"I look forward to getting my next $200 million for 2 years extension" - When Shaq joked about getting a massive contract extension with the Suns

In February 2008, the Phoenix Suns acquired an aging Shaquille O'Neal from the Miami Heat via trade. It was a controversial transaction that drew criticism from Suns fans.

But during the press conference in Phoenix, the Big Diesel lightened up the mood with a joke about a massive contract extension.

$200 million in two years

The 2007-08 season had been a disappointing for Shaq as he battled injuries and career lows. O'Neal's role in the offense diminished, as he attempted only ten field goals per game, versus his career average of 17.0. The Heat, also dealing with injuries to Dwyane Wade , struggled in the regular season.

There were plenty of concerns about O'Neal's health and impact on the team. The Suns wanted to know if giving up Shawn Marion for an aging legend was worth it. The Big Diesel tried to quell the fears during the press conference.

"Yes. I've given a full commitment to this medical staff that I will be there every day early, before and after practice, to do whatever it takes to keep me going for the next 10 years, and I look forward to getting my next $200 million for 2 years extension," he said .

As expected, Shaq's presence had little impact. Phoenix finished sixth in the Western Conference that yeat, and in the 2008-09 season, they failed to make it to the postseason. Steve Kerr, the Suns general manager at the time, failed with the experiment.

Related: "Tell him to trace his history and see how many slaves his ancestors had" - When Larry Johnson and Bill Walton got into a fierce verbal clash

Kerr's regrets

Steve acquired Shaq to give the Suns a much-needed presence in the paint. Due to their lack of size, they have had no answer for San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan, and Kerr thought Shaquille would fill that void.

Perhaps Steve imagined how things would've worked. Unfortunately, then-Suns coach Mike D'Antoni was not on the same page. In hindsight, Kerr reflected on his relationship with the coach , noting that he has "some regrets."

"I have some regrets. I think we had a few differences that I probably didn't handle very well as a GM that I could've probably handled better, especially given that we really like each other and have a lot of similar viewpoints on the game," remarked Kerr in 2018.

Would things have panned differently if Kerr and D'Antoni co-existed seamlessly? Who knows? While the Suns-Shaq chapter was a downer on the win-loss column, O'Neal's crazy antics managed to make thousands of Suns fans smile.

Related: “I just ordered 50 things off Amazon today” — how Jeff Bezos "scared" Shaquille O'Neal away from buying the Phoenix Suns