brilliant trade idea: Shaq for Yao

by ryansunsfan on May 13, 2009 12:08 AM MDT

yes, call me crazy but think about it. The rockets are ridiculously frustrated with Yao's constant injuries especially in key moments. for all he does for them during the regular season, it all goes to naught when an injury like this happens. That said, the Rockets may want to rebuild around someone a lot less fragile (no its not shaq). The Rox are already tops defensively, so adding a big body like shaq who may have his defensive weaknesses can only help the team, especially come playoff time. And if this experiment fails? no problem as Shaq's contract expires after the end of next season, clearing for them 20 million in cap space to pursue whoever it is they want to rebuild with.

As for us Suns? Can you imagine a frontline of Yao Ming and Amare Stoudemire? Yao is an underrated defender and he's surprisingly mobile for someone his size, he will not clog the lane and he actually can shoot the ball quite well. As for his injury issues, well we have the best trainer's this side of the NBA. If we can revive Shaq and Hill (causing him to play 82 games) im sure as hell we can maintain Yao Ming. Thoughts?

Disclaimer: Obviously this isnt the best time for a trade idea, as you guys said your focused on the draft. However, trades are made this offseason and while the draft is coming, yes, we can still consider trades.

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You basically described why NOT to do this trade: Yao’s constant injuries.

by jburning on May 13, 2009 8:03 AM MDT reply actions

We'd do it, Houston wouldn't.

No reason for them to give up their cash cow.

Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."

by rsavaj on May 13, 2009 9:35 AM MDT reply actions

Funny

I thought the exact opposite. Yao is owed $34m over two years and Shaq is owed $21m for one.

Shaq is healthier as well.

I think they do this deal but would we want to?

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on May 13, 2009 10:58 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm on the fence on this one.

On one hand Yao, when healthy is one of the best centers in the league, but on the other hand he is never healthy.

by Pyromnc on May 13, 2009 11:41 AM MDT up reply actions

i don't like the deal.

i’ve never really liked yao that much. he’s a talented guy, but…i don’t know. there’s just something about him.

by Trevor Paxton on May 14, 2009 3:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Re: Funny

Hmm, absolutely no way Rockets do this trade and there’s absolutely no way Suns would reject this trade.

Yao is making less (lol??) though he’ll be signing a big contract this summer. What rsavaj meant by their “cash cow” is the amount of money he brings the Rockets. If you factor in viewers in China, Rockets games are by far the most viewed games in the league. Also, I can name a bunch of Yao’s teammates who have their own signature shoe contract from a company in China. Yao easily brings the rockets tens of millions of dollars every year and Rockets will not give that up.

Also, Shaq is done, Yao is entering his prime. Injury prone or not, there are only a handful of dominant (when healthy) centers in the league and when you’ve got one, you hang onto him even if that means having to deal with his problems (in Yao’s case – injury, in Shaq’s case – his big mouth).

by GoSunsGo on May 13, 2009 11:45 AM MDT reply actions

NO way the Rockets would trade the face of their franchise for Shaq for only one year. As a Suns fan, I’d be ecstatic if this happens, though.

"If you're a Yankee fan, or if you're not a Yankee fan - you have to admit, we're winners." - #21

"Once the Hack-a-Shaq works once, you know I’m going to see it again. The only thing worse for basketball than that defense is the Lack-a-Shaq offense, where I have to go to the bench because of foul trouble. There is no fun in that." - The Big Aristotle

"Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing." - Peyton

by J-Gao on May 13, 2009 12:45 PM MDT reply actions

No thanks....

I’d rather go after Dwight Howard who is dissatisfied with Stan Van Gundy coaching decisions, front office; and after they lose to the Celtics the crap will hit the fan. Then, if the Suns where smart they need to go after D. Howard. What do you think?

by PhxSuns#7 on May 13, 2009 4:11 PM MDT reply actions

what will we give up for him? Shaq? He hates Van Gundy, too. Amar’e/Howard interior would be amazing to watch, although, we’ll have the same problem with touches that Howard is complaining about now.

"If you're a Yankee fan, or if you're not a Yankee fan - you have to admit, we're winners." - #21

"Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing." - Peyton

by J-Gao on May 13, 2009 7:29 PM MDT reply actions

Yea, DH and Amare on the same team is a recipe for disaster

What we need is a solid nene-like center that can run but doesnt demand shaq or dwight-level touches

by IrrationalAgent on May 13, 2009 9:55 PM MDT reply actions

It's so far fetched it's almost silly to talk about

But it’s fun to dream. Dwight would be a miracle fix for this team, mobile – √, big – √, man – √√.

Between all the alley-oops and transition dunks Dwight wouldn’t have time to complain if he were in Phoenix.

by hcblankscreen on May 14, 2009 2:03 AM MDT reply actions

miracle fix?

i don’t think so.

exciting as hell to watch? sure thing.

howard seems to be getting an ego. that’s not something we need here. at least, not another one. shaq may have an ego, but i think he understands the game better than howard does, and will be willing to compromise a little bit. he’s on the downside of his career. howard is barely on the cusp of grasping the greatness he can achieve.

by Trevor Paxton on May 14, 2009 3:24 PM MDT up reply actions

Shaq/Yao

with love and respect, that’s insane. the Rockets would never, under and condition, do that trade, it’s a non-starter. The Suns took the last reasonable risk on Shaq, where it was possible to think there was enough upside left, and to be honest, that was only because Kerr is naive in his relatively new status. No other team would have done it then either. The Heat got off so easy. They managed to gamble and win a title, and then the didn’t even have to pay off on the back end.

by jammybrice on May 19, 2009 12:18 PM MDT reply actions