Steve Nash asked for Shaq to be traded...

[L8KERS4LIFE]

Steve Nash Asked for Shaq to Be Traded
Posted Jun 25, 2009 6:00PM By Tim Povtak (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Cavaliers, Suns, NBA Transactions, FanHouse Exclusive

The trade of Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday was more than just a contract dump for the Phoenix Suns.

It also was done to satisfy point guard Steve Nash.

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, he wouldn't be around much longer,'' said the NBA source who requested his name not be used. "That pretty much sealed it.''

Nash had grown weary of O'Neal's inability to keep up with the fast-paced play that the Suns had been so successful with in the past and with O'Neal's demand to be a bigger part of the offense.

The Suns shocked many around the NBA when they acquired O'Neal midway in the 2007-08 season, giving them a low-post presence that was contrary to the way they had been playing. They still won 55 games after he was acquired but lost in the first round of the playoffs. This season with O'Neal, they failed to reach the playoffs.

O'Neal was in the final year of his contract that will pay him $20 million. Nash will be making $13 million this season.


What do you think about that? Steve Nash is the one who asked them to ship the Diesel out!! Maybe Kobe was not wrong with his feelings toward Shaq!! It does not seem he is easy to play with!!

[jase66]

Not surprise

[2wheelgod]

Shaq today isn't as fast and athletic as Shaq during the Laker 3peat. Nash has a problem with a declining Shaq, and rightfully so. Kobe on the other hand had a problem with a Shaq still in his prime. So I would say Nash has a stronger case of asking to ship Shaq out than Kobe. After all, when Shaq went to Miami, he also was able to win it with Wade. Shaq today is 38 years old and still making lots of money. It doesn't take a genius to demand a trade!!! If Nash isn't demaning, I'm sure the Suns front office will demand it themselves! So you cannot compare Nash's demand and Kobe's demand with the same intensity. Also, Kobe and Shaq had personal issues toward each other. With Nash, it's nothing personal, just business.

[arkeroako]

nash should have asked amare to be traded.

that guy is insane, he twitted that he was traded in Warriors and Lakers

[eNlight]

deep down inside, i'm sure lebron doesn't even want to play with shaq. if lebron sticks around, i bet he'll be asking management to force shaq to retire or just drift away.

[Congo Cash]

Can't blame him, Nash looked average thanks to him...

[revgen]

Shaq today isn't as fast and athletic as Shaq during the Laker 3peat. Nash has a problem with a declining Shaq, and rightfully so. Kobe on the other hand had a problem with a Shaq still in his prime.

Shaq was at the very end of his prime when he left LA. He only had 1 more prime season with Miami in 2004-2005. After that, he went from superstar to regular all-star. Even during the 2006 championship that he won, he depended upon Alonzo Mourning, Wade, and the refs had to help him. Zo played way better defense than Shaq ever did that season despite the fact that Zo was the same age. Wade had to do a lot a carrying and receive a lot of whistles to go all the way.

[arkeroako]

can't wait for lebron to ask shaq to be traded.

[hypotenuse]

Shaq was at the very end of his prime when he left LA. He only had 1 more prime season with Miami in 2004-2005. After that, he went from superstar to regular all-star. Even during the 2006 championship that he won, he depended upon Alonzo Mourning, Wade, and the refs had to help him. Zo played way better defense than Shaq ever did that season despite the fact that Zo was the same age. Wade had to do a lot a carrying and receive a lot of whistles to go all the way.

agree

god shaq is ugly

[gcclaker]

Hmmm... It will sensational media fodder when O'Neal is eventually asked his feelings about the Phoenix franchise. He has already called out the owner in the press last season questioning the man's priorities about the bottom line or winning. Now this if it is indeed true?

[juninho]

Shaquille O'Neal claims that the Trail Blazers were interested in trading for him this past February.

O'Neal says he vetoed a trade to Portland in a conversation with Suns general manager Steve Kerr.

"During the middle of the season, Steve said Portland was interested," said O'Neal. "He said was I interested in going to Portland? I told him no, so he stopped that."

However, Portland is denying O'Neal's claims.

"Why would we when we've got Greg (Oden) developing and we've already got (Joel) Przybilla?" said a Blazers official. "If were in go-for-it mode, maybe we would be more interested."

LOL What up Shaq? Still marketing?

[Juronimo]

The good thing about Shaq in Cleveland is that he doesn't have a superstar guard to butt heads with.

[Kwame]

I'm not one to take sides with Shaq, but Steve Nash is a moron. That Suns team and their run-n-gun offense was never going to win anything. Shaq made that team as good as it was this past year. This year, we're about to see how useless Steve Nash is w/o great players around him.