Speedy Suns trade for slow-footed O’Neal

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns acquired Shaquille O’Neal in a blockbuster deal that sent four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.

The improbable pairing of the speedy Suns and the slow but once-mighty O’Neal became official when he cleared a physical exam Wednesday.

The trade, a dramatic move by first-year Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr, signals an unexpected change in strategy for the Suns, adding a 7-foot-1, 325-pound center who has won four NBA championships but has been plagued by injuries in recent years and turns 36 next month.

O’Neal has been out with a hip injury and underwent an MRI exam in Miami on Tuesday. He flew to Phoenix on Wednesday for the physical.

“I’m well aware that I’m on the line,” Kerr told the Associated Press. “That’s my job. That’s why I’m sitting in this seat. I’m comfortable with the decision. I think it gives us a better chance to win, and a better chance to win in the playoffs.”

The Suns’ Amare Stoudemire is a friend of O’Neal.

“He says he’s ready to roll,” Stoudemire said. “Whatever he needs to do he’s going to be down for it, and he wants to win a championship, so we’re on the same page.”

O’Neal was to be introduced at a news conference today.

He has averaged 25.6 points and 11.5 rebounds in his 14-plus NBA seasons.

This season, plagued by injuries and going through a divorce, he’s averaging 14.2 points. His 14-year streak as an All-Star choice came to an end this year.

He missed much of last season with a knee injury and finished that season with career lows in games (40), scoring (17.3 points), rebounds (7.4), minutes (28.4) and free-throw percentage (.422).

“It was a very, very hard decision for me,” said Miami coach Pat Riley. “When Shaq came to the team four years ago, I always felt it was forever. We won a championship with him. We wish him nothing but the best. We have to move on with our team. We’re rebuilding. This is not the most desirable place to be right now.”

Riley denied that there was any lingering rift with O’Neal.

“I loved Shaq when I got him and I love him today,” Riley said. “I’ve been coaching 25 years and there wasn’t anything that went on between Shaq and I that caused this. We simply looked at the big picture, where we are today, and we need to build around Dwyane (Wade).”

The Heat have lost 19 of 20 games and have the NBA’s worst record at 9-37.

Phoenix gambled that O’Neal will be healthy and more motivated when he moves to the desert.

“I do believe we showed Shaq a tremendous amount of respect by sending him to a contender, probably the top contender in the Western Conference and he’s going to flourish there, he will help them,” Riley said.