Shaq deal to miami done

[Ragone]

hxxp://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1837581

[Danny]

As a Lakers fan, I really like this trade. Two very talented young players in Odom and Butler were much needed. Also, given the poor situation they were in, they did very well. They definitely need to address the center position. A Butler, Bryant (assuming he's resigned, which should be likely with Shaq gone), Odom and Payton lineup with Grant, Malone, Rush and Walton also and Rudy T coaching, Lakers could still compete in the playoffs.

[MrBug708]

*shrugs* So long Shaq. I wonder when he goes to the Hall, if it's as a Laker?

hopefully we can do something like a sign and trade, Odom for Kmart.

[Danny]

*shrugs* So long Shaq. I wonder when he goes to the Hall, if it's as a Laker?

hopefully we can do something like a sign and trade, Odom for Kmart.

Rudy T loves Odom, so he will likely be staying. Odom and Kobe working together could create matchup problems. If we resign Kobe and get an decent center, I'm liking the potential 2004-2005 team quite a bit.

[The_herd]

hopefully we can do something like a sign and trade, Odom for Kmart.

Unlikely, the Nets aren't expected to match the offers K-Mart is getting from the Hawks and the Nuggets because Rod Thorn is under pressure from the new ownership to cut payroll.

[MrBug708]

If they do a sign and trade, it doesn't matter what the Nets do unless they are over the cap.

[The_herd]

Odom is making the max, or near it. So I don't think there's going to be any situation where NJ is going to be willing to take on any more large, long-term contracts. They are also over the cap as it is (they're sill paying Mutumbo's contract) and have Jefferson looking at free agency after next season. They gave away their draft pick this year because ownership didn't want another contract to pay.

To put it short. The Nets are in a mess with Kidd coming back from a very serious knee injury and Thorn being told to cut payroll ASAP.

[Lorena]

As a Lakers fan, I really like this trade. Two very talented young players in Odom and Butler were much needed. Also, given the poor situation they were in, they did very well. They definitely need to address the center position. A Butler, Bryant (assuming he's resigned, which should be likely with Shaq gone), Odom and Payton lineup with Grant, Malone, Rush and Walton also and Rudy T coaching, Lakers could still compete in the playoffs.

I thought Malone was retiring?

[Noop]

For the here and now the Heat should be the favorite to win the East this season as well as be one of the favorites for the title. I guess in two years they are looking to make a run at someone like Lebron or Melo because they will be sitting well under the cap.

[Philliesfan980]

Wow, from terrible to being one of the favorites for the Championship in a year. Amazing.

Sixers, take a lesson.

[Honolulu_Blue]

For the here and now the Heat should be the favorite to win the East this season as well as be one of the favorites for the title. I guess in two years they are looking to make a run at someone like Lebron or Melo because they will be sitting well under the cap.

The Pistons win a Championship and still no respect...

[MrBug708]

The Pistons win a Championship and still no respect...

As long as the fans have a chip on their shoulder, yes....

[Noop]

The Pistons win a Championship and still no respect...
They have my respect but I am taking into account Shaq will come to Miami in shape and ready to play... coupled with Wade and Jones the Heat will be hard to beat next season. No one can stop Shaq when he has his mind focused on playing ball....

Mr.Bug what kind of chip is it? Salsa I hope ;)

[MrBug708]

I wasn't insinuating you Noop. I think that this next year will be your lone shot. Shaq will come to camp proving that he's still the man and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in as good of a shape as he has been since the second title in 2001. I think after that though, he'll live out his days abusing the middle in Miami and making the playoffs, but not doing enough. His extension with Wade needing to get paid will probably create a mess similar to what the Lakers went through in 2002-2003.

Rumors going around is a Butler to the Bulls for Tyson Chandler and/or Grant to Portland for Shareef. It also seems to be thought of that Vlade is coming back to LA. I wish we could have traded Shaq to the Kings for Miller, Bibby, and Jackson though.

