August 03, 2005

Shaq signs with the Heat for the next five years.: The deal is reported to be worth 100 mi.. Shaq is on vacation in Rome! The heat will send doctors to him for the physical. I wonder if the contract contains anyting about who is going to be the coach!? lol

posted by daddisamm to basketball at 02:01 AM - 20 comments

Sounds like the Heat busy on Tuesday. They were involved in a 12 player deal.they">get Walker and two othes in largest deal ever! This should make them really stong favrites in the East next year!

posted by daddisamm at 02:09 AM on August 03, 2005

oops "sounds like the Heat "were" busy...... Anyway you write it, it was a blockbuster deal. Almost as important as re-signing Shaq.

posted by daddisamm at 02:12 AM on August 03, 2005

13 players surpassing the previous league record of 12 that involved Patrick Ewing in 2000. The Heat received a total of four players, (in addition to Antoine Walker they received Jason Williams, James Posey, Andre Emmett and the draft rights to Roberto Duenas). Did you read about it at all before posting? I get that you can't spell and all but . . . We traded a lot, but we got back three[sic] quality players," said Heat president Pat Riley. "Antoine Walker is one of the very best multi-faceted, versatile players in this game. ... He is able to handle the ball, pass it, make plays, shoot 3's and rebound the ball. There isn't anyone in this league better at doing that." I didn't realize that 'Toine ever passed the ball on purpose. How is Pat Riley in love with this guy? I can't figure it out. I always thought 'Toine was one of those selfish guys that would bounce around lottery teams or teams almost good enough. You know, like a low-rent Charles Barkley. I think it is pretty interesting they picked up 'Toine and J-Will. Where is Wade going to get his touches with 'Toine on the floor? I see this on par with the Lakers picking up Malone; everyone thought they would be a lock for the NBA Champs only to never really learn how to play together. This should make them really stong favrites in the East next year! I guess going to game seven of the Conference Finals last year didn't already do that? The East as a whole has gotten stronger so it will be great to see what happens. I'm really looking forward to the season.

posted by geekyguy at 02:51 AM on August 03, 2005

I didn't realize that 'Toine ever passed the ball on purpose. That's a misconception. I'll admit I'm a fan of the guy, but you (and Paul Pierce) would be suprised how much Paul Pierce's game suffered without Antoine around to find him with crisp passes from the top of the key. Hell, he did run the point for a while under either the Pitino or O'Brien administrations.

posted by yerfatma at 05:58 AM on August 03, 2005

I don't understand this trade. 'Toine is pretty good, but Jason Williams? Who doesn't even play fourth quarters because his D is do bad? That doesn't make sense to me...

posted by tieguy at 07:13 AM on August 03, 2005

I'm a Heat fan and my initial reaction is negative towards bringing on Antoine Walker and J Williams. At times when I've watched these 2 play they've appeared selfish and a little lazy. Maybe I didn't get the best impression. Anyway, I'll give Pat Riley the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully Stan VanGundy can manage all of the new personalities. Unless Riley names himself coach.

posted by mayerkyl at 07:27 AM on August 03, 2005

Bad trade , they just destroyed the heat chemistry by adding Walker and Williams . There wont be a bench big enough to hold all these egos . Just created an east coast lakers team only with Walker playing the part of Kobe .

posted by evil empire at 07:39 AM on August 03, 2005

I think Walker will play the role of Gary Payton. The diminishing-skills veteran who bitches a lot.

posted by mayerkyl at 08:08 AM on August 03, 2005

Shaq can keep these guys together. He leads, they follow.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:13 AM on August 03, 2005

Are the Heat actually keeping Jason Williams? I'd be a little concerned about having he and Toine on the court at the same time. And1 REPRESENT!

posted by yerfatma at 08:35 AM on August 03, 2005

What is Memphis up to? I realize that Bonzi was in the doghouse but are they just out of money? Stromile Swift to the Rockets and now Jason Williams and James Posey to the Heat? It looks like a dismantling. They weren't contenders but they were a playoff team.

