Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic has the scoop:
A potential Suns trade that would send center Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland to help LeBron James’ title quest is heating up again after the idea was put on a back burner following February talks.
The parts of the possible deal remain the same. Phoenix would send O’Neal to Cleveland for veteran power forward Ben Wallace, who is considering retirement, and reserve guard Sasha Pavlovic, whose final contract year is not fully guaranteed.
With O’Neal’s $20 million salary (but a $21 million salary-cap number due to a trade kicker), the trade could save the Suns $9.9 million or even more if Wallace wants a buyout. The trade would save the Suns $3.1 million in payroll and projected luxury tax. Cutting Pavlovic, who has $1.5 million guaranteed in his final contract year’s $4.95 million salary, could save another $6.8 million in payroll and tax.
Wallace, 34, also is entering the final year of his deal, which would pay him $14 million. He is coming off an injury-marred season that was his most unproductive in 14 seasons. Wallace would consider a buyout, but Cleveland could use him as a trade chip, particularly to get O’Neal to counter Dwight Howard, whose Orlando Magic ousted the 66-16 Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
If the Suns acquired and bought out Wallace, they would save more than the $9.9 million that a deal and Pavlovic waiver would save.
When the Eastern Conference Finals ended the front office then started checking in with teams they’d spoken to leading up to February’s trade deadline. Not just for summer trades but also to gauge what movement might be possible in next week’s NBA Draft.
The Suns were one of the teams the Cavs talked to back in the winter. They were in negotiations about trading for O’Neal but the teams never actually came very close to making a deal. According to a source, a sticking point was the Suns’ interest in Delonte West, who at this point is nearly untouchable in trade talks for the Cavs.
Now the situation is still somewhat the same. The Suns are interested in dumping some salary — they are headed for the luxury tax next season — and also continue to ponder breaking up their big man duo of O’Neal and Amare Stoudemire. The Cavs still have some players and contracts that could help Phoenix do that.
The Cavs are in the market to upgrade their frontcourt. O’Neal is 37 years old but is coming off his best season in the last three years, being named third team All-NBA after averaging 17.8 points and 60 percent shooting with 8.4 rebounds in 75 games.
