Steve Nash Asked for Shaq to Be Traded

The trade of Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday was more than just a contract dump for the Phoenix Suns.

It also was done to satisfy point guard Steve Nash.

According to an NBA source, Nash expressed his displeasure with O'Neal during a meeting last week in New York with general manager Steve Kerr.

Nash, still one of the best point guards in the NBA, will become a free agent after this season if the Suns can't sign him this summer to a contract extension.

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"I think he told him [Kerr] that if O'Neal was there, he wouldn't be around much longer,'' said the NBA source who requested his name not be used. "That pretty much sealed it.''

Nash had grown weary of O'Neal's inability to keep up with the fast-paced play that the Suns had been so successful with in the past and with O'Neal's demand to be a bigger part of the offense.

The Suns shocked many around the NBA when they acquired O'Neal midway in the 2007-08 season, giving them a low-post presence that was contrary to the way they had been playing. They still won 55 games after he was acquired but lost in the first round of the playoffs. This season with O'Neal, they failed to reach the playoffs.

O'Neal was in the final year of his contract that will pay him $20 million. Nash will be making $13 million this season.

Latest Shaq Photos

In this April 3, 2009 photo, Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal runs up the court against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix. The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to acquiring O'Neal in a trade that would pair him with MVP LeBron James, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt York)

FILE - In this May 26, 2009, file photo, Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal points to members of the Cleveland Cavaliers before Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals between the Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic in Orlando, Fla. Even though he hasn't played a game for any team in two months, the NBA Finals has been played in Shaq's shadow, with the center's enormous footprints all over it. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 06: Johnny Rutherford and Shaquille O'Neal pace the field before the start of the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal;Johnny Rutherford

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FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 06: NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal changes a tire on the #2 US Air Force Luszo Dragon Racing car driven by Raphael Matos prior to the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal

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FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 06: NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal gives the command for drivers to start their engines prior to the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal

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Shaquille O'Neal changed a tire for Indy Car driver Raphael Matos before the start of the Bombardier Learjet 550 IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2009. O'Neal served as grand marshal for the race. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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Shaquille O'Neal holds up a tire from Indy Car driver Raphael Matos that he changed before the start of the Bombardier Learjet 550 IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2009. O'Neal served as grand marshal for the race. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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Phoenix Suns basketball player Shaquille O'Neal speaks at a press conference before tonight's Bombardier Learjet 550 IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (Kelly Chinn/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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