There is a possibility Shaquille O’Neal could be in a Chicago Bulls uniform next season. In a rather surprising discovery, the Phoenix Suns and Bulls plan on engaging in trade talks that could send the future hall of fame center to Chicago, as soon as teams are allowed to talk after the playoffs. Suns GM Steve Kerr is looking to deal Shaq and is said to be interested in Loul Deng. The Suns would like to move the aging center mainly because he has slowed the up-tempo Suns down drastically. They feel Deng could bring some young, athletic energy back to the team. The Suns also feel Deng could still live up to his potential and contract if he can stay healthy.

The Bulls apparently will listen to the potential idea at the very least. However, Chicago fears that O’Neal will slow down the Bulls young, up-tempo style of play (with the Bulls already having a slow moving, aging center on the team in Brad Miller). On the other hand, the Bulls would love to get rid of Loul Deng’s huge contract, especially with the emergence of John Salmons and with their hopes to resign Ben Gordon. In addition, Shaq’s contract expires at the end of next season, freeing up even more money for 2010. The Bulls also feel Shaq could be a good influence on the young big men and could fit temporarily for one season as a low post presence. The trade would likely be O’Neal for Deng, Tim Thomas and Jerome James (assuming James exercises his player option) Look for the Suns and Bulls to at least toy around with the idea.

If those talks do not work out, the Bulls, as we all know, will likely target the Clippers Chris Kaman or Marcus Camby in exchange for Kirk Hinrich. It seems more likely that the Bulls would be interested in Camby with his contact expiring after next season. It will be interesting to see what direction the Bulls go once the off season begins, stay tuned

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2009 CSFMB Fantasy Basketball Champion-
2009 CSFMB Pro Football Pick'em Champion-
2011 NAS Replacement League Football-

Interesting idea. Shaq showed brief glimpses of good play this past season
when he was healthy. I don't think he can give you much more than 25 minutes
a game or so but there could be something to bringing him in for one season if
he is willing to mentor some of the younger guys. Would love to get rid of Deng's
contract. Long term this doesn't do a whole lot for us but does clear cap room
for the following season when there are some big free agents available.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I doubt that this trade happens simply because the Suns are having major financial problems - Shaq only has one year left on his deal whle Deng still has 5 years remaining. Granted, Shaq makes something like $20 million for next season and Deng is somewhere in the $12-$13 range, meaning Phoenix could get some relief for next season, but I think they'd be more interested in seeing that contract totally off their books.....As a Bulls fan, I'd make that trade to get rid of Deng's contract. Shaq would only be here one year, and we could still turn that around for a team looking for cap room by the deadline.

Brian, is there a link to an article about this? Is this from Terry's peeps? I like the idea.

I would make this trade even if Shaq only played 2 games all year.

That website doesn't look too legit, to me. Just from a quick check of the other posts, they don't have any REAL information that wasn't available in every news outlet.


Without sources, I think it's tough to run with this one.

Any move that moves Deng's contract and frees up more money for 2010 is good in my book. Shaq can still give you 20-25 minutes a night, id make the deal. Maybe the big guy can knock some sense in to Tyrus' head.

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Agreed.

But I do not see this trade happening. I hope I am wrong.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Yeah don't know how reliable that is at all but didn't the Suns have interest in Deng awhile back? Would be great to get out of the contract by any means necesary. Also I am not the sharpest knife in the tool shed but in the NBA don't contracts have to matchup dollar wise? Would including Thomas in that deal make the money work? I dunno this seems like a long shot.

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Well, they did draft him.

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No team in the league is going to trade for a guy with 5 years left on his big money deal (like Deng's) and who has been underachieving/injury prone for the past 2 seasons, especially for a guy for 1 year left on his deal like Shaq.

Bad trade rumor.

if this isn't a rumor, this should get done tomorrow. They SHOULD keep Hinrich at all costs though. The team defense goes down the drain with Hinrich gone.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

well, there I'll disagree with you, Nas. I think John's the real deal, and that's from watching a lot of Kings basketball. Gordon can go tomorrow and the Bulls will pick up his scoring slack. They'll be a better defensive team too. Gordon is a sixth man on a good team.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

City, John Salmons was as good as advertised when Pax made that trade with Sacramento at the NBA Trade Deadline. I think guys like Salmons & Derrick Rose will definitely pick up the scoring slack if Ben Gordon signs elsewhere this summer. The Bulls also won't go anywhere near the Eastern Conference Finals or the NBA Finals for that matter until they shore up and tighten the defensive grip considerably.

Nas, I don't think Luol Deng's going anywhere, especially with #9 making all that money now. It's a bad contract that other NBA teams don't want to be saddled with and so many want to have enough salary cap space for any of the highly coveted free agent class of 2010.

Why would Phoenix try to dump a salary that expires at the 2010 offseason, for someone who can't get on the court, who just signed a long term deal, and is overrated...oh that's right, I forgot that they still have kerr as their gm. They should probably try to fix that...

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

i would do a backflip if the bulls were able to unload deng and get shaq in the process. he might be old but he proved last year he can still be a force and the bulls need a force. deng on the other hand...dont let the door hit you on the way out


in regards to hinrich id like to see him stay on this team. he was really valuable in his role last season especially in the playoffs. i think it would be a mistake to lose him and have nobody to back up rose

They wouldn't.