[Rich1033]

Wow, from terrible to being one of the favorites for the Championship in a year. Amazing.
I just dont see it. They will be one of the better teams, but I dont see them beating Indiana or Detroit. They lost Alston and three starters who are replaced by Shaq, thats it. Eddie Jones isnt the player he used to be, and Wade still needs to develope his outside shot. They are improved, but need more help. Right now I put them at #3 in the east.

[rexallllsc]

Rumors going around is a Butler to the Bulls for Tyson Chandler and/or Grant to Portland for Shareef. It also seems to be thought of that Vlade is coming back to LA. I wish we could have traded Shaq to the Kings for Miller, Bibby, and Jackson though.

We need Chandler a lot more than we need Shareef, IMO...

5 - Chandler
4 - Grant
3 - Odom
2 - Kobe
1 - Payton/Fisher

Nice.

[rexallllsc]

BTW, I don't see Miami beating Detroit or Indiana, Shaq or No Shaq.

I think Shaq will rededicate himself this off-season. Maybe lose 30-50 pounds...have a stellar season, and if he goes injury free, take the Heat to the second or third round.

Then he'll get a ridiculous extention, get hurt, and drastically decline.

[Danny]

No question Heat will be much improved and probably a top 4 east team, but the best? Not right now they aren't. Shaq and Wade are good enough for the playoffs, but they don't have much else. Jones is barely average at this point in his career.

And Shaq in shape? He will probably report in much better shape than last preseasons because he is in a possible contract year. Still, if he shows up to camp with less than 20% body fat I'd be shocked :).

[Noop]

This is so funny... I am going on the record as saying the Heat will be a favorite for making the Eastern Conference Finals...

[rexallllsc]

This is so funny... I am going on the record as saying the Heat will be a favorite for making the Eastern Conference Finals...

Well...yeah. There's only two strong teams in the East. Indiana and Detoit. And who knows what can happen in the playoffs with matchups...

[Neuqua]

Rumors going around is a Butler to the Bulls for Tyson Chandler

Won't happen.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Well...yeah. There's only two strong teams in the East. Indiana and Detoit. And who knows what can happen in the playoffs with matchups...

Hmm... There's no telling what will happen with New Jersey. If they lose Kenyon Martin, they certainly wont be dangerous. But New Jersey played the Pistons much harder than the Lakers. So, based on last year, they would have to be considered a strong team. The East is back!!

[MrBug708]

Won't happen.

If Mr. Cardinal is able to get THAT contract....anything is possible

[rexallllsc]

Hmm... There's no telling what will happen with New Jersey. If they lose Kenyon Martin, they certainly wont be dangerous. But New Jersey played the Pistons much harder than the Lakers. So, based on last year, they would have to be considered a strong team. The East is back!!

I dunno man...I wasn't all that impressed with NJ last year...seems like they didn't have the fire they had in previous years (kinda like the Lakers in the finals)...we'll see, though.

[sovereignstar]

hopefully we can do something like a sign and trade, Odom for Kmart.
Though having Kathy Ireland on your side would be very appealing, I'd rather have Target if a deal was to be made.

[DeToxRox]

All I can see about the Heats chances ..

Look at the Pistons did to the Lakers in the Finals ..

Shaq got his points, but no one else did, his supporting cast there will be much better then that in Miami.

[Antmeister]

All I can see about the Heats chances ..

Look at the Pistons did to the Lakers in the Finals ..

Shaq got his points, but no one else did, his supporting cast there will be much better then that in Miami.

As a long time Lakers fan, I would hate to see Shaq go. I am glad that you mentioned that he was the only one scoring because there are some friends I know that argue that Shaq is fat and lazy and didn't do anything in the Finals. As I watched the Finals, he was the only one who seemed to care. Kobe couldn't do anything against the double team and the supporting cast dropped the ball in that series.

Plus I don't remember the Lakers winning any titles without the dominant big man. Not to say it can't be done, but it is a Lakers tradition that I have become used to. While I understand that Shaq is getting up there in age, dominant centers, let alone good centers and difficult to come by. I believe that there will be a good SG/SF going through the organizations for years to come, but I think it will be a while before the Lakers win the title again and it doesn't help that Kobe is still having court troubles. Plus he is talking to the Clippers. Ugh.

