We have a lot of references to the Suns 2007-08 season around here lately. That’s the last time the Suns have had such a good record after 30 games, and it’s also the last time the Suns acquired a player who was a current All-Star before the trade and stayed an All-Star after the trade.
In spring 2008, even after starting the season 21-9 (and eventually 37-16 before swinging the fateful Shawn Marion-for-Shaq trade), the Suns acquired 14-time All-Star Shaquille O’Neal at the ripe old age of 35. He made one more All-Star game his first full season after coming to Phoenix before gradually fading into the sunset and eventually mumbling his way onto Inside the NBA.