Cavs acquire Shaq from Suns , Griffin No.1 Pick Overall, Carter traded to Magic

CLEVELAND – NBA superstars LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal became teammates when the Cleveland Cavaliers completed a blockbuster trade for O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

James is a reigning MVP who at age 24 needs only a championship to complete his resume. O’Neal, 37, is a larger-than-life personality who may be past the prime of his career but remains an undeniable force and hungers for a fifth NBA title.

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns in hopes he can help LeBron James deliver this seemingly sports-cursed city its first major pro championship in 45 years.

The deal creates a tandem that instantly rivals any in sports today and calls to mind some of the great duos in NBA history: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Cousy and Bill Russell, Shaq himself and Kobe Bryant.

More important, if Cleveland’s gamble works and O’Neal delivers a title, it could keep James around. James is an Akron native, knows Cleveland’s pained sports history and has always maintained he wants to stay in his home state, though there is no guarantee he will sign an extension with the Cavs. Cleveland can offer him one as early as this summer.

Hours before an NBA draft that figured to be overshadowed by the Shaq-to-the-Cavs move, the reality of James playing with O’Neal, a 15-time All-Star, was just sinking in.

“Shaq is an incredible ballplayer and a four-time NBA champion,” James said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of respect for him and his game. It will be a real honor to play with Shaq as my teammates and I look forward to another great season with the Cavs.”

The Cavs sent center Ben Wallace and swingman Sasha Pavlovic to the Suns, along with a second-round pick in the 2010 draft and $500,000 in cash, for O’Neal, the 7-foot-1 center who won three straight titles from 2000 to 2002 with Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. His fourth title came with Dwyane Wade in Miami in 2006. (AP)

Clippers take Griffin No. 1 draft pick

NEW YORK – The Los Angeles Clippers selected Blake Griffin with the No. 1 pick on Thursday, grabbing the only player considered a sure thing in an NBA draft full of question marks.

Griffin was the consensus US college player of the year after leading the nation with 14.4 rebounds per game while averaging 22.7 points last season for University of Oklahoma. The Clippers said they would take the forward with the pick hours after they won the draft lottery last month.

“The fact is we’re getting an incredible player, incredible person, an impeccable work ethic and a guy that we plan on having in LA for many years to come,” Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. “He’s going to be a great, exciting fit for our ballclub.”

With the No. 2 pick, the Memphis Grizzlies grabbed University of Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet from Tanzania, a dominant rebounder and shot blocker. (AP)

Carter sent to Magic in trade deal

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – Eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter was traded by the New Jersey Nets to his hometown of Orlando and the Eastern Conference champion Magic on Thursday.

The Nets dealt Carter, who grew up in Daytona Beach and lives in Orlando, and forward Ryan Anderson to the Magic for point guard Rafer Alston, shooting guard Courtney Lee and power forward Tony Battie.

The trade gives the Magic another star in a lineup that already includes Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis. The deal might also convince Hedo Turkoglu, who can opt out of his contract and become a free agent on July 1, to remain with the Magic.

Orlando is hoping Carter, who averaged 23.5 points over a 10-year pro career, will provide center Howard with a perimeter scorer who can create his own shot – something they lacked in losing the NBA finals to the Los Angeles Lakers. (AP)