Cavs close to sign Shaq from Phoenix
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 26, 2009 00:00
CELEVELAND - The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to acquiring Phoenix center Shaquille O'Neal in a trade that would pair him with NBA MVP LeBron James, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press yesterday.
The Cavs and Phoenix Suns have reached an agreement in principle on the deal, which gives the Cavaliers two of the league's biggest superstars.
O'Neal will join Cleveland in exchange for center Ben Wallace, guard Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round draft pick and cash, said the two people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league still must approve the deal.
Yahoo! Sports first reported the deal. The trade, which the sides had been discussing for months, gives the Suns financial flexibility in the future. O'Neal has just one season left on a $20 million contract and Wallace, who ended last season saying he may retire, is in the final year of a $14 million deal.
The Suns save $10 million on the deal, half of it by lowering their payroll below the luxury tax limit. They plan to buy out Pavlovic, who has $1.5 million of his $4.95 million contract guaranteed.
O'Neal could be the missing piece for James to win a first championship.
With James' potential free agency looming after next season, the Cavaliers feel an even greater sense of urgency to win the city's first pro sports championship since 1964. By bringing in O'Neal, they have again demonstrated to the 24-year-old James that they're willing to make bold moves while keeping themselves in good financial position.
If the O'Neal-James pairing doesn't work out, the Cavs might be able to trade Shaq next February and would have more money to spend in the Summer of 2010 on what is being called the greatest free agency class in league history.
James and O'Neal have known each other for years. When James was a high school phenom in Akron, Ohio, O'Neal attended one of his games and the two have remained close. James has often wondered what it would be like to play with a center of O'Neal's stature.
He's about to find out.
O'Neal will join Cleveland in exchange for center Ben Wallace, guard Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round draft pick and cash, said the two people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league still must approve the deal.
Yahoo! Sports first reported the deal. The trade, which the sides had been discussing for months, gives the Suns financial flexibility in the future. O'Neal has just one season left on a $20 million contract and Wallace, who ended last season saying he may retire, is in the final year of a $14 million deal.
The Suns save $10 million on the deal, half of it by lowering their payroll below the luxury tax limit. They plan to buy out Pavlovic, who has $1.5 million of his $4.95 million contract guaranteed.
O'Neal could be the missing piece for James to win a first championship.
With James' potential free agency looming after next season, the Cavaliers feel an even greater sense of urgency to win the city's first pro sports championship since 1964. By bringing in O'Neal, they have again demonstrated to the 24-year-old James that they're willing to make bold moves while keeping themselves in good financial position.
If the O'Neal-James pairing doesn't work out, the Cavs might be able to trade Shaq next February and would have more money to spend in the Summer of 2010 on what is being called the greatest free agency class in league history.
James and O'Neal have known each other for years. When James was a high school phenom in Akron, Ohio, O'Neal attended one of his games and the two have remained close. James has often wondered what it would be like to play with a center of O'Neal's stature.
He's about to find out.