How is it that Shaq always manages to steal the spotlight from Kobe Bryant, whether it’s by intention or not? Reports suggested that the Cavs were trying to acquire Shaq from Phoenix prior to the trade deadline in February but no deal was done. Now just a few weeks after the Cavs were eliminated from the playoffs by Dwight Howard and the Magic, trade talks are reportedly back on:
Phoenix would send O’Neal to Cleveland for veteran power forward Ben Wallace, who is considering retirement, and reserve guard Sasha Pavlovic, whose final contract year is not fully guaranteed.
With O’Neal’s $20 million salary (but a $21 million salary-cap number due to a trade kicker), the trade could save the Suns $9.9 million or even more if Wallace wants a buyout. The trade would save the Suns $3.1 million in payroll and projected luxury tax. Cutting Pavlovic, who has $1.5 million guaranteed in his final contract year’s $4.95 million salary, could save another $6.8 million in payroll and tax.
While the Suns clearly are just trying to cut payroll, getting rid of Shaq will open up the offense for Nash and Amare to hook up and run like the way they used to. The Cavs would then get one of the few bodies in basketball that can manage Dwight Howard on the inside. That seems to be a necessity especially considering Dwight’s only 23 and already went 40 and 14 beating the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals. And should the Cavs get to the Finals, they might have to face the Lakers’ stacked frontcourt of Bynum, Odom, and Gasol. If Cleveland wants to get over the hump against the top teams in the league, they need a quality big body that can defend. The Big Fella could be their answer, crazy as it seems. Plus, we already know the Bionic Diesel wants to play another three years, and that LeBron puts him on his all-time dream team. I’d say that’s two good starting points for a potential deal.
