Yahoo Sports: Cavs land Shaq for Wallace, Pavlovic
 

Cavs land Shaq for Wallace, Pavlovic

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports and Johnny Ludden 2 hours, 38 minutes ago

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached an agreement in principle to acquire Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal(notes), multiple sources involved in the talks told Yahoo! Sports late Thursday night.

Cleveland will send Ben Wallace(notes), Sasha Pavlovic(notes), the 46th pick in Thursday’s draft and cash to the Suns for O’Neal.

Cleveland and Phoenix were both juggling multiple trade possibilities with other teams, with the Cavs involved with as many as six trade scenarios.

Yet the disappointing Eastern Conference finals loss to the Orlando Magic left Cavs GM Danny Ferry with incredible pressure to accumulate talent around James in the final season prior to his 2010 free agency. James has blessed the O’Neal trade, especially because it should give his overmatched frontline a chance to compete with Dwight Howard in the playoffs. Ferry and Phoenix GM Steve Kerr are close friends and had talked off and on about a Shaq deal since the February trade deadline.

O’Neal, 37, makes $21 million next season, and the Suns were determined to move him in a package that would save them money. Wallace made $14 million and could take a buyout to retire, and only $1.5 million of Pavlovic’s $4.9 million salary is guaranteed.

Shaq stopped being relevant in the NBA a few years ago.

That said, the Big Aristotle can help the Cavs win a championship if he stays healthy.

People said Shaq was done last year.

Then he came back and averaged 18/8 on 61% shooting with 1.4bpg in 30 mins.

Shaq isn't what he used to be, but he's still a legit post scorer.

I don't know why Phoenix made this trade. Is Sasha Pavlovic, a bad draft pick, and some cash really worth the difference between Shaq and Wallace considering both are on expiring contracts?

Well, thats the end of Lebron getting a lane to drive in. Shaq takes up the whole key.

Wow. The Cavs essentially picked Shaq up for Wallace's expiring/possibly bought out contract and a bench guy.

It's only a problem if they play Varejao at PF next to him. The Cavs need to sign and trade Varejao or let him go elsewhere and get a 4 that can shoot, someone like Mcdyess or Sheed.

Cleveland just got a player at the C position that changes a team's entire defensive dynamic, and all it cost them was Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. They just threw out two virtual nobodies for a heck of a center. For all Shaq's weaknesses, he's still an intimidator in the paint, a strong rebounder, and a mega efficient post presence. Shaq's excellent ability to pass out of the post alone is a significant upgrade. And since neither Shaq nor Big Z can play big minutes, you can have a nice rotation with the two of them.

Yep. He is old but still seems to have enough left for one last run. He was definitly among the top C's last season. Hell after Howard and Yao he is probably still the 3rd best at his position going into next year.

Also has the added bonus for the Cavs of having two of the most likable personalities in the league on their team.

I can't wait for the 'lebron, tell me how my ass taste!' youtube video.

All Shaq has to do is give the Cavs 25 quality minutes and they will make the finals.

Lakers/Cavs man o man the hype and the ratings. Bring it.

Shaq is too old for those conditions to repeat themselves.

It has to do with money the Suns are kind of cheap.

yeah, I know. it would be epic though.

Still have to pay the money to Wallace he's making 16 million, plus the 3-4 Sasha is owed.

I think they are hoping Wallace will retire and they can buy him out. He's hinted that he might do it. They didn't save money from the actual deal as the contracts match-up and Shaq is an expiring. They also only got $500,000 in cash.

The Phoenix Suns' medical doctors have a remarkable way of taking players who can't seem to stay healthy for other teams and turning them into reliably healthy, productive players for the Suns.

I'd be willing to bet that Shaq doesn't continue to play as many minutes next season as he did for the Suns this year.