Heat Ready to Trade Shaq

The Heat yesterday gave Shaquille O'Neal's representation notice of serious and ongoing trade talks involving the center, according to the Miami Herald. Two informed officials reported a possible trade to Phoenix for forward Shawn Marion and point guard Marcus Banks, talks O'Neal's management confirmed they had been made aware of, while noting that nothing had yet been decided.

Shaq, who led the Heat to the championship in 2005-2006 but has been plagued by injuries in Miami's woeful 9-37 start to the season, was shocked by the information, according to an associate. The news came on the same day O'Neal was scheduled to have an MRI on his ailing hip, "to...see, after two weeks, what it shows," said coach Pat Riley.