Everyone is talking about how Cuban is crazy enough to pull the trigger, but what Cuban wants does not matter. The person who has to be crazy enough to pull the trigger on a Shaq trade, to an Western Conference team much less, has to be Kupchak. Yes Shaq is pissed off right now but I seriously doubt he will leave LA, and if he does I doubt even more it will be to Dallas. Why do you think the Lakers are pursuing Rudy T? Because they know that he can massage egos, and most likely think he would be the one coach outside of Phil Jackson to keep Shaq-Kobe in some kind of sick harmony. I think the only way Shaq truly leaves LA is if Kobe says he will not return to LA if Shaq is there. If Rudy T is hired then I think LA will be back in business. Rudy knows how to manage a big man down low while giving Kobe the creative freedom he seeks. A happy median if you will. Now, if Kupchak is forced to trade Shaq then he will not, unless there are no other options, make the mistake of trading Shaq to a Western Conference contender. Kupchak will be looking to ship Shaq out East before sending him to Dallas. Teams like Indiana, New Jersey, and maybe Cleveland all have what it takes to get a deal done. Finally, I really don't think Dallas has what it takes to get this deal done. Yes they have the contracts to do so, but talent wise I doubt it. The Lakers will not want Antoine Walker or Michael Finley. Steve Nash is a free agent who I see going to Phoenix as is Marquis Daniels. In that case, Dallas would have to send Dirk and Jamison, and if that lands them Shaq then I don't think Orlando would want Walker and Finley. The only way this happens is if McGrady and Kobe play their cards. If Kobe says Shaq needs to be gone, and if McGrady says he will not sign with any other team than Dallas. Too many complications and "if's" for a trade like this too happen, even if Cuban wants it more than a 35 year old virgin wants sex.
T-Mac would look good in red, but he is such a baby...granted he is only 25 years old.....I want to go to LA or San Antinoi...then a week later I want to play with Yao....now he wants Shaq....maybe next week he will want Tyra Banks....for the love of the game, make up you mind!!!!
Cant get the link since I am not an ESPN Insider, but Chad Ford says on his headline that T-Mac is not coming to the Rockets...I wonder how credible he is...if anyone can post the article, then that would be great...
I was just making a connection to Cuban's dot.com days and Microsoft. I don't have to go back to Sun Tzu era do I?
The basic facts pointing to Dallas are: 1) You have Shaq and Tracy saying they trying to each get a trade to Dallas. 2) You have enough assests to make the deal and still have some left overs 3) You have Cuban who has upstage fever 4) You have TMac player option power over trading partner 5) You have Carrol Dawson as the opposing GM 6) You have Phil Jackson available to coach 7) You have Yao Ming as an untouchable asset A couple of reasons it may not happen. 1) If Rudy T has already gotten the LA coaching job and he is pleading with Mitch Kupchik and Jerry Buss to give him some time to work on Shaq and Kobe 2) LA is just trying to get Shaq to lower price 3) LA is just trying to get Kobe to commit 4) Every other team in the league will try to get Shaq. To me it just doesn't seem like Houston would make sense for TMac. Unless Les Alexander knows TMac from living in Orlando, I don't see who would be pushing TMac to play in Houston. You figure that if SF and Cat weren't the ones whispering in his ears since they are being dealt and we really don't have any one else to push the deal through. If Rudy T was behind it I could see it getting done but I just have a hard time believing that CD can pull it off. Don't get me wrong I would love to see McGrady in Red/Gold next year but I also know that this doesn't make sense.
FoxSports just reitarating the Chronicle's story...maybe there is hope that a deal will get done.....I would love to hear the play by play once this trade takes place. http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2504264
