PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns acquired Shaquille O'Neal in a

stunning, blockbuster deal that sent four-time All-Star

Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.

The improbable pairing of the speedy Suns and the slow but

once-mighty O'Neal became official when he cleared a physical exam

Wednesday.

O'Neal didn't talk to reporters, but he received a loud, long

standing ovation when introduced on the big screen while watching

the New Orleans-Phoenix game from a suite at US Airways Center on

Wednesday night.

First, he stood to acknowledge the cheers with both arms open.

He sat down again, but as the cheers continued, he got up once

more. He pointed to his ring finger, then

gave a thumbs up. The crowd went wild.

The trade, a dramatic move by first-year Phoenix general manager

Steve Kerr, signals an unexpected change in philosophy for the

Suns, adding a 7-foot-1, 325-pound center who has won four NBA

championships but has been plagued by injuries in recent years and

turns 36 next month.

O'Neal has been out with a hip injury and underwent an MRI exam

in Miami on Tuesday. He flew to Phoenix on Wednesday for the

physical.

"I'm well aware that I'm on the line," Kerr told The

Associated Press. "That's my job. That's why I'm sitting in this

seat. I'm comfortable with the decision. I think it gives us a

better chance to win, and a better chance to win in the playoffs."

Shaquille O'Neal is introduced to his new fan base during the Suns game in Phoenix on Wednesday. Domenic Centofanti/Getty Images

The Suns' Amare Stoudemire is a friend of O'Neal and talked to

him about his new team.

"He says he's ready to roll," Stoudemire said. "Whatever he

needs to do he's going to be down for it, and he wants to win a

championship, so we're on the same page."

Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said he was wholly in favor of the

trade because of the quality of player O'Neal.

"It just makes us better," he said.

The coach is well aware of widespread criticism of the deal

because of a belief that Shaq is no longer a formidable player.

"I think you're wrong," D'Antoni said. "He is not going to

come to Phoenix and lay an egg. He is focused and ready to roll. He

wants to show the pundits that this was a great trade."

Team leader Steve Nash also praised the trade.

"There's doubts and a risk to everything," he said. "I know

that's going to be a favorite talking point for all the media, but

for us the talking point is we've got an incredible, huge,

talented, charismatic player in our locker room now. ... This

sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun."

O'Neal was to be introduced at a news conference Thursday.

He has averaged 25.6 points and 11.5 rebounds in his 16 seasons in the NBA.

This season, plagued by injuries and going through a divorce,

he's averaging 14.2 points. His 14-year streak as an All-Star

choice came to an end this year.

He missed much of the 2006-07 season with a knee injury and

finished that season with career lows in games (40), scoring (17.3

points), rebounds (7.4), minutes (28.4) and free-throw percentage

(.422).