Spurs-Suns Series Puts Shaq Trade to the Test

Shaquille O’Neal came to the Phoenix Suns with a storied history. The Suns’ trade for the Big Shaqtus, as they like to call him in the desert, is one that has several implications for this year’s NBA playoffs.

In 2003-2004, with two years remaining on his Lakers contract, O’Neal wanted a sizeable extension. The Lakers, concerned about O’Neal’s work ethic and conditioning, were reluctant to meet his terms.

After the Lakers' loss to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, comments by Mitch Kupchak, Lakers general manager, regarding O'Neal’s extension angered the All-Star center. O’Neal felt the Lakers were trying to appease Kobe Bryant who was in his contract year. The moment Phil Jackson departed, O’Neal demanded a trade.

Originally, Kupchak tried to work out a deal with the Mavericks. But Mark Cuban refused to part with Dirk Nowitzki. Eventually, the Lakers traded O’Neal to the Heat for

Caron Butler, Lamar Odom and Brian Grant.

O’Neal inked a five-year, $100 million contract with Miami and, along with Dwayne Wade, led the Heat to the 2006 NBA Championship.

Now for this year’s implications.

After a mediocre season with the Lakers who failed to make the playoffs, Butler was traded along with Chucky Atkins to the Wizzards for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. Butler has since emerged as a premiere forward and will be a key factor in the Wizzards first-round Eastern Conference series with the Cavaliers.

Odom and the Lakers endured three rather unimpressive seasons. But with the addition of Pau Gasol this year, Odom is having a career season as the Lakers top rebounder and number three scorer behind Bryant and Gasol.

After a season-ending injury Profit was waived to make room for Ronny Turiaf, a top contributor for the Lakers off the bench.

Kwame Brown never has measured up to his potential as the #1 overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft. The Lakers traded Brown and rookie guard Javaris Crittenton to Memphis for Pau Gasol.

Concerned by their failure to win the Western Conference Finals, the Suns needed a stronger presence in the post. They felt that they couldn’t match up with the likes of Tim Duncan and Andrew Bynum.

When Bynum went down with an injury, the Suns were certain they would remain Pacific Division leaders and have home court advantage in the playoffs. But the Kwame Brown swap for Pau Gasol changed their way of thinking.

The Suns immediately pulled the trigger on a Shaquille O’Neal for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks deal with Miami even though they knew that adding Shaq would slow down their fast-paced, full-court offense.

Mike D’Antoni and Suns’ general manager Steve Kerr are betting on O’Neal’s presence to fend off Duncan and the Spurs in the playoffs where the pace slows down to half-court defensive match ups.

If they are right, then we could have the match that all of America is waiting to see: Shaq versus Kobe.