When news of the jaw-dropping trade that sent Shaquille O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns and Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat crossed the airwaves, many did not know what to make of it. O'Neal wouldn't seem to make much sense for a Phoenix offense that thrives on fast pace play. The 7-1, 320-pounder lugs up and down the court, and has been struggling to stay healthy this season, playing in only 32 of Miami's games to this point.
Believe it or not, O'Neal to Phoenix is something that needed to happen. It was pretty obvious that the big man was unhappy in a losing environment as a member of the Heat. Although he has spent much of the season on the sidelines with a lingering hip injury, O'Neal could be finding his perfect fit here. In Phoenix, he will not be the go-to guy, a spot that is currently occupied by Amare Stoudemire, who is currently averaging 22.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Shaq would be able to supplement, and even catapult, Stoudemire's game by diverting attention away from him.
Another thing we can't forget to mention is the value of point guard Steve Nash, who is averaging 17.5 points and, more importantly, 11.8 assists per game. Nash is one of the best players in the league in terms of helping his teammates elevate their games to another level. Shaq, if healthy, could benefit from Nash's passing ability, and we could see flashes of the lean, mean O'Neal if the big man somehow figures out a way to stay healthy.
Now, on the other side, Miami is acquiring a proven star on a contract year in Marion. On the season, Marion is averaging 18.4 points and 10 rebounds per game. The double-double machine may be in trouble though in terms of value as he heads to the worst team in the NBA (yes, even worse the New York Knicks have more wins). Miami doesn't have much versatility in terms of scoring, with Dwayne Wade (24.2 ppg) being the only consistent contributor. The Heat also seem to lack that big assist man, which was the role that Nash played while Marion played in Phoenix. Wade holds the lead in that category as well for Miami with 6.8 assists per game. Marion's scoring is going to become much more important in Miami, so expect his points totals to rise, but don't expect his shooting percentages to be very high.
While it's not too likely, there is a chance that Banks could be the sleeper in this trade for the Miami Heat. He didn't get much of a chance to play, seeing as he was blocked by some guy named Nash, and Heat coach Pat Riley has already made it clear that he wants to give this kid a chance to play.
How is this going to breakdown in pure fantasy terms? If Shaq can stay healthy — which is a big if — then his numbers will be slightly better than they are right now, which would make him a low No. 1 or high No. 2 center in most fantasy leagues. As far as Marion goes, he is going to be big in terms of scoring and rebounding, which makes him one of the top forwards in the East. Banks, if he starts, should be immediately scooped up in deeper leagues. He has the potential to be a decent guard, so keep an eye on him. As for the winner in this trade, I will call it a wash, because Phoenix got the big-man they were looking for, and Miami got a contract in which Marion will opt out of at the end of the season, meaning the Heat will be a major player in the free agent market.
Believe it or not, O'Neal to Phoenix is something that needed to happen. It was pretty obvious that the big man was unhappy in a losing environment as a member of the Heat. Although he has spent much of the season on the sidelines with a lingering hip injury, O'Neal could be finding his perfect fit here. In Phoenix, he will not be the go-to guy, a spot that is currently occupied by Amare Stoudemire, who is currently averaging 22.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Shaq would be able to supplement, and even catapult, Stoudemire's game by diverting attention away from him.
Another thing we can't forget to mention is the value of point guard Steve Nash, who is averaging 17.5 points and, more importantly, 11.8 assists per game. Nash is one of the best players in the league in terms of helping his teammates elevate their games to another level. Shaq, if healthy, could benefit from Nash's passing ability, and we could see flashes of the lean, mean O'Neal if the big man somehow figures out a way to stay healthy.
Now, on the other side, Miami is acquiring a proven star on a contract year in Marion. On the season, Marion is averaging 18.4 points and 10 rebounds per game. The double-double machine may be in trouble though in terms of value as he heads to the worst team in the NBA (yes, even worse the New York Knicks have more wins). Miami doesn't have much versatility in terms of scoring, with Dwayne Wade (24.2 ppg) being the only consistent contributor. The Heat also seem to lack that big assist man, which was the role that Nash played while Marion played in Phoenix. Wade holds the lead in that category as well for Miami with 6.8 assists per game. Marion's scoring is going to become much more important in Miami, so expect his points totals to rise, but don't expect his shooting percentages to be very high.
While it's not too likely, there is a chance that Banks could be the sleeper in this trade for the Miami Heat. He didn't get much of a chance to play, seeing as he was blocked by some guy named Nash, and Heat coach Pat Riley has already made it clear that he wants to give this kid a chance to play.
How is this going to breakdown in pure fantasy terms? If Shaq can stay healthy — which is a big if — then his numbers will be slightly better than they are right now, which would make him a low No. 1 or high No. 2 center in most fantasy leagues. As far as Marion goes, he is going to be big in terms of scoring and rebounding, which makes him one of the top forwards in the East. Banks, if he starts, should be immediately scooped up in deeper leagues. He has the potential to be a decent guard, so keep an eye on him. As for the winner in this trade, I will call it a wash, because Phoenix got the big-man they were looking for, and Miami got a contract in which Marion will opt out of at the end of the season, meaning the Heat will be a major player in the free agent market.