[Philliesfan980]

Just a general question for the Lakers people on here: Does this pretty much ensure that Kobe will be with the Lakers next year?

Wouldn't it be something if they lost both of them?

[MrBug708]

We'd have lots of payroll for next year, that's for sure.

[stevew]

We'd have lots of payroll for next year, that's for sure.

Probably about 15 million at the most to offer out.

[Ragone]

Losing Kobe/shaq would probably put the lakers at the bottom end of the playoff spectrum in the west.. in the 7-9 range..

Course if the clippers get kobe.. they'd still be in the 7-9 range :P(the clippers that is)

[MrBug708]

Most likely, they'll struggle for 2 years but the payroll room when Grants contract is off might be able to land them a top tier bigman. Maybe Rudy T.'s favorite

[Daimyo]

I don't see this making Miami the favorite in the east, although it does make them very scary in the playoffs.... Detroit beat the Lakers this year and I can't imagine Miami with Shaq and Wade will be better than LA with Shaq and Kobe. Maybe if they can go the Orlando/Houston circa 1994 route and surround him good outside shooters they might have something though.

[SonyLuang]

I thought Malone was retiring?yeah the guy who posted that is crazy. :p malone opted out of his contract and is now looking forward to retiring.

[Danny]

yeah the guy who posted that is crazy. :p malone opted out of his contract and is now looking forward to retiring.

Actually, I'm hearing Malone wants to come back if health will allow it. I have no idea what team he would be looking to sign with though. Despite what he publically says, Malone still wants a title.

[Daimyo]

ESPN is saying if this goes through Payton will want out as well...

[MrBug708]

ESPN is saying if this goes through Payton will want out as well...

Good Riddance. I know Rudy T is trying to convince Fisher to come back. Shaq will be good for Miami in the short run, but his extension demands will cripple the franchise in a few years. 40 million a season isn't worth it

[druez]

It will be nice to watch the lakers suck ass the next 3 to 5 years.

[Danny]

Supposedly, Buss offered Shaq a 30 million per year extension until the big man was 37 years old, but Shaq wanted a longer deal. hxxp://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/07/12/sports1859EDT0369.DTL

Article also states, Kobe had nothing to do with Jackson retiring or the Shaq trade and that Buss hasn't even spoken to Kobe since the end of the finals.

[Eaglesfan27]

It's nice and smart of Buss to try to spin this situation, but I just don't believe that Kobe had nothing to do with the departure of Phil or the trade of Shaq.

[MrBug708]

Supposedly, Buss offered Shaq a 30 million per year extension until the big man was 37 years old, but Shaq wanted a longer deal. hxxp://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/07/12/sports1859EDT0369.DTL

Article also states, Kobe had nothing to do with Jackson retiring or the Shaq trade and that Buss hasn't even spoken to Kobe since the end of the finals.

It's not really about Kobe. Kobe wants to be the man obviously, but he's never told anyone to trade Shaq or that he felt he wasn't loved. I believe the only glaring comments he's ever made was about certain teammates not trying on every trip to the other side.

And the Lakers will be a bad playoff team next year as is, around the 6-8 spot IMO. But after that, I'd love me Rudy T's favorite current NBA player, especially with the culture around here, he'd fit in perfect.

[Chief Rum]

And the Lakers will be a bad playoff team next year as is, around the 6-8 spot IMO. But after that, I'd love me Rudy T's favorite current NBA player, especially with the culture around here, he'd fit in perfect.

Oh, for crying out loud, Bug, wouldya say the guy's name? Some of us all didn't read Rudy T's autobiography, you know. I mean, dropping this line twice in ten posts is a little much don't ya think? :)

So who is it? Ming?

CR

[MrBug708]

Zhi Zhi! :)

[Chief Rum]

Xiang!

CR