Shaq To Join LeBron? Trade Talks Fade

What started out last February as a possible deal that would send Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers has now quieted down again, as it did when the Cavs were making their serious playoff run.

First talks of the trade that would send Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavolic to the Suns in exchange for the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer surfaced in February but they soon died down in order for the Suns to see how the team chemistry changed with the promotion of head coach Alvin Gentry. Now that the Suns have officially declared themselves as “rebuilding”, they are looking to ship the oldest and highest-paid player on their team.

Shaq could certainly help the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining fellow ol’ guy Zydrunas Ilgauskus in the frontcourt of a title-ready team. It may seem like a sense of urgency for the Cavaliers who many feel need to win a title in order to keep LeBron in Cleveland. Will the addition of Shaq help the Cavs? Absolutely, and I would even go as far as to say that they would get the better end of the deal. Sure Shaq is 37 but he has at least one more solid year left in him. He played the most games last year than in the last nine years of his career and recorded his highest ever field goal percentage. Shaq is a dominant force that would shine if he returned to the East for one last title run.

Shaq has said he is open to a trade and that he would prefer Cleveland. Cavs GM Danny Ferry and Suns GM Steve Kerr are longtime friends from back in their playing days and I wouldn’t doubt that Steve Kerr helps out a fellow GM friend in a different conference that is far closer to a title than the Suns are.

How do the odds change for the Cavs in 09-10 if they land Shaq?