NBA Draft Capsules: Clippers take Griffin with No. 1 pick in NBA draft

By BRIAN MAHONEY, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - On a draft day that felt like the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Clippers never considered a deal.

Not when they were the ones who could take Blake Griffin.

Following a flurry of head-turning trades around the NBA, the Clippers started Thursday night's draft with the obvious choice: Griffin, the only player considered a sure thing in a class full of question marks.

Griffin was the consensus college player of the year after leading the nation with 14.4 rebounds per game while averaging 22.7 points last season for Oklahoma. Now he'll try to turn around the long-suffering Clippers.

"I'm looking forward to it," Griffin said. "I know what's happened in the past, everybody keeps telling me that. But you know, I'm not going to say, 'OK, we haven't had that many winning seasons, why don't we give up now?'"

That attitude, as much as his hardworking style of play that helped him lead the nation in double-doubles, immediately won over Los Angeles. The Clippers said they would take the forward with the top pick just hours after they won the draft lottery last month, and never considered changing their minds.

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

The draft followed a day of big trades in the NBA.

The deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to play alongside LeBron James in Cleveland was completed earlier Thursday, and Eastern Conference champion Orlando acquired Vince Carter from the Nets in a swap completed shortly before the first pick was made.

San Antonio landed Richard Jefferson from Milwaukee on Tuesday, and more big names could be available this summer as teams are forced to slash payroll. The best way to improve quickly this year was through trades, because the draft was considered weaker than in recent years.

It lacked the star power of 2007, when Greg Oden and Kevin Durant battled it out for top pick honors, or when Derrick Rose beat out Michael Beasley last year.

There was no debate this time.

The Clippers began a marketing campaign featuring Griffin the day after the lottery, and are hoping the forward turns out better than their last No. 1 overall pick. They opened the 1998 draft by taking center Michael Olowokandi, a bust who is out of the league.

"Hopefully I can bring something they don't have," Griffin said. "I know they have a lot of great players but at the same time I'm excited about the opportunity and hopefully I can bring something to the table that they don't have or maybe they need."

The Memphis Grizzlies then grabbed Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet, a dominant rebounder and shot blocker who doesn't have strong offensive skills.

After the two big men, the rest of the first round was dominated by guards - the Minnesota Timberwolves going for a few of them - with at least 10 players selected who could play the point. Seven guards went in the first 10 selections.

The Timberwolves snapped up Spanish teenager Ricky Rubio at No. 5, a pick they acquired from Washington earlier this week, before going for Syracuse's Jonny Flynn with the next pick.

It was thought Rubio might go as high as No. 2, but that never worked out for Memphis. Instead the Grizzlies went with Thabeet, the 7-foot-3 native of Tanzania who switched from soccer to basketball just a few years ago. He has rapidly developed his defensive skills, but still has work to go on the other end.

"The whole season I spent working on my offense and working with so many different people, and to me this is a great opportunity to come out here and go play," Thabeet said.

Rubio has to pay a multimillion dollar buyout to his Spanish club team to get out of his contract, and he said Wednesday his mother doesn't like cold weather. So he sounded lukewarm about heading to Minneapolis.

"I have to think about that, because I'm just three minutes from a Timberwolves player," he said. "So I'm going to talk with my agent about that and we are going to see."

Oklahoma City took high-scoring Arizona State guard James Harden with the No. 3 pick and Sacramento followed by drafting Memphis freshman Tyreke Evans. Stephen Curry, the NCAA scoring leader from Davidson, went at No. 7 to Golden State.

Jordan Hill (New York), Demar DeRozan (Toronto) and Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee) rounded out the top 10, but Jennings didn't come out to don his Bucks hat and shake hands with commissioner David Stern. His agent, Bill Duffy, released a statement earlier Thursday saying he had advised Jennings and his family not to attend the draft and wait in the green room because he was unsure of his client's draft position.

However, Jennings - the point guard who skipped college to spend a year playing in Europe - came out from behind the stage, wearing the Milwaukee cap, to greet Stern and wave to the fans after the 14th pick was announced.

A run of forwards followed before Philadelphia grabbed another point guard, UCLA's Jrue Holiday, who was considered a top 10 pick but tumbled to No. 17. Minnesota followed with its third point guard of the draft, Ty Lawson of national champion North Carolina - though he was shipped to the Denver Nuggets in yet another deal. Atlanta grabbed still another playmaker, Wake Forest's Jeff Teague, at No. 19. Utah kept up the run by selecting Eric Maynor from Virginia Commonwealth.

