S.O.S.

Shaq to Phoenix? It’s not that Shaq can’t still play, it’s that Shawn Marion was far more valuable than most realized. Ironic a team that was criticized mostly for defense traded away their two best defensive players, Kurt Thomas & Shawn Marion. The trade potentially shortens Nash’s tenure in Phoenix. If the experiment does not work the Suns will have 33m in contracts between Nash & Shaq for the 09/10 season and Nash’s contract is a team option. Remember it’s Robert Sarvar writing the checks, and they will be faced with a dilemma if the 08/09 season goes poorly. The only way I can see this working is for the Suns to become a half court team. Shaq has to be where the offense starts or he is just going to be in the way. I am hoping for a LA/Phoenix 1st round match up, that would be fun.

Kidd to Dallas? The trade is acceptable only to the extent they @ least still have a chance with Kidd. Although now, they HAVE to win. The problem with this trade is that it wasn’t needed. Dallas was already a very good team, as a trip to the NBA finals and a 67-win season would indicate. They were 24-7 vs. the West this season before the trade and they gave up a very good young point guard. The 2nd point guard Cuban has sent out of town in the last 4 years. This was a lateral move @ best and the Mavs gave up some size & depth in Diop. Makes you wonder if the 06 finals were officiated differently would this trade ever been made?

Shaq for Kidd! This will never happen simply because it makes way too much sense. The Mavs & Suns gave up very valuable assets in acquiring aging superstars that simply don’t fit their respective systems. These stars, Shaq & Kidd can still play in this league. The way I see it, the only way these two teams can survive these poor decisions is to do the unthinkable. Trade Shaq & Kidd in the off-season.

Shaq fits perfectly with Dallas. He can be the anchor in the post, with excellent perimeter players in Dirk, Howard & Terry. This also gives Avery Johnson great flexibility given that Dirk can play the 3 or 4, Howard can play the 2 or 3, and Terry can play the 1 or 2. Dampier, Shaq, Dirk, Howard & Terry would give them great size on D which will allow them to compete w. a Laker or Spur front line in a potential post season match up. Or they can play one or even no big men @ times and compete against smaller quicker teams, Golden State or Phoenix for example. Cuban has his core guys secured in long term contracts and can afford 1 more season with Shaq than he would have to with Kidd, after all Cuban has been paying Michael Finley 20m a year to play for the Spurs. Starting 5: Terry, Howard, Dirk, Shaq & Bass

From the Suns perspective, this is one-part damage control, only committing to 1 year contract with Kidd as opposed to two years with Shaq & one-part setting Steve Nash free again. We all know how salary cap adverse is Robert Sarver is, and this will give him 20m in salary relief for the 09/10 season. A full season with Shaq might take the life out of Nash, and force the Suns into a terrible predicament, not taking the team’s option on the final year of his contract and ending his tenure w. the Suns or paying 13m for an old spent pg. Bring Kidd into the mix and that changes. Nash & Kidd can split time @ the PG always having a HOF point guard on the floor. Anyone who has followed the Suns knows Nash has one of the highest +/- ratings in the NBA and the Suns struggle when he is not on the floor. That problem is solved. Nash one of the best shooters in the league can slide to the shooting guard position when they are both on the floor at the same time. The Suns would have a 48 minute relentless attack on their opponent. All D’Antoni has to do is commit to giving Brian Skinner his 18-24 minutes a game and let him take the fouls for the team. Starting 5: Nash, Bell, Hill, Stoudemire & Skinner. Bench: Kidd, Barbosa, Diaw. Think about watching these 5 on the floor: Nash, Kidd, Barbosa, Hill, Stoudemire. The Suns might average 125+ a game. They might not win a championship but SHOWTIME will be fun to watch even if just for 1 season. Hell, they might even win a championship.