NBA Trades

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3226203

Some new news on the NBA front with major trades going on in the last couple of weeks. Two top NBA stars were traded to major playoff contenders in the Western Conference. Pau Gasol was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Memphis Grizzlies for Kwame Brown, Aaron McKie and Javaris Crittenton, the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010. My analysis of this trade is that Memphis simply waited too long to trade Gasol. Over the summer they had better offers from the Chicago Bulls and didn't pull the trigger. Now they got a bust of a former top 5 draft pick and two future picks that are sure to be late in the first round. The Lakers are now a major threat and an instant Finals contender.
Next was the biggest trade in the NBA in the past few years. It brought Shaquille O'Neal from the struggling NBA worst Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. I think that Miami got a great deal out of Shaq who hasn't been the same since they won a couple years ago. They got an all-star player and a decent backup for Wade. On the other hand I understand that Shawn Marion wanted out of Phoenix but they could have gotten a better deal for him instead of getting an aging overpaid Shaq.