The Knicks made a pair of trades, acquiring the No. 29 pick, guard Toney Douglas, from the Los Angeles Lakers for a future second-round pick and cash. New York also acquired former No. 2 overall pick Darko Milicic from Memphis for Quentin Richardson and cash.

Minnesota grabbed another playmaker, Florida's Nick Calathes, in the second round, but dealt his rights to Dallas. The Wolves needed backcourt help after trading Randy Foye to Washington.

Second-round highlights included Pittsburgh teammates Sam Young and DeJuan Blair going with consecutive picks to Memphis and San Antonio at Nos. 36 and 37; and Taylor Griffin, Blake Griffin's older brother, going to Phoenix with the 48th pick.

Like fathers, like sons in NBA draft

NEW YORK - There must be something about basketball bloodlines.

Three players whose fathers played in the NBA were chosen in the top 15 picks of the draft Thursday night.

Stephen Curry, whose father Dell played in the league for 16 seasons, was taken with the seventh pick by Golden State. The nation's leading scorer last season as a junior at Davidson with a 28.6 average, Curry led the Wildcats within a game of the Final Four as a sophomore.

"You always dream that you want to do what your dad does, especially I went to the gym, shootaround, the locker room and all that stuff and that's all I know," Curry said. "I wanted to follow in his footsteps but I didn't think it would be a reality until pretty much my sophomore year in college."

Gerald Henderson, whose father with the same name played for 13 years in the NBA and was on three championship teams with Boston and one with Detroit, was selected 12th by Charlotte. Henderson was a third-team All-America at Duke last season as a junior, averaging 16.5 points.

"He just told me I made it," Henderson said of what his father told him when he was selected. "I worked so hard to get to this point, and he just congratulated me and told me I made it. It's good to hear those words."

Austin Daye, who left Gonzaga after his sophomore season, was taken 15th by Detroit. His father Darren played five seasons in the NBA. Daye averaged 12.7 points and shot 43 percent from 3-point range for the Zags last season.

"I was able to be a sponge growing up, absorb all the things that he said," Daye said of his father. "He's been a great mentor and he's definitely the person I looked up to the most."

At least one son of a former NBA player has been taken in the last seven drafts.

The run started in 2002 with Mike Dunleavy and continued with Luke Walton (2003), Jackson Vroman (2004), Sean May (2005), Ronnie Brewer (2006), Al Horford (2007) and Kevin Love and Patrick Ewing Jr. (2008).

CONFERENCE LOTTERY

Even though it was the NBA's night, there was still plenty of college rivalry on display at the draft.

The Atlantic Coast Conference had the most players taken in the first round with seven, one more than the Pac-10 and three more than the Big East. The Big 12, with two, was the only other conference with more than one played selected in the first round, which had 30 picks.

BOW TIE

It was easy to pick out James Harden when the future NBA players were having a group picture taken about a half hour before the draft. Harden was the only one with a bow tie.

After being taken with the third pick by Oklahoma City, the Arizona State guard was asked about his neck wear and if he tied it himself.

"No," he admitted quickly. "I tried it so many times, it wasn't working, so I had my stylist come up to me to give me a session to help me do it."

Harden, a native of Los Angeles, was taken by Oklahoma City, while Blake Griffin, a native of Oklahoma City, was taken No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Harden had an idea for Griffin.

"I told him we should switch, he should go to Oklahoma and I should go to LA, and everything would be great," Harden said. "Obviously it doesn't work that way."

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR

Ricky Rubio, the 18-year-old guard from Spain, became the fifth-highest international player ever taken when Minnesota selected him with the No. 5 pick.

Six international players were taken in the first round, tying for the fifth-most since 1993. Nine international players were selected in the first round in 2003, eight went in 2004 and seven were chosen in 2000 and 2005. This was the seventh time six players were taken in the first round.

Two international players - Yao Ming of China in 2002 by Houston and Andrea Bargnani of Italy in 2006 by Toronto - were taken No. 1 overall. Darko Milicic of what was then Serbia-Montenegro, was chosen second overall by Detroit in 2003. Pau Gasol of Spain was taken No. 3 by Memphis in 2001.

Danilo Gallinari of Italy was taken sixth by New York last year.

Rubio played on Spain's team that won the silver medal behind the United States in Beijing.

"I realized in the Olympic Games that I'm feeling good in the game, so that moment, I realize that I can play here, and that helps me a lot," Rubio said.

The Spaniard had spoken during the week that his mother wouldn't be overly happy if he was taken by a team that plays in a cold climate.

