The Big Untradeable
Following his star (?) center’s trip to L.A. for treatment on a busted-up hip yesterday, Heat coach Pat Riley faced the media and was forced to respond to growing speculation that the franchise should consider trading away Shaquille O’Neal.
Despite the fact that the big fella is having the worst season of his career, Riles says that the artist formerly known as The Diesel isn’t being shopped.
“We’re not interested in trading him at all, because we want those 17 points and those eight rebounds and 50-percent (shooting),” Riley said. “That’s what we want.”
“Of course, even if we did want to trade him, it’s damn near impossible. I mean, what GM in their right mind would want a decaying big man owed over $40 million in the next two seasons?
Uh, gimme a sec here, I think that Isiah is calling me,” Riley did not necessarily add.
Speaking of the Heat and injuries, which is the prevailing theme this season: D-Wade’s shoulder is in much worse shape than the team had initially disclosed. Bad times in the MIA, very bad times.
51 Responses to “The Big Untradeable”
Jan.8 at 10:01 am
niQ says:
the heat will be better off next year after they draft beasley or mayo or rose
Jan.8 at 10:03 am
Keith says:
“we want those 17 points and those eight rebounds” - is that not more a case of not being able to get anything better in return? Shaq’s career shouldn’t be ending like this.
Jan.8 at 10:07 am
Watford says:
someone want to answer me this question that has nothing to do with this post. if the wolves win the number one pick, what benefit would they get from drafting everybodies number 1 mike beasley when there franchise player is at the same position, or should they take him and trade big al? discuss.
Jan.8 at 10:09 am
white hot eboy says:
Mutoni, about 16 hours too late, but thanks. And why the question mark when you type star center. While he may not be the best center in the East never mind the league, dude still draws, still sells jerseys, still is on commercials every day and still draws huge fan response in the All-Star voting. Don’t hate, Marcel, the Lakers won’t have a ring ceremony next season either.
Jan.8 at 10:13 am
rav says:
its called sarcasm keith
Jan.8 at 10:14 am
rav says:
watford, minny can always trade down…
Jan.8 at 10:15 am
Jukai says:
When I think “star” I think hard working… So I don’t really think of Shaq. Also, Beasley could probably play the three in the NBA.
Jan.8 at 10:18 am
white hot eboy says:
Jukai, when I think “greatness” the Phoenix Suns have never entered the conversation. The “underacheiving” conversation, just right.
Jan.8 at 10:21 am
Keith says:
I don’t think he was being that sarcastic rav. I think he was being genuine…you know what kind of ego’s are around in sport - you come out with a sarcastic comment about an athlete and they go and sulk.
Jan.8 at 10:37 am
white hot eboy says:
rav, no sarcasm in the comment, there is NO OTHER PLAYER that playes center on the Heat who can get those numbers. That’s why Riley can’t afford to let him go.
Jan.8 at 10:41 am
Tarzan Cooper says:
deja vu: the heat are screwed until shaq leaves…..
Jan.8 at 11:30 am
Orlando says:
tarzan is right
Jan.8 at 11:38 am
rav says:
well, the first thing I thought of was sarcasm, especially as those numbers are well below his career. if not sarcasm then quite possibly to motivate him - if you pay someone $20m per year you should expect a lot more than 17 and 8. For example the following centers who earn around half ($10-12.5m) of what shaq is on, plus their age and numbers - Sheed (33) 13/7, Camby (33) 9pts/14 boards, chandler (25) 12/12, ilgauskas (32) 13/10, dalambert (26)13/9, brad miller (31) 13/8 - shaq (35) is averaging 14 points and just under 8 rebounds at $20m this year and the next two!!!!! Having said that, only 16 centers on target to play 70 games are averaging over 10 points a game, and only 8 of them are averaging over 10 boards a game. But at that price, Shaq should be producing FAR better - if his current style isnt working, he’s got to adopt. The only category he is leading in at the moment is personal fouls, and all that is doing is getting miami a lot more lottery balls…
Jan.8 at 11:39 am
rav says:
ps what odds on the heat: 1) turning into the knicks and
2) d-wade opting out in 2 years when shaq rides off into the sunset and miami have no decent young prospect or draft picks as they are in minny?