posted by geekyguy at 09:00 AM on August 03, 2005

the new look grizzlies 31 Shane Battier F 6-8 1 Antonio Burks G 6-0 35 Brian Cardinal F 6-8 40 Ryan Humphrey (FA) F Bobby Jackson G 6-1 30 Dahntay Jones G-F 6-6 Eddie Jones F-G 6-6 Raul Lopez G 6-0 33 Mike Miller G 6-8 Lawrence Roberts ** F 6-9 12 Jake Tsakalidis C 7-2 Hakim Warrick ** F 6-9 25 Earl Watson (FA) G 6-1 42 Lorenzen Wright C 16 Pau Gasol

posted by evil empire at 09:17 AM on August 03, 2005

the new look heat 49 Shandon Anderson (FA) G-F 6-6 210 12/31/1973 Georgia '96 9 51 Michael Doleac C 6-11 262 06/15/1977 Utah '98 7 5 Keyon Dooling G 6-3 190 05/08/1980 Missouri '02 5 Andre Emmett G 6-5 230 08/27/1982 Texas Tech '04 1 40 Udonis Haslem F 6-8 228 06/09/1980 Florida '02 2 19 Damon Jones G 6-3 185 08/25/1976 Houston '97 7 44 Christian Laettner (FA) F-C 6-11 245 08/17/1969 Duke '92 13 33 Alonzo Mourning C 6-10 261 02/08/1970 Georgetown '92 12 32 Shaquille O'Neal C 7-1 325 03/06/1972 Louisiana State '93 13 James Posey F-G 6-8 215 01/13/1977 Xavier (Ohio) '99 6 Wayne Simien ** F 6-9 255 03/09/1983 Kansas R 8 Steve Smith (FA) G-F 6-8 221 03/31/1969 Michigan State '91 14 3 Dwyane Wade G 6-4 212 01/17/1982 Marquette '05 2 Antoine Walker F 6-9 245 08/12/1976 Kentucky '96 9 15 Wang Zhizhi (FA) C 7-1 284 07/08/1977 China 5 Jason Williams G 6-1 190 11/18/1975 Florida '98 7 1 Dorell Wright

posted by evil empire at 09:20 AM on August 03, 2005

Hell, ('Toine)he did run the point for a while under either the Pitino or O'Brien administrations. He ran a bit of point his year in Dallas too, and wasn't horrid. While I think his laziness may be a bit overstated, there's an undeniably distinct difference between a caring Walker and a diffident one. Sometimes the caring one outshines the other, but more often than not, the diffident one seems prominent. Anyone else think a five year contract with Shaq seems a bit risky? Will the heat have enough money to re-sign Dwayne Wade when his contract is up?

posted by Ufez Jones at 10:18 AM on August 03, 2005

Yes, Ufez, I was very suprised to hear that Shaq got a 5 year deal.

posted by ursus_comiter at 11:19 AM on August 03, 2005

I'm sure Shaq did the math and got a guarantee that the organization was committed to re-signing D-Wade before he signed. Shaq loves "Flash." He took less $ for this year, he was under contract for something like 36 mil and now gets 20, in order to save some space for the Heat. Shaq's on a mission to put up another championship or 2 before he retires. I'm not sure if they have the right pieces to that puzzle or not. Steve Smith needs to retire.

posted by mayerkyl at 12:02 PM on August 03, 2005

Shaq isn't stupid. He took a pay cut of $16 million to make sure the Heat have enough money to get the players needed to win a championship. Let's face it, when you have the money Shaq has, $16 million is a drop in the bucket. I wonder how many other players in any sport would take a cut like that to help out their teams. I read earlier that someone said Jayson Williams doesn't play defense. You mean there is defense in the NBA?

posted by dbt302 at 12:35 PM on August 03, 2005

I too was wondering why a 5 year deal. I will honestly be surprised if Shaq is playing well in 5 years. Maybe they will just dust him off for the playoffs by that time.

posted by pivo at 12:45 PM on August 03, 2005

I have always been a fan of Shaq, but we will start to see seriously diminished returns in the next two years, I think. I'm sure the Heat signed him b/c that was the only way he would sign and they want a title. Shaq is not going to start signing 1 or 2 year deals at this point in his career. But much as it pains me as a Lakers fan, i dont see the Heat or anyone having much of a chance to knock off the Spurs, unless Duncan gets hurt.

posted by drjimmy11 at 02:49 PM on August 03, 2005

Bad trade , they just destroyed the heat chemistry by adding Walker and Williams . There wont be a bench big enough to hold all these egos . Just created an east coast lakers team only with Walker playing the part of Kobe . I heard Skip Bayless say something to this effect this morning and I don't buy it. Shaq and Williams are good buds, which should keep him in-line. I have yet to see anything from Wade that would cause me to think of him as having an ego problem and Walker has no where near the asshole factor of Kobe. Plus, don't underestimate Pat Riley's ability to keep a handle on this team, which is something the Lakers front office has been unable to do for years. That being said, I still like the Pacers in the east if they can keep Artest from being himself all year...which is a BIG IF.

posted by curlyelk at 05:10 PM on August 03, 2005

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