Jonny Flynn was taken with the next pick by Minnesota, and the native of Buffalo, N.Y., who played at Syracuse was ready to help his new teammate.

"He's coming from Spain. I don't think it ever snows there," Flynn said. "I can give him what kind of clothes to buy and what snowshoes to buy and things like that, and it will be fun."

SENIOR CLASS

Terrence Williams of Louisville was the first senior taken in the draft with the 11th selection by New Jersey.

"It says a lot. It says, you stay in school four years, it does pay off or you," he said. "To go 11, some people call it a weak draft. I call it a great draft."

TAXING SITUATION

Demar DeRozan was selected by the Toronto Raptors and he was asked if his agent was happy with that selection considering the onerous tax system in Canada.

"He's glad for me to go a team like this, I think this was one of the best situations for me," the Southern California freshman said. "We are figuring out about the tax system, so right now I am just enjoying this. I've got to save all the receipts, that's one thing I'm going to do."

BIG 12

Blake Griffin became the first player from the Big 12 taken with the overall No. 1 pick. The conference expanded from the Big 8 in 1996, and the Big 12 did have an impressive streak broken when Griffin was taken by the Los Angeles Clippers.

A Big 12 player was taken second overall the last three years: LaMarcus Aldridge of Texas by Chicago in 2006; Kevin Durant of Texas by Seattle in 2007; and Michael Beasley of Kansas State by Miami last year.

The last Big 8 player taken No. 1 was also tabbed by the Clippers, Danny Manning of Kansas in 1988. The only other No. 1 pick owned by the Clippers was Michael Olowokandi of Pacific in 1998.

Griffin was the first Oklahoma player ever taken No. 1 overall. Wayman Tisdale, who died in May at age 44, was the second pick by Indiana in 1985.

TIGER TALES

It's been good to be a freshman point guard for the Memphis Tigers in the last two NBA drafts.

In 2008, Derrick Rose, who led Memphis to the national championship game as a freshman and the school's second-ever No. 1 ranking, was taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls.

This year, the Sacramento Kings made Tyreke Evans, who led the Tigers to the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament and a No. 3 ranking in the final poll, the fourth pick.

Unlike Rose, who came into the program as a point guard, Evans moved to that position during the season.

"It was crazy. I was playing in the game against Syracuse, and the next day Coach told me I was the point guard. I didn't know what to do," he said. "... I got the ball and it just started from there in practice."

It was the first time Sacramento had a pick in the top five since 1991, when it selected Billy Owens of Syracuse at No. 3.

TALKING NEW YORK

Jordan Hill of Arizona was taken with the eighth pick by New York, and he was asked if he's prepared for a media market known for its obsession with sports talk radio.

"I have no problem talking, so I just have to make sure I say the right things," he said. "I'm definitely ready for it."

-- Jim O'Connell

2009 NBA draft capsules

NEW YORK - A thumbnail look at the first-round selections of the NBA draft Thursday:

A sophomore early entry. ... A strong work ethic, along with his strength and athleticism, makes him special. ... A dominant rebounder. ... Great hands in the post. ... Can play facing the basket. ... Will need to improve his outside shot and his free-throw shooting.

Early entry. ... Could turn into one the most dominant players ever to play the game. ... His size and athleticism give him tremendous upside. ... Still raw offensively, but improved immensely while at UConn. ... Great shot blocking skills. ... Needs to add weight and work on his post game.

A sophomore early entry. ... Smooth player with great court vision. ... Has a feel for the game. ... Unselfish and has leadership qualities. ... One of the more NBA-ready players in the draft. ... Has average quickness that can lead to turnovers when contested and cause problems on the defensive end.

Early entry. ... An exciting player. ... Can play either guard position. ... Can break down people off the dribble. ... Deceptively quick. ... Has great hands on defense. ... Plays out of control at times. ... Needs to improve his jump shot.

Early entry. ... Born in 1990. ... Considered the top point guard in the draft. ... Great court vision and passing skills. ... Plays all out. ... Led the 2006-07 Spanish League in steals (2.3 per game). ... Needs to improve outside shooting. ... Could have trouble defending the top point guards in the NBA.

A sophomore early entry. ... Very quick with a tremendous ballhandling skills. ... Plays under control. ... Comes up big in clutch situations. ... Excels in the paint. ... Lack of size may hurt his attacking style on the next level. ... Needs to improve his outside shot to make him tougher to guard.