Jan.8 at 11:41 am
Paps says:
When I think of star I think of Shaq. The L is going to miss him.
Jan.8 at 11:48 am
white hot eboy says:
rav, out of all those scary numbers you have listed there, I also noticed that between those “superstars” there’s one ring on someone’s finger. Perhaps you should be introspective and realize that stats only cover one’s ego. Rings and legacy are what legends are made of.
Jan.8 at 12:03 pm
Young Chris #3 says:
Chris Kaman is averaging over 18 and 14. If that doesn’t motivate Shaq to beast out or retire, I don’t know what will. And it hurts to write that because Shaq is my all-time favorite player and I was the one two years ago fighting the most on these boards about how Diesel was the greatest Center ever.
Jan.8 at 12:03 pm
Young Chris #3 says:
And they won’t turn into the Knicks since there is no James Dolan or Isaih running things in Miami…
Jan.8 at 12:04 pm
rav says:
i wasnt necessarily trying to compare him to ’superstars,’ just merely showing that other guys on far less are doing a better job than him right now, and they doing it on teams that are in the playoffs or within a few games of the 8th seed(bar brad miller), and all doing better than miami. if i was looking for players with nice stats, i could have gone with al jefferson or randolph from last year, i’ve tried to get players with comparable stats on teams that are doing well, something that miami are not doing. yes, there is only one ring on those fingers, but who’s more likely to get a ring this year - sheed or shaq? i’m not
doubting shaq’s greatness, but he isn’t doing it now, which is the problem, not what he did in years past. But is the $120m+ investment over 6 years on shaq plus reduced cap flexibilty and poor performance these last 2 seasons plus quite possibly the next few really worth one championship instead of having a perennial contender which could have got a ring a couple of years down the line, especially given butler’s development? if only we had hindsight
Jan.8 at 12:07 pm
rav says:
chris, pat riley is doing a decent job of collecting bad contracts (blount), past-its (sadly j-will) and locker room cancers (parker, davis), he looks like he’s trying to do an isiah
Jan.8 at 12:09 pm
white hot eboy says:
Hey rav, if Sheed get’s another ring, he’ll still be two behind. Just saying.
Jan.8 at 12:13 pm
rav says:
true, but you’d put your money on sheed getting one the year after in detroit over miami wouldn’t you?
Jan.8 at 12:19 pm
CoolWhip11 says:
*Mitch Kupchak laughs maniacally* So what do people think now when the Lakers go on and have 8 consecutive winning seasons with 2 championships.
Jan.8 at 12:21 pm
white hot eboy says:
You guys are funny. Not intelligent, but really funny. Which is endearing.
Jan.8 at 12:23 pm
rav says:
whats stupid about preferring players who can do can still perform over a guy who’s over the hill and looking forward to retirement?
Jan.8 at 12:52 pm
white hot eboy says:
I didn’t say you were stupid, rav. I’d prefer Jordan in his prime over the current D-Wade or 24, but that’s on me.
Jan.8 at 12:55 pm
Myles Brown says:
I hope everyone finally sees that this is the reason why Shaq isnt in Los Angeles.
Jan.8 at 1:01 pm
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
Eboy, with Miami possibly tanking this season, there should be a top 3 lottery pick. Is this Riley’s gamble; to draft a young stud and give him 2 years to develop? After 2 years, Shaq’s contract frees up $20 mil (free agents can be courted) and DWade can find Miami much more attractive.
Jan.8 at 1:01 pm
rav says:
well not intelligent can mean stupid… damn i’d prefer wilt in his prime over any of the bigs in this league right now but that ain’t happening!!!
Jan.8 at 1:04 pm
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
No Myles, everyone still thinks Kupchak got rid of Shaq 2 seasons too early.
