Phoenix Suns Look To Trade O'Neal For Marion

PHOENIX, AZ -- After losing 3 of 5 games since Shaquille O'Neal joined the team via a trade that sent Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat, the Phoenix Suns are looking to trade the 35-year-old center to the Heat for forward, Shawn Marion.

The Suns "run 'n' gun" style has produced much regular-season success, but has not led to success in the playoffs, which generally feature a slower, half-court style of game. On Feb. 6, they sent Marion and guard, Marcus Banks, to the Heat for 14-time all-star, O'Neal.

O'Neal's first game with Phoenix was a 130-124 loss to his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. After an impressive win against the league-leading Boston Celtics, the Suns lost 2 of their next 4 games, including a humiliating 30-point loss to the Detroit Pistons.

With their Western Conference standings slipping and a difficult remaining schedule, Phoenix is looking for one more blockbuster trade to regain its dominance: Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion.

"We're looking to add some speed and versatility to our game," said head coach Mike D'Antoni. "We feel that Shawn would be a perfect fit."

Suns guard, Steve Nash, said he would love to play with Marion and even called him personally to express his interest.

Miami has offered no public comment on the proposal but most sportswriters doubt the trade will happen, since the NBA trade deadline passed a week ago.

Suns GM, Steve Kerr, says that if the O'Neal-Marion trade doesn't happen, he already has a call into the Houston Rockets to see if they still have Charles Barkley and if they're interested in trading him.