Early entry. ... Son of NBA veteran Dell Curry. ... A two-guard who converted to a point guard this year. ... Terrific outside shooter with a good feel for the game. ... A solid defender with good hands. ... Excellent free-throw shooter. ... Could struggle with the physical play of the NBA.

Early entry. ... Great leaper. ... His game improved greatly this year. ... Attacks the boards on both ends of the floor. ... Excellent shot blocker. ... Runs the court extremely well for his side. ... Needs to improve his basketball IQ and focus. ... Foul prone.

A freshman early entry. ... An athletic freak of nature. ... Finished his freshman very strong. ... Has a large wingspan. ... Incredible leaper and explosive finisher. ... Has slick ballhandling skills and has a mean crossover dribble. ... Effective midrange game. ... Lacks intensity at times. ... Needs to become more consistent.

Early entry. ... Skipped college and played last season in Europe. ... Extremely quick and explosive player. ... Likes to attack in transition. ... Can change direction without losing speed or control of the ball. ... Has very quick hands and great lateral foot speed on defense. ... Will struggle against bigger stronger guards. ... Needs to control the tempo better.

Versatile. ... A floor leader. ... Has great size and strength. ... Tremendous leaper, attacks the rim. ... A defensive stopper. ... Can defend multiple positions on the floor. ... Has good court vision and is a solid passer. ... Needs to improve his shooting range and ballhandling skills.

Early entry. ... Athletic and explosive player. ... His shooting improved drastically this year. ... Plays good man-to-man defense and effective playing the lanes and helping weakside in zones. ... Has basketball smarts. ... Quick hands and feet. ... Turns the ball over too much. ... His father, Gerald Sr., is a 13-year NBA veteran.

... A hustle player who loves to hit the glass hard on both ends of the floor ... Has great hands around the basket ... Makes great decisions in the post. ... Excellent free-throw shooter. ... Struggles defending taller and more athletic players. ... Needs to develop face-up game. ... Has to improve his ballhandling.

Early entry. ... Deadly combination of size, strength and speed. ... Creates mismatches offensively because he can attack effectively inside and out. ... Most effective in the high post, because he can face up against bigger defenders and back down smaller defenders. ... Careless with the ball sometimes. ... Needs to work on his shot off the dribble.

A sophomore early entry. ... Outstanding combination of height, skills, and versatility. ... Has an amazing wing span. ... Will need to add weight when he gets to the NBA. ... Could have used another year on the collegiate level. ... Performed poorly on several athletic tests in the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago. ... Son of five-year NBA veteran Darren Daye.

A sophomore early entry. ... Solid all around player and a great scorer ... Extremely skilled and versatile. ... Can break down defenders off the dribble, shoot from long range, and dunk in traffic. ... Has size and strength. ... Play on the floor was inconsistent. ... Needs to improve at the free-throw line. ... Struggles moving laterally on defense. ... Criticized for having high body fat at the NBA combine.

A freshman early entry. ... A wiry combo guard. ... Solid ballhandler, keeps defenders off balance. ... Has a good repertoire of moves and mixes them up well. .. Can finish around the basket. ... Forces penetration sometimes. ... Inconsistent with his outside shot. ... Could have used another year of seasoning in college.

Early entry. ... Lightning quick. ... A true point guard. ... Has outstanding court vision. ... Effective breaking down defenders in the half court. ... Loves to push the ball in transition. ... Struggles against taller defenders. ... Defending taller guards in the post up is a concern. ... Needs to improve his midrange shot.

A sophomore early entry. ... Extremely quick and explosive. ... A natural scorer. ... Plays at full throttle the entire game. ... Great open-court speed, loves to push the ball in transition. ... Great hands and foot speed make him menacing on defense. ... Not a pure point guard. ... Fails to put in a consistent effort.

Performs in the clutch ... Has a tremendous basketball IQ. ... Very good free-throw shooter. ... Fierce competitor. ... Very good assist-turnover ratio. ... Shot mechanics not pretty, but has ability to convert difficult shots. ... Defense suffers when he struggles offensively. ... Has a slow shot release.

Smooth, quick point guard. ... Excellent passer and ballhandler. ... Quick hands and long arms make him a tough defender. ... Improved his shooting this year. ... Needs to get stronger to be effective on next level. ... Has a slow shooting release. ... Catch and shoot game needs work.

Early entry. ... Athletic, runs the floor well. ... Has a good basketball IQ. ... Plays under control, lets the game come to him. ... Moves well without the ball. ... More effective facing the basket. ... Has good range on the perimeter. ... Needs toimprove his ballhandling. ... Need to get stronger.

