Cavs Swing Trade for Shaq

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 25, 2009 8:55 AM CDT
Cavs Swing Trade for Shaq
Shaq and Ben Wallace will be trading places.   (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

LeBron James is about to get some big help—literally. The Suns and Cavaliers have agreed in principle to a deal to send Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland in exchange for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, and the 46th pick in today's draft, multiple team execs tell the Plain Dealer. The trade will save Phoenix around $9 million, or more if Wallace accepts a retirement buyout.

O'Neal, 37, is coming off a strong season, in which he averaged 17.8 points per game while shooting 61%. The 15-time All-Star is signed only through next season, leaving the Cavs with plenty of cap room for the loaded free agent class of 2010. The teams were discussing a similar deal ahead of February's trade deadline but never pulled the trigger. (More Phoenix Suns stories.)

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