense. He may just be what King James needs, it's going to be fun watching.
The Cavs let Kevin Garnett get away. Now they go and get lazy ass Shaq, who will spend most of his time on the bench, sitting on his lazy ass. When will these Teams stop wasting money on Shaq, and get a Center that's going to bring them a whole Hi-Octane game? The Cavs should be looking for a Point Guard to help Labron out.
All I know is this...Now since the Cavs have Shaq everytime I played them I would use the old pick and roll all game. Shaq can't defend that!
Shaq is going to kill the Cavs. He will get his 15 points/game and clog up the lane which will prevent Labron from getting another 20. When it comes time to make it to the playoffs, teams will foul Shaq and watch him miss free throws all the way til the final buzzer. Cleveland loses again. By the way, Shaq earned his rings playing with two of the best point scorers the game has ever seen.
King James and The Deisel-who will write the script?
Nash is still bitter from the days Shaq and the Lakers owned the Mavericks.lol If it wasn't for Walker the Mavericks never would have beaten the Lakers.lol
The truth about Shaq can be seen in the footge of him that the NBA was showing during the playoffs,(but Shaq didn't make the playoffs this year) no but Kobe did...we all saw it in slow motion...black screen, we hear a sound, the screen lightens and we hear the sound again, we see a floor and realize its a basketball court just before a Blazer defender materializes facing us. Then...Afro Samurai/The Black Mamba/numba too fo' materializes with his back to us right before two more Blazers appear...Kobe shakes one gets to the next defender and puts the ball in the air...it's a lob to Shaq for the win. Kobe back peddles and crosses the court to get into defensive position. Kobe attempts to slap hands with Shaq like professional ballers do after an assist. What does Shaq do? Run right past without acknowledging not only his teammate but THE ONE WHO GAVE HIM THE BALL. F_ck the Diesel, we runnin' on Gasol-ine!