Shaq to Cleveland: Does this impact LeBron in 2010?

Yahoo! Sports was the first to report that the Phoenix Suns will trade center Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers to join LeBron James in hopes of bringing Cleveland its first NBA title. O'Neal would be trying for his fifth NBA title. ESPN and The Associated Press also reported the trade. Cleveland will send center Ben Wallace, guard Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round draft pick and cash to Phoenix. The league, of course, has to approve the deal. Some thoughts: -- In my opinion, this deal has nothing to do with LeBron staying in Cleveland past next season. Shaq is 37 and has one year left on his contract. The Cavaliers are going for it all next season. -- Cleveland clearly did not like the way Dwight Howard manhandled its frontline in the Eastern Conference Finals. Yes, Howard was huge against the Cavs. But the Cavs had big matchup problems with Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. Cleveland's backcourt was just too small. -- Shaq will definitely give the Cavs a scoring option down low to take some pressure off of LeBron. But the real key will be whether Shaq has anything left to be a defensive stopper. Anyhow, interesting deal. If the Magic re-sign Turkoglu, the top 3 in the East next season will be Cleveland, Orlando and Boston. In other news .... The Associated Press is reporting that the Lakers will likely deal their first-round pick (No. 29). The Lakers have two second-round picks (Nos. 42 and 59). Makes sense since the Lakers want to re-sign Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown. Any player the Lakers pick at No. 29 is not making the team. And Portland and Dallas made a trade of picks, according to ESPN.com: The Trail Blazers get the 22nd pick in exchange for the 24th and 56th picks in this year's draft, and worst of their second round picks in 2010. Be back later live from the draft in New York City. We'll have reporters at the draft providing updates and news right here, and Alan Hahn will be in Greenburgh with the Knicks reporting on what happens there. -- Mike Rose