According to sources, the rumored trade sending 13-time All-Star Shaquille O’Neal from the Miami Heat to the Western Conference leader Phoenix Suns is a done deal pending O’Neil passes his Suns physical later Wednesday (Feb 6). To complete the trade, the Suns will send All-Star forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks to the struggling Heat mired in last place of the Eastern Conference with a 9-37 record. Sources say O’Neil was informed of the trade Tuesday night and boarded a flight to Phoenix Wednesday morning.
“This trade will no doubt make the Suns a much more formidable team giving them added depth of O’Neil’s quality,” said Point-Spreads.com handicapper Reno Gold. “Suns backers shouldn’t get too excited until O’Neil passes his physical tonight. The man’s body is breaking down and he has missed several games because of injuries including the last six. The Heat might be getting the best of this deal getting Shawn Marion if Heat ownership can get him to stay beyond this season. It’s obvious the Heat aren’t going anywhere this year.”
According to online sports wagering giant Bodog (Bodoglife.com) the Phoenix Suns are 4/1 betting odds favorites to win the 2008 NBA Championship and 5/2 odds favorite to win the Western Conference championship.
In a Miami Herald report filed Wednesday by Michael Wallace, the Heat will unload the final two seasons and $40 million remaining on O’Neal’s contract and acquire a four-time All-Star in Marion who could opt out of his final season of a contract that would pay him $17.2 million next season.
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