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Shaq Heads West In Deal With Phoenix

The Associated Press

Published: February 7, 2008

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns acquired Shaquille O'Neal in a stunning, blockbuster deal that sent four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.

The improbable pairing of the speedy Suns and the slow but once-mighty O'Neal became official when he cleared a physical exam Wednesday.

The trade, a dramatic move by first-year Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr, signals an unexpected change in philosophy for the Suns, adding a 7-foot-1, 325-pound center who has won four NBA championships but has been plagued by injuries in recent years and turns 36 next month.

O'Neal has been out with a hip injury and underwent an MRI exam in Miami on Tuesday. He flew to Phoenix on Wednesday for the physical.

"I'm well aware that I'm on the line," Kerr told The Associated Press. "That's my job. That's why I'm sitting in this seat. I'm comfortable with the decision. I think it gives us a better chance to win, and a better chance to win in the playoffs."

The Suns' Amare Stoudemire is a friend of O'Neal and talked to him about his new team.

"He says he's ready to roll," Stoudemire said. "Whatever he needs to do he's going to be down for it, and he wants to win a championship, so we're on the same page."

O'Neal was to be introduced at a news conference Thursday.

He has averaged 25.6 points and 11.5 rebounds in his 14-plus NBA seasons.

This season, plagued by injuries and going through a divorce, he's averaging 14.2 points. His 14-year streak as an All-Star choice came to an end this year.

He missed much of the 2006-07 season with a knee injury and finished that season with career-lows in games (40), scoring (17.3 points), rebounds (7.4), minutes (28.4) and free-throw percentage (.422).

"It was a very, very hard decision for me. When Shaq came to the team four years ago, I always felt it was forever. We won a championship with him. We wish him nothing but the best," Riley said. "We have to move on with our team. We're rebuilding."

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