06.26.09 REPORT: STEVE NASH GOT RID OF SHAQ
The addition of Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers obviously overshadows the subtraction of same from the Phoenix Suns. And now a report from Tim Povtak on Fanhouse indicates that the influence of Suns point guard Steve Nash was one of the primary reasons Phoenix pulled the trigger on the five-player deal that sent Shaq to Cleveland:
According to an NBA source, Nash expressed his displeasure with O’Neal during a meeting last week in New York with general manager Steve Kerr.
Nash, still one of the best point guards in the NBA, will become a free agent after this season if the Suns can’t sign him this summer to a contract extension.
“I think he told him [Kerr] that if O’Neal was there, [Nash] wouldn’t be around much longer,” said the NBA source who requested his name not be used. “That pretty much sealed it.”
Obviously Shaq’s lumbering presence in the lane doesn’t really mesh with the run-and-gun style that the Suns have been known for of late. But also consider that Phoenix missed the playoffs last year and that O’Neal is scheduled to make $20 million in ‘09-10, it makes even better sense for that team. And think how much legroom is freed up on the team bus now. Yeah, Steve Nash rules that team with an iron fist. A girly, Canadian iron fist, but iron nonetheless.
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REPORT: STEVE NASH GOT RID OF SHAQ
Don’t blame Nash, Steve Kerr shouldn’t have traded Marion for O’Neal to start with.
Nash approached this subject with Kerr over the smooth tones of Brian Adams and after a maple syrup chugging competition.
Thanks for using Brian Adams and not Nickelback or the Barenaked Ladies, my fellow Canadians and I thank you.
As a noted fan of white basketball players, you should be praising the fact that Nash, a noted cracker, was able to get one of the greatest centers of all time traded.
And if the Suns miss the playoffs again, it will most likely spell the departure of the GM too, which may have been the masterplan of Nash this whole time. Trading Shaq is an admission of a mistake.
This is all just payback from that time that Shaq bit off Nash’s left forefinger.
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