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Penny signs with Heat; Rejoins Shaq
Topic Started: Aug 9 2007, 06:52 PM (679 Views)
magiclive
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Penny is back in the league!!! I'm happy for him. It looks like Shaq and Penny ended up with our division rivals.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2967891
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amagic25
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enny, Shaq to reunite in Miami
Penny Hardaway Shaquille O'Neal (with Magic)

SENTINEL FILE, February 11, 1996

Guard Penny Hardaway (left) and center Shaquille O'Neal haven't played together since their last all-star season together with the Orlando Magic in 1995-96, but they are going to be reunited on the Miami Heat in the upcoming season -- looking to finally win a championship together.

Tim Reynolds | The Associated Press
6:46 PM EDT, August 9, 2007

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MIAMI - Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal are together again.

The 36-year-old Hardaway, who last played an NBA game in November 2005, signed with the Miami Heat on Thursday and is reuniting with O'Neal -- his former Orlando Magic teammate back in the mid-1990s.

"Penny is a player who has been an All-Star and has enjoyed an illustrious career," Heat president Pat Riley said. "We have been impressed at his hard work and dedication this summer to get back in shape and return to the NBA. He is a skilled player who can help us in multiple positions."

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* Penny Hardaway Shaquille O'Neal (with Magic) Photo

The team said Hardaway wasn't available for comment.

Hardaway, a four-time All-Star game starter, has averaged 15.4 points in his career, but hasn't finished a season averaging double digits in scoring since the 2002-03 season with Phoenix. He played in four games with the New York Knicks early in the 2005-06 campaign before succumbing to knee injuries.

He's the second notable acquisition Miami has made during the free agent period; the team signed former Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard Smush Parker last month.

Hardaway figures to be a candidate to inherit the role Eddie Jones held with the Heat at the end of last season, someone who can play either shooting guard or small forward. Jones signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks last week.

Miami has spent much of the offseason looking for free agent help; the Heat tried unsuccessfully last month to sign guard Mo Williams, who remained in Milwaukee after the Bucks offered him a deal worth more than $20 million over what Miami could afford. Miami also has been in discussions about acquiring restricted free agent Mickael Pietrus from Golden State, and still could bring back James Posey -- another free agent who has spent the past two seasons with the Heat.

"I can't worry about what we don't have or what we missed out on," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said earlier this week. "We have to worry about what we can continue to get."

Somewhat surprisingly, that list includes Hardaway.

Back in his Orlando days, including the Magic's run to the NBA finals in 1995, Hardaway was the first in the triumvirate of young, high-scoring guards that O'Neal has been paired with throughout his NBA career. They didn't get an NBA championship together that season but will give it another shot this year in Miami.

O'Neal teamed with Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers, and helped Wade deliver a championship to Miami in 2006.

Hardaway and O'Neal teamed to average nearly 48 points per game in their three seasons together with Orlando -- but that duo was split more than a decade ago, when O'Neal headed to the Lakers. A year later, Hardaway was widely perceived to be the reason then-Magic coach Brian Hill was fired.

Hardaway was sent to Phoenix before the 1999-2000 season in a sign-and-trade deal for forwards Pat Garrity and Danny Manning, along with two draft picks. The Suns shipped him to the Knicks midway through the 2003-04 season, and another trade brought him back to Orlando in February 2006 -- for five whole days before the Magic waived Hardaway and his expiring $15.8 million contract.

At the time, Hardaway said he planned to continue playing. A year and a half later, he's getting that opportunity.

-- Merged topics. MM
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amagic25
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I can't believe we lost both penny and shaq to the Heat. I guess the heat is favorite to win the 1995-1996 champoinship now.
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Ben Q Rock
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:lol:, you just got quoted on my blog. That's hilarious.

This doesn't worry me at all. If the Heat think Penny is going to contribute anything, they're sorely mistaken.
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magiclive
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As much as I dislike the Heat, I would like them to win the championship next year if we don't. If both of us are knocked out in the playoffs, then I'll go with the Suns.

Penny deserves a championship. He fought through the knee injuries and he made a comeback when everyone thought he couldn't. It would be nice for him to get a second chance in the finals.
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Black and Blue
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Have You Hugged Your Van Gundy Today?
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I am on the other side of the fence, Magiclive. I really disliked how Penny talked badly about the organization when he walked out on our team, and dislike even more how he joined our new arch enemies.

Heat-Magic game are going to be bloodbaths this upcoming season.
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magiclive
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After seeing how Brian Hill coached and managed the players last year, I can understand why Penny disliked him.
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MAGICMANEVAN
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This should make it an even bigger rivalry. Good news because our guys need to get some attitude. Now with Van Gundy here it should help. :yes:
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MagicMadness
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amagic25
Aug. 9 2007 07:27 PM
I can't believe we lost both penny and shaq to the Heat. I guess the heat is favorite to win the 1995-1996 champoinship now.

LOL

I don't care what anyone might say, I think this is awesome! No, not because Penny's going to magically carry the Heat far in the playoffs or anything, but because Shaq and Penny are reunited. Makes for a semi-interesting newstory, IMO.

And before anyone calls Penny a traitor or anything silly like that (like my friend did)...stop. We waived him two seasons ago during the Francis trade, so he needed to sign somewhere. I'm still ticked off with all the stuff that happened between him and management back in the day, but I still respect him for working hard this past year and a half and getting back in the league. If anything, seeing Shaq/Penny back together (though both are in the twilights of their careers) is a walk down memory lane.
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amagic25
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I was a penny fan. I thought he outplayed jordan in the 1995- 1996 season. Jordan would not guard for nothing. I was glad penny got rid of brian hill then. the last two of brian hill coaching prove penny was right. And if anyone on this board don't think dwight got brian hill fired. in for a rude awaken
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Black and Blue
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MagicMadness
Aug. 10 2007 12:11 PM
I'm still ticked off with all the stuff that happened between him and management back in the day, but I still respect him for working hard this past year and a half and getting back in the league. If anything, seeing Shaq/Penny back together (though both are in the twilights of their careers) is a walk down memory lane.

I WILL agree with you on this statement...but I will still be rooting my butt of against the Heat ;)
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NYCMagicFan
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I was just kind of letting my grudge against Penny go away, but now forget it!
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