Article:Shaq Heading West???

The worst team in the NBA, the Miami Heat, are reportedly thinking about trading away veteran 7'1, 325 pound Center, Shaquille O'Neal. O'Neal, who's been having hip trouble recently, has played/started just 32 of the Heat's 46 games thus far this season. Shaq's numbers have been rapidly decreasing as well, over the last year or two. I think that both O'Neal, and the Miami Heat organization need to part ways, a change is desperately needed down in Miami. It just hasn't been working out, and the 9-37 Heat need to the cap room, I think it's pretty sad that we are nearly halfway through the NBA season, and Miami hasn't even reached double-digits in wins.

It has been said on ESPN.com ( http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3232862), that Shaq could be heading west, to the Phoenix Suns, for PF Shawn Marion, and PG Marcus Banks for the Suns. I don't exactly understand why the Suns are going after O'Neal, they have an all-star center in Amare Stoudemire, who, by the way, is 10 years younger than O'Neal. I don't see why the Suns feel the urge to go after him, but it seems that the trade talks are pretty heavy. Odd, isn't it??? Especially since they are going to have to pay big bucks for him. Why not go for youth, Shaq may not even be able to produce one good year, why the risk???

This is an obvious long-shot, but what if Shaq went back to LA? I know I would jump off a bridge if that happened, but what would you guys do if he ended up in LA with Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum? Just curious. Well, anyway, I was just very confused as to why the Suns are going after him.



Shaquille's Stats in the past 2 Years (Per Game):
06-07 (MIA)- 40 G, 39 GS, 28.4 MIN, 17.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.4 BLK, 0.2 STL, 3.5 PF, 2.4 TO, .591 FG%, .422 FT%

07-08 (MIA)- 32 G, 32 GS, 28.6 MIN, 14.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.7 BLK, 0.6 STL, 4.0 PF, 2.9 TO, .581 FG%, .482 FT%

Hey, would you look at that, Shaq's Free Throw percentage is actually higher this year, than it was last year. Shaq's rebound numbers actually look pretty good, considering his 28 minutes per game, but he's gonna have to do a little more than just rack up rebounds in order for Miami to win games. Rebounding is a given for a guy his size, no matter how old he is.