If Kobe leaves. . . .. and Phil will probably leave What the h*ll do they have left beyond Shaq Payton - George [who i thought was nice but. . ] - Fox are garbage Malone is human garbage but somewhat productive Fisher is a very good BACKUP PG - average starting PG Rush and Walton [Mr basketball IQ for a day] are not ready yet What else is there? They better get some Value for kobe . . or next year they could be in the second half of the brackets Rocket RIver for the record. . i thin detroit was the more talented team . . . 1-8 just that the lakers at the 2 most talented players
Word has it that Phil or Kobe may return, but it's a one-or-the-other situation. Shaq's a die hard Phil supporter, so this could get nasty (early signs are pointing to Phil leaving). Malone's got a torn ligament in his knee, he'll have to have surgery, and it's up to him if he wants to try and return. At his age, this sort of thing isn't minor. Payton's gone. He's opting out and going to a team that will allow him to dominate the ball again. Indiana is one possibility that comes to mind. Fisher is also going to opt out, but no one's paid much attention to that. Unless someone comes in willing to give him a starting role, starter's money, and 4 or more years guaranteed, chances are good that he resigns. Fox will likely be exposed to the expansion draft, though he's not likely to be touched. He *could* retire, has talked about it, but I personally doubt it. So long as Shaq or Kobe stays on the team, he'll continue to ride their coattails. The Lakers are stuck with George. I knew that was a bad contract the second I heard about it. Medvdenko could be gone too (free agent). Teams like Seattle or Miami that need size are going to work hard to get him. LA should have his Bird rights, but he's unrestricted. No matter what, LA is going to have to bring in plenty of bodies for next year. They have another 6 guys that I haven't mentioned that are end-of-bench rubbish with their contracts up and unlikely to be renewed. In total? They only have 6 players under contract for next year. Evan
I'm guessing that Bryant re-signs, Jackson leaves, all the other FAs leave, Shaq is traded, and LA rebuilds around Bryant. They will bring in a lot of talent on a Shaq trade, so they won't sink too low.
I'd trade Shaq and keep Kobe, if I were the Lakers. That's the fastest way for them to rebuild. Oh, you just can't put Rebuild and Phil Jackson in the same sentence, can you?
EXACTLY! It's going to make me sick if he just waltzes away to another cushy job now that gravy training the Lakers is no longer a guaranteed championship and the press doesn't call him on it.
I would think it'd be hard to trade Shaq. I still think he's the best center in the league (Duncan loves the PF slot) but how many years does he really have left? And especially with that salary? The most viable place I can see Shaq in is ....*drumroll*.... The Nets. Shaq Rush for Kittles (if he doesn't get picked up in the expansion draft) KMart (resigned at around 10 mil a year) Mourning Fillers A line up of Shaq/Collins/RJ/Rush/Kidd should be more than enough to compete in the East EVEN against Detroit. LA gets KMart, who would of course play 2nd fiddle to Kobe and i think the role of sidekick is more suited for KMart anyways. Kittles either comes off the bench as a 6th man or could even start at the 2 and slide Kobe to the 3 It's a crazy idea and I hope y'all can think of more and/or even better trade scenarios because Shaq and his contract is almost immovable.
Interesting. Here's a link: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...040616/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bkn_nba_finals_lakers_5
1. Fox is not walking away from $5M. Period. 2. Payton may walk off, but that would be stupid. I've been a GP fan for years, but the man is not a winner, he doesn't make his teammates better, he can't kick it up a notch, and now his skills are almost gone as well. He may have trouble finding work if he walks off. 3. Medvedenko is not worth more than a vet minimum. Lakers may get a better player for the vet minimum. 4. Fisher will definetely opt out. Lakers will be wise to reup him, however it would take an MLE type money to do it (or more). 5. George, Rush, Walton, Cook all will stay Kobe, Shaq, Karla and Phil are all up in the air at this point
if jackson leaves i hope he doesnt walk over to houston in two seasons when yao will be starting to be a real factor and hopefully either mobley/francis or tmac will realize what it means to play a team game. could be the next cushy job he is looking for just saying with all the jvg bashers here saying he will be gone after next season. i hope he just will stay retired now or what would be great is that the lakers re-sign him first then kobe leaves, malone retires, payton leaves and shaq gets traded then he is left with just whatever talent shaq brings in the trade (some decent talent at leasT) and the young players he's 'developed' the past 2-4 seasons. they wont make the playoffs, well not in the west at least
On 610: Phil walks into the sunset Shaq to Orlando for Gooden, Gaines, DeClerc, Hill's contract and the #1 Pick Dr. Jerry gives Kobe the max Kobe picks his coach Michael Cooper? Rudy? Trading Shaq? the only value to rebuild the Lakers, his contract means no other stars anyway, LA loves Kobe For Orlando: T-mac stays to play with Shaqdaddy for 2 years For Shaq: He has a house there, went to the finals there, gets along with T-mac, gets to play in the East Sounds plausable!
Shaq to Orlando . . .. Oh yeah . . . i remember him leaving there with NOOOOOO HARD FEELINGS WHAT SO EVER NOW . . . . If shaq goes there with that deal and the Rockets do the McGrady Deal Francis Mobley Garrity Cato Shaq *scary* Rocket rIver
Shaq and T-Mac are friends that have openly talked about wanting to play together. Orlando managment wouldn't think twice about bring back the most dominate center in the game and be guaranteed to sell out the season and become Eastern Conference favorites. The fans would forgive pretty quick too, rest assured. Evan
I agree with you Juan. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Shaq was traded to Orlando for Phil to suddenly be rejuvenated and want ring #10. Of course, that means that TMAC ain't coming to Houston. If Shaq is moved somewhere besides Orlando, I wonder where it would be? New Jersey? Would NJ give up a resigned KMART, RJ, draft picks, and other salary for the chance to land Shaq and make a run with him and Kidd? It will be interesting to see the offers for Shaq. But I agree with you. Here is what I see going down. The Lakers bring in a players coach first. Then, they try to get Kobe and Shaq together. That is their best opportunity to remain competitive is to somehow get Kobe and Shaq agree to stay together and play for the new coach. If they can't get Shaq and Kobe to agree, I think they will then look to move Shaq daddy and resign Kobe and build around him. Chicago? Their #1, Curry, Chandler, salary, and future #1 for Shaq? Memphis? Jerry West? Gasol, Posey, etc. for Shaq? Indy? anybody but JOL
The premise was that Jerry Buss's first allegience was to Kobe because he is young enough to build around and has LA star power while Shaq is on the decline and eating all the cap space. Kobe will want Phil gone first and foremost. (Peyton too and since they still owe him money and need a point...) Kobe wants to be the first option too so wouldn't mind seeing Shaq gone. Orlando would be willing because they have to do something to keep T-Mac. If they lose him, after losing Shaq, the city will not support the team (and Stevie wouldn't help) If they bring back Shaq and keep T-Mac they are Florida heros (even though they probably can't win a championship with two stars and some chumps) Hey it wasn't my idea some guy called it in and the drive time crew thought it was reasonable. It is atleast an interesting premise;especially to the" T-Mac or bust" contingent here. And we should know something about Phil pretty quick.
The Lakers will: - get rid of Phil - bring in Rudy - resign Kobe - keep Shaq. - Pick up some role players and be a contender again. A franchise like the Lakers pulls off the deals to get the Kobe's and the Shaq's. They aren't the type of franchise to let them go.
