Suns Becoming a Dead Star?

Did not see this one coming. Apparently, Shaq is coming back to the West. The Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat have agreed to terms on a trade that sends Shaq from the Heat to the Suns and Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks from the Suns to the Heat. This trade, could be the WORST decision the Suns have made in a long, long time.

Right now, the Suns have the best record in the West and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. They're on pace to win 58 games this year and take the top spot in the Western Conference for the first time in 15 years (Barkley, KJ, Majerle anyone??) Why, oh why, would they trade an integral part of their system (Marion) for, as much as I love him, a near-dead big man that cannot run their style of play? I really cannot fathom any good reason as to why they would do this trade. The only thing I can think of as to why the Suns would do this is because the Stoudemire-Marion feud has reached its breaking point. Everyone knew that the love between the two was few and far between, and now the heat became too much, as it looks like a Heat player will now replace one of them.

On the other hand, the Heat look to have fresh life. Marion is a unique type of player who will fit the Heat's system very nicely and give Dwyane Wade help on the scoring load so he doesn't have to kill himself before year's end trying to do too much. Shaw's time as a dominating big man has, sadly, come to an end. The day's of him destroying people down in the post are long gone. He can't hang with the younger, more athletic forwards/centers such as Dwight Howard. Marion will be able to help in new ways and Marcus Banks give them another option at point guard so its not only Jason Williams. This could rejuvenate the Heat to at least be a respectable opponent in the East.


I really don't understand this trade from the Suns perspective. For the Heat it's great, but for the Suns, I just don't know. I feel like the Western conference has been hit with an idiot bug in the last couple of months. Kevin Garnett shipped off to the Celtics for....nothing. Recently, Pau Gasol shipped to the Lakers for none of their top 10 players (24 points and 12 boards in his first game). And now this: Shaq coming to the best team in the West to inevitably knock off a couple wins for them. I just don't know anymore.