Yes, the 620 Sportsline finally had a full show with host Dave Burns.

As Kobe Bryant celebrates his first non-Shaq NBA championship, the Phoenix Suns may be preparing for a non-Shaq regular season, as there is speculation that the Suns are set to deal O’Neal, possibly to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Burnsy feels that the Suns options with Shaq are threefold. Buy, sell, or trade:

Buy – Keep Shaq and his $20 mill for one more season, writing it off at years end, and hopefully getting another year’s worth of quality work.

Pros: You could get another quality year out of Shaq, enough to be in contention for a playoff spot in the West, or maybe just get a better deal from a contending team at the deadline.
Cons: Shaq gets hurt, gets lazy, gets angry, and you get nothing for $20 million on a bad team next season.

Sell: Shaq to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the remnants of Ben Wallace, and another contract that can be easily dispensed (Sasha Pavlovic).
Pros: Cap relief, possibly enough to pursue a free-agent as soon as this offseason.
Cons: If Shaq is dealt and Amare immediately wants out, the Suns would be left with little more than expiring contracts and young players. You think Steve Nash wants to stick around for that???

Trade – Come up with a more enticing deal, possibly with Dallas, although Eric Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse hardly seem like equal return.

Pros: You could wait for another one to develop with New Orleans, possibly for an athletic big like Tyson Chandler, who although injury probe, could be a steal if the Suns training staff works more wonders.
Cons: By waiting, the Cleveland deal is now off the table (they want help for LeBron right now!), and you’re left dealing with teams mainly in the West, with the main return being Eric friggin’ Dampier.

Speaking of buying and selling, how about the Arizona Diamondbacks?

First, though, a distinction with a difference in regards to the D-backs: The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team of young, talented players.

Or: The Arizona Diamondbacks are young, talented players on a team. Burnsy agrees with the latter, and the later we get into the 09′ season, the easier it is to realize that “young and talented” just isn’t going to cut it, as the D-backs prepare to cut loose what movable assets they have before the trading deadline. The deadline for the D-backs official post-season elimination is what, though? Last year for Cleveland, another young team, the deadline was set at July 7th , when they dealt C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Indians were 37-51 at the time, 13.5 games out of first in the AL Central, and had lost 8 straight at that point in their season. The D-backs are right about the same pace, with a .002 difference in winning percentage, and are 15 in back of the Dodgers. But if a sell-off commences, who stays, who goes, and, where? Burnsy has some ideas:

Who: Chad Qualls – will be 31 in August, makes 2.5 mill this year, and is arbitration eligible for one more. Probably not part of the D-backs long term plans at closer or in the bullpen. Could draw interest from teams with closer issues: Tampa Bay, Chicago Cubs, LA Angels, and Philadelphia. Teams always need help in the bullpen, so NYY and others would surely be involved as well.

Felipe Lopez – is 29 (turned just 3 days before me…he’s old!!), makes 3.5 mill this year, and will be a free-agent next year, not likely to be classified as Type B, meaning compensation would be minimal. Teams with poor production from 2B could be interested, including LAA, Tampa Bay (they lost Iwamura), Chicago Cubs, etc.

Doug Davis – is 33, makes 8.7 mill this year, but is a free-agent this offseason, likely Type B classification (this means a decent pick coming back if he doesn’t). Phillies are interested in acquiring another starter and may be interested. The Cardinals and Brewers do not have a lefty in their rotation, and the Mets starting pitching is iffy. The White Sox already tried to trade for Jake Peavy, while the Tigers only lefty starter is Dontrelle Willis… And Texas always needs starting pitching!

Jon Garland – is 29, makes 6.2 mill this year, free agent at year’s end, and could be a type B class. Phillies, Mets, Tigers, and (you guessed it) Texas could be very interested.