Early entry. ... Versatile player. ... Runs the court well, solid leaper. ... Improved his game both offensively and defensively this year. ... Can take it to the basket or hit the long shot. ... Good free throw shooter. ... Needs to improve his passing. ... Needs to bulk up for NBA competition.

A freshman early entry. ... Talented big man. ... Shows good athleticism. ... Fundamentally sound for his position ... Solid finisher around the basket. ... Needs to become more aggressive ... Lacks experience and readiness for the NBA. ... Offensive skills are still raw. ... Average rebounder for his size, body and athleticism.

Early entry. ... Athletic, very quick. ... Large wingspan. ... Has improved as a scorer. ... Solid defender. ... Doesn't distribute the ball well. ... Skinny frame, needs to bulk up. ... poor shooting mechanics.

Early entry. ... Efficient and consistent player. ... Has great hands, soft touch around the basket. ... Runs the floor well. ... His huge wingspan makes him a good shot blocker. .. Limited offensive game when playing with his back to the basket. ... Needs to improve his free throw shooting.

Athletic player with great energy. ... Has good feel for the game. ... Runs the floor extremely well. ... Good lateral footspeed on defense. ... Needs to add weight. ... Struggles at the foul line.

Early entry. ... A pure shooter. ... Has a terrific offensive package. ... Can hit the three and spot up or pull up off the dribble. ... Lethal coming off screens. ... Likes the uptempo game. ... Lacks great defensive skills. ... Lacks intensity at times. ... Needs to develop more of a killer instinct.

A natural scorer. ... Very good athlete. ... Can score many ways. ... Terrific ballhandler. ... Terrific defender, has great lateral quickness. ...

Early entry. ... A native of Congo. ... Very athletic. ... Improved offensively and defensively this year. ... Needs to improve fundamentals. ... A project.

-- Paul Montella

Hours after Cavaliers get Shaq, Magic get Carter

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Orlando Magic won the Eastern Conference title by handling everything that LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers threw at them on the court.

The Magic started an early defense of their conference supremacy on Thursday by trying to match the Cavaliers in a battle of blockbuster draft-day trades.

Hours after Cleveland acquired Shaquille O'Neal from Phoenix to play alongside King James, Orlando made big splash of its own by acquiring Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets in a deal that will bring the eight-time All Star back home to Florida.

"Every player hopes for an opportunity like this, to just once compete for an NBA championship," the 32-year-old Carter said. "This a dream come true for me. Now I have a chance to win a championship."

The Magic lost to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the NBA finals.

The trade gives the Magic another star in a lineup that already includes center Dwight Howard and forward Rashard Lewis. The deal, which sent point guard Rafer Alston, shooting guard Courtney Lee and power forward Tony Battie to New Jersey, might also convince swingman 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 has averaged 23.5 points over a 10-year pro career, will provide Howard with a perimeter scorer who can create his own shot - something they lacked against the Lakers.

"Vince gives us a veteran, go-to scoring presence, especially at the end of games," said Orlando general manager Otis Smith, who also got forward Ryan Anderson in the deal. "Our goal remains the same - to win a championship. Any time you can add an All-Star to help you reach your goals, you have to do it."

After winning a franchise-record 66 games, the Cavaliers thought they would be the ones representing the Eastern Conference. However, they could not contain Howard and company in losing the conference final in six games.

So the Cavs rocked the NBA early Thursday and acquired the 37-year-old O'Neal, a 15-time All Star who is in his waning years but who desperately wants a fifth title. He also would match up defensively against Howard.

The big gain for New Jersey is $18 million in salary cap room for the 2010-11 season, when James, Wade, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire can test the market.

"I think everyone here is sad because everybody liked Vince," Nets president Rod Thorn said Thursday night. "But the reality of the situation is we have to do what is best for our franchise and move on from there."

In other major Thursday trades:

- The Atlanta Hawks acquired guard Jamal Crawford from the Golden State Warriors for guards Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.

- Denver traded a future first-round draft pick to Minnesota for the rights to North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson, who the Timberwolves had selected at No. 18.

- The Knicks traded swingman Quentin Richardson and cash to Memphis for center Darko Milicic, and also acquired the rights to Toney Douglas, the No. 29 pick, from the Lakers for cash and a future second-round pick.

- The Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks swapped their draft picks from late in the first round. The Thunder will get 7-foot center B.J. Mullens from Ohio State for point guard Rodrigue Beaubois from Guadaloupe, plus a future second-round pick.

