That was after they fired Phil, and held a press conference saying they'll entertain offers for Shaq and they'll keep Kobe. I have the facts straight. Mitch Kupchak is an idiot.
Shaq demanded $30 M/per year contract extension. He yelled at the owner at a pre-season game and asked Buss to "pay him". He always took extra vacation DURING the season. He did this in Miami too and now Raily has called him out. It was Buss who wanted to get rid of Shaq. It was Buss who wanted to keep Kobe. Get your fact straight is right.
In other words, they jkust rushed the trade for Kobe. Then they took that money and paid Brain Grant instead. Kobe had a meeting with Jerry Buss in the bathroom right after the finals to get rid of Shaq. Sure they could either have waited the one more year and got the cap space since he'd be a FA, or traded him without holding a press conference about it, and this is why they screwed themselves. Mediocre for years to come. Still paying Brian Grant and they extended Kwame this season, and now they have to pay Luke....lol
does anyone really think the lakers would have won another championship with shaq? I think Miami was very fortunate to get one last season. But just like roger clemens in boston, I think shaq needed a change of scenery to motivate him he still wasn't in the best of shape last year. I don't blame the lakers for trading him, it was just as much a financial move as much as it was a push from kobe. that being said, kobe needs to look at himself in the mirror for the reasons this team has no success in the playoffs. he tries to put the team on his back in close games when he should trust his teamates, that game one loss was in their hands, and then when their getting their butts handed to them, he then wants to be a good teamate.
yes, exactly. and based on the his experiences at Bulls and Lakers, I said phil J. was a really mean, no loyalty at all to his players who supported him full heartly. though he's not a bad coach.
