Shaq Likely to be Traded?

Here's a stunning article from the Herald. Apparently the Heat have informed Shaq of the very serious possibility that he will be traded. They have actively been shopping him and Phoenix has been linked to a potential deal that would bring Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks in exchange for O'Neal.

This is absolutely shocking. I've been calling for Shaq to retire or be traded for months now, but I never thought it would actually happen. If it does (and by no means is this a sure thing), then it will be a bittersweet day for Miami Heat fans.

Let me say this: Shaquille O'Neal brought this city a championship, just like he promised. The Big Fella did everything he had to as a player. He listened to Pat Riley and followed his wishes. Aside from a few demands for more touches, he's been a model player on this roster. Losing him will be tough.

But the sad reality remains: Shaq's contract is a hindrance to this team, and he no longer produces enough to warrant earning that much. The Heat seriously needs some help. They lack both talent and cap space, a deadly combination for a franchise.

Landing Marion would be absolutely huge. Even if he were to stick around only a year, it would free up cap space after next season. That's the year guys like Baron Davis, Elton Brand, and Gilbert Arenas become free agents.

Hopefully this turns out well for everyone. Sending Shaq to Phoenix would be a brilliant move on the part of Riley, and in turn it gives O'Neal a good team to play for. It would be an insult to send him to a bottom feeder. He's earned that much at least.

In the end, I hope the trade goes through. However, I would take all these rumors with a grain of salt. That trade is so one-sided that I think Riley would have accepted it on the spot. It's just too good to be true. Plus, acquiring Marion might mean we actually can win some games and lessen our chances of landing an elite guy in June. We'll see.