By David Gibb
Steve Kerr has impressed me for the first time since the 1994-95 season in which he shot 52.4 percent from beyond the arc, setting the single season record. To be totally honest, after the first time I heard him call a game for TNT, I assumed I would never attach another happy memory to him as long as I lived.
I stand corrected.
On Wednesday, Kerr, now president and GM of the Phoenix Suns, traded his way back into my heart, sending four-time all-star Shawn Marion and point guard Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat for none other than Shaquille “Kazaam” O’Neal. Many in the sports world were surprised, shocked even, to hear of such a deal. Shaq’s numbers this year are not pretty: 14.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks, all abysmally below his career averages (25.6/11.5/2.45), and he has three years and sixty million dollars remaining on a contract which an increasing number of analysts believe he will not complete.
In return for Shaq, the Heat are receiving an extremely talented player with a bad attitude (Marion) and an over-paid point guard who is marginal at best (Banks). The package pushes with Shaq’s in terms of dollar value (partly due to Banks’ ridiculous annual salary of nearly 4 million dollars), and represents a desperate attempt to inject some energy into a Miami team who have been exciting only to the fans of other Eastern Conference teams.
Those who see only black and white will clearly focus on O’Neal’s noticeably diminishing returns and Marion’s high-energy style, but one player not included in the trade makes this deal one-sided: Amare Stoudemire. Shaq’s presence immediately takes pressure off of Stoudemire as well as off of Kurt Thomas, as the three men will form an extremely effective rotation at the power forward and center positions. Additionally, Shaq may be able to mentor Stoudemire, particularly on the defensive end, where his game is light years behind his offense.
Detractors will say that Shaq can’t run with the Suns for a full game, and they’re right-he can’t. The beauty of the situation in Phoenix is that he doesn’t have to. Unlike Miami, the Suns won’t be relying on Shaq as their first or second option; he’s only a piece, a reclamation project, much like Grant Hill, with whom Phoenix has had a great deal of success. O’Neal will be able to play 16 to 20 minutes per game, and will be relieved of most offensive responsibilities thanks to the likes of Nash and Stoudemire. His days as a game-dominating superstar are over, but Shaq may have several solid years ahead of him as a nice piece on a fantastic, title-contending team.
Say what you will about giving up Marion and rattle on for hours about Shaq’s age, but the fact of the matter is that Shaq has a chance to be the final piece that tips the Suns over into being a legitimate championship contender, while Marion will bring a few highlight-reel plays to a team which is beyond redemption this year.
Bravo, Steve Kerr, bravo. Now you’re more to me than just Michael Jordan’s punching bag.