What were the Suns thinking?

In part two of our unexpected series, Deadline Deals: What Were They Thinking?, Daily Basketball takes a look at the pending Shaquille O’Neal trade. Before the trade is finalized, The Big Diesel must pass a physical, so there’s no guarantee this deal will happen, but we begin questioning Steve Kerr now anyway.Phoenix Suns get: Shaquille O’NealMiami Heat get: Shawn Marion, Marcus BanksThe Miami Heat have struggled all season to win with their Shaq-Dwyane Wade duo. Injuries have certainly played a role, but the team needed to make a move. Shaquille O’Neal was kind of a surprising name to see moved, but more surprising is the fact that somebody still wanted him.The deal comes just a few days after the NBA announced that Shaquille O’Neal will not be playing on the 2008 All-Star team. O’Neal has averaged 14 points and eight rebounds per game this season, and his current fantasy status according to NBA.com is Injured.So why did the fastbreaking Phoenix Suns take on the next two years and $40 million of a man who spends a monthly $12,775 for food?Shaquille O’Neal means that the Suns will need to slow down their trademark fast-tempo, and expect to see less of the semi-fastbreak as Steve Nash looks to get the ball into O’Neal in a half court set? Steve Nash and his amazing playmaking skills could revitalize Shaquille O’Neal’s career. More likely, Nash wears down O’Neal’s back and knees as he pushes the ball up the court.Steve Kerr either thought the Suns would improve by adding Shaq, or that the Suns would implode if they didn’t trade disgruntled, multitalented Shawn Marion. Miami should feel guilty manipulating a GM like this; the Heat should have offered their next first-round pick (between #1 and #4) to make this deal look like less of a hoax.Meanwhile, the Heat benefit from this trade, securing either Shawn Marion or $17,000,000  in cap relief if he decides not to re-sign. Marcus Banks will be a nonfactor, although he could step in and contribute unexpectedly.