- In a draft that was not considered deep, several teams swapped their second-round picks for cash or future draft choices.

Besides clearing cap space, the Nets get a solid backup for point guard Devin Harris in Alston and a talent who showed flashes of stardom in Lee.

Lee, a rookie from Western Kentucky last season, was a late first-round pick in 2008 and turned out to be one of the Magic's few bright spots in recent drafts. Lee started 42 games and was a solid contributor for the Magic last season, averaging 8.4 points per game.

With Jameer Nelson already named the starting point guard for next season, the team was looking to move Alston - and his $5.25 million contract that ends after next season.

The Magic's biggest cost-cutting move is parting ways with the 33-year-old Battie, who will make $6.2 million next season in the final year of his contract.

Carter's departure ends the era of the Nets' Big Three. Point guard Jason Kidd was traded to Dallas early in 2008 and Richard Jefferson was dealt to Milwaukee on draft day a year ago for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.

A few hours after trading Carter, the Nets used the 11th pick in the draft to select Terrence Williams, a versatile 6-foot-6 small forward from Louisville.

-- Tom Canavan

LeBron, Shaq to chase a title together with Cavs

CLEVELAND - LeBron James is a unique talent, a once-in-a-generation player who has lifted a franchise to unprecedented heights. He's also a red-carpet celebrity whose circle of friends includes billionaire business moguls and rap stars.

There are few like him.

On Thursday, the Cleveland Cavaliers added someone just as big.

Even bigger.

With a timetable to win an NBA championship ticking loudly before James has a chance to test free agency in the summer of 2010, the Cavs completed a blockbuster trade months in the making by acquiring center Shaquille O'Neal from the Phoenix Suns for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round pick in 2010 and $500,000.

LeBron and Shaq. Together. In Cleveland. Imagine the possibilities.

James already has.

"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."

One more, at least.

James is under contract through next season, but will consider an extension from the Cavaliers later this summer. Though he has given no indication he'll leave his home state, James has not given any guarantees he will stay around to accomplish his goal of winning multiple titles.

The Cavs first approached the Suns in February about a deal for O'Neal, a certain Hall of Famer who has already won four titles - three straight with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-02 and one with Dwyane Wade in Miami in 2006.

After the deal failed to materialize at the season's midway point, Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry stayed in touch with Phoenix GM Steve Kerr, a former teammate and close friend. Talks heated up in recent weeks, but before he pulled the trigger on perhaps the biggest trade in Cleveland history, Ferry solicited input from James and other players.

Would Shaq fit in? Was he healthy? Could he share the spotlight with James? Can he guard Orlando's Dwight Howard?

Once Ferry was satisfied, he turned to owner Dan Gilbert, whose open check book has allowed the Cavaliers to surround James with talent.

Again, he got the green light.

Go time. Shaq time.

"Our goals are aligned with what our players want, including LeBron, and that's to win a championship and win it next year," Ferry said. "We don't want to be patient, we want to be a team that has sustainable success."

The Cavs are hoping the James-O'Neal pairing can deliver this seemingly sports-cursed city its first major pro championship in 45 years. The deal also creates a tandem that instantly rivals any in sports 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.

Cleveland is O'Neal's fifth NBA stop, and first cold-weather city. But the chance to play with James has O'Neal warmed up already.

"I was elated about the trade because I get to play with one of the greatest players to ever play the game in LeBron James," O'Neal said on ESPN.

O'Neal noted he doesn't need to carry the Cavs because the team already has a talented core. "I'm just going to go out there and add the little bit that I can do and hopefully we can get it done. We have to get it done," he said.

For now, the Cavaliers, who came up short despite winning 66 regular-season games and starting 8-0 in the playoffs, are only thinking of unseating the Lakers as champions next June.

As for O'Neal and James co-headlining for the Cavs, Ferry has no worries about jealousies.

"They both badly want to win," Ferry said.

O'Neal is coming off an All-Star season with the Suns, averaging 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds in 75 games, but there were times he clogged Phoenix's high-powered offense. Still, the 7-foot-1, 325-pounder can be a defensive stopper.

"He is a force," Ferry said. "Always has been, still is. He's a wall around the basket - a tall, long wall."

The Cavaliers have other decisions to make this offseason, but none compares to landing O'Neal. Now Ferry has the puzzle piece that allows the Cavs to take serious aim at ending the city's long title drought.

"It is a really unique opportunity to bring in a player of Shaq's caliber," Ferry said. "There are not many players in the world like him."

And Cleveland has two of them.

-- Tom Withers