Suns considered the idea of trading Shaq to Portland?

[illmatic99]

for...

• In the end, Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract was more like a baby carrot than the big, dangling carrot it was considered.

Portland did not bite on offers for the insurance-protected contract. The Trail Blazers have the youngest rotation in the NBA and are 14 games over .500. Why mess with that? Young players Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd Bayless and Nicolas Batum were once thought to be available but were protected down the stretch, leaving the Suns to ponder sending Shaquille O'Neal to Portland for a package that included LaFrentz and Valley native Channing Frye.

Portland chose to not land Richard Jefferson, mess with its chemistry or deny itself the $6 million of cap space it can have this summer. However, that won't prevent the Blazers from being in one of the NBA's few teams in position to buy rather than sell this summer.

Dude. I would have given serious thought to that even with my inherent dislike of former Lakers.

Edit: can mods please edit the typo in the title to "considered?" Thanks.

 

[crowTrobot]

Re: Suns considerer the idea of trading Shaq to Portland?

we don't need a 20 million/year 3rd-string center

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Re: Suns considerer the idea of trading Shaq to Portland?

we don't need a 20 million/year 3rd-string center

I agree! Although Shaq would probably be our starter.

 

[BalancedMan]

Re: Suns considerer the idea of trading Shaq to Portland?

we don't need a 20 million/year 3rd-string center

You do realize Shaq was an all-star this year?

 

[Blazer Freak]

Hmm would have been interesting to see what would have been done rotation-wise. Although it would have fucked with our chemistry horribly if we brought Shaq in mid-season. Playing time would be a mess in the front court...

 

[PapaG]

The Suns were out of the playoffs with a healthy Amare, Shaq, and Nash.

LOL at this deal.

 

[barfo]

I don't see how that could have worked without trading Joel or Oden. Joel, Oden, and Shaq all deserve to play, and none of them can play the 4.

Although I think I suggested playing Joel at the 1 sometime back.

barfo

 

[gambitnut]

I don't see how that could have worked without trading Joel or Oden. Joel, Oden, and Shaq all deserve to play, and none of them can play the 4.

Although I think I suggested playing Joel at the 1 sometime back.

barfo

Yeah, Frye might be from the Valley of the Sun, but it would make more sense for us to have traded Joel for Shaq. I posted a trade for Nash and Shaq a few weeks ago and I would have loved that.

 

[Nikolokolus]

It would have been an intriguing idea, but we'd basically be stuck with him if it hadn't worked out and I'm not so sure his expiring contract in 2 years would worth so much since Roy and Aldridge's contract extensions will already have kicked in at that point. I think I'm happier that the team can make lopsided trades this summer, or if they wish, clear up to 13-14 million in cap room and go after free agents.

 

[cdub503]

Kinda ot but Kerr just said on abc during the phx and bos game that they were never close to dealing amare so meh

 

[sabas4mvp]

Kinda ot but Kerr just said on abc during the phx and bos game that they were never close to dealing amare so meh

Do you really think he'd come out and say, "ya, we tried really hard to get rid of Amare, but it didn't work out and now we're stuck with him."