Jan.8 at 1:08 pm
white hot eboy says:
Sorry rav. Nick, the pick better be REAL GOOD, otherwise, the AAA Arena will be really, really, really, lonely.
Jan.8 at 1:17 pm
rav says:
nick, knowing riley isnt all that keen on developing young talent when he is a coach (see Dorrell Wright’s 18min per game over his career), if they get a high pick will riley just disappear upstairs again?
Jan.8 at 1:21 pm
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
Riley disappearing is what the Heat need. The man now is all icing, no cake (thanks Eboy)
Jan.8 at 1:22 pm
white hot eboy says:
That’s pretty accurate at this point, Nick.
Jan.8 at 1:36 pm
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
Eboy, I meant to ask if you dig the Jordan XXIII. I like them alot, just wondering what you thought.
Jan.8 at 1:38 pm
white hot eboy says:
Those are the best shoe in the Air Jordan line since the 12.
Jan.8 at 1:53 pm
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
I thought, “Those are the nastiest Jordans in 10 years!” And yes, I just quoted myself. 3rd person reference coming soon
Jan.8 at 2:39 pm
TMT says:
He was bit by a Mamba and now the venom is slowly seeping in after the last couple of years…
Jan.8 at 3:34 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Wade should sit out the rest of the year. Before he ends up as the next Penny.
Jan.8 at 3:39 pm
Young Chris #3 says:
I was a fan of the Jordan 13s myself… And I agree with you Khalid…
Jan.8 at 4:21 pm
deestarbuckz says:
the XXIII’s are still growing on me…. but I did pick up the fusions this weekend. Would get the countdown package but I have bills to pay. Trying to figure out how other colorways are going to look on the XIII’s!
Jan.8 at 4:40 pm
white hot eboy says:
13’s were hot, too. The original Ferrari 14’s were overlooked and really nice. The reissues were horrid. I liked the 15’s. Yeah it was me that liked them.
Jan.8 at 4:57 pm
deestarbuckz says:
I love the 13’s. Only have them in white/wheat right now. Have scoured ebay for the true blue 13’s to no avail. I want the white/black 13’s but I just don’t like how the X’s look for some reason. Plus like I said… I have bills! $310 for the countdown package is murder… but income tax is coming soon! My girl hates my obsession!
Jan.8 at 4:59 pm
white hot eboy says:
It could be worse…………..you could be a crackhead. Well, I guess in a way, this can be perceived as a form of crack.
Jan.8 at 5:15 pm
deestarbuckz says:
Yeah… I have cut back alot! Plus I live in Hawaii now, so getting premimum sneakers is not as easy to do. So when I drove the island looking for the Fusion’s she just sat in the passenger seat shaking her head and wondering what the big deal was? WOMEN! That is till I found her a pair of Dunks in her fave color then all was forgiven. Either way… the next countdown package would be fine with me… except I still have the IX’s in black/white/red in perfect condition.
Jan.8 at 6:23 pm
real says:
shaq is still top 5 fg%, they need to get him the damn ball
Jan.8 at 6:25 pm
drew says:
dwade is made out of glass
Jan.8 at 6:47 pm
rav says:
or shaq needs to stop fouling!
Jan.8 at 8:19 pm
Zee says:
This was inevitable. Who didn’t think sooner or later the heat would have to deal with the shuffling of people for the sake of winning a chip? DWade is counting the days before he can bounce. Shaq’s lack of conditioning, willingness to dominate on a WILT type level, along with the constant beatings he takes night in and night out have pretty much taken a toll on him. But then, who didn’t know that. Meanwhile, the Lake show is beginning to gel in the western conference. I’m not mad at that.
Jan.9 at 12:08 am
Ben says:
Shaq promised to deliver ONE championship. He did that. He never said that the franchise wouldn’t get destroyed in the process.
Feb.25 at 9:25 pm
double j says:
hahah steve kerr baby