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MIAMI: Shaquille O’Neal might be traded by the
league-worst Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns or Dallas Mavericks,
both National Basketball Association title contenders, the Miami
Herald reported Tuesday.
The newspaper said the Heat told
representatives for the All-Star center who has won four NBA titles
that they were looking at making a deal to send him to another club
and he should prepare for the possibility.
One potential deal outlined had
“Shaq” going to the Suns in exchange for forward Shawn Marion
and guard Marcus Banks, with the Mavericks another possible
destination for O’Neal, who turns 36 next month.
O’Neal, who has missed the past
six games with a hip injury, led Miami to the NBA title in 2006, two
seasons after being obtained in a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers,
a team he helped spark to three NBA titles.
But the Heat were swept in the
first round of last season’s playoffs and have slid to an
NBA-worst 9-37 so far this season.
“Shaq” has missed 14 games
this season and dealing him could bring the talent to combine with
star guard Dwyane Wade in rebuilding the franchise.
But there is a hefty price that
comes with O’Neal, who is set to make $20 million in each of the
two seasons remaining on his contract.
Marion, 29, could opt out of a
contract that pays him $17.1 million next season in its final year.
He is averaging 15.8 points and 9.98 rebounds this season.
--AFP
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