Shaq will be traded! I am going out on a limb, but I am predicting Shaq will be moved this offseason. After watching the first round and the first couple games of the 2nd round, it is easy to see Shaq is going downhill fast. I can see the Lakers being willing to part with him in order to retain Kobe. If I were the Lakers I would trade Shaq this offseason and get as much as possible in return for him. He is too fat, too slow, doesn't play D, and is surviving on reputation because the refs give him so many calls every game, on both ends of the court. He has no offensive skills anymore besides the backdown, knock the defender over dunk move. Any shot beyond 5 foot for Shaq is a low percentage shot. He can't defend the pic and roll and fouls constantly in the post when guards drive inside on him. Those aren't being called yet. He is getting the benefit of the doubt on all those still. If the fouls were being called correctly on him, he would be averaging about 20 mpg, which is probably about all he plays effectively anyways. Next year will be more of the same. He is not motivated anymore and has never really had the drive of the great ones such as Magic, Michael, Larry, etc. So the Lakers should move him and get whatever they can, which should be a lot. I think there are a lot of GM's out there that would overpay for him. Chicago would probably part with Curry, AD, and their #1 this year and a #1 in the future for him. Orlando? They'd probably give TMac and some #1's. Memphis probably wouldn't give much, Jerry West is too smart and knows Shaq is history. Clippers, Brand and Maggette? Dallas, Dirk and Finley? Any of those deals combined with a resigned Kobe keeps the Lakers perennial contenders. But if they fail to resign Kobe and they are forced to add around a declining Shaq, where does that leave them? Payton is gonzo. There is no way that they can replace Kobe and make the team better enough to compete with the likes of SA and SAC for a title. And I think Kobe has it figured out. He is going to turn up the heat on the Lakers and force them to deal Shaq to resign him or he is going to walk. When they are forced with that decision, they will trade Shaq. All this is provided Kobe ain't in prison, which I don't think he will be. Either way, it is so great to see the Lake show in such turmoil. It will be great to see them brought down to the same level as the other teams and have to battle the refs on a nightly basis instead of having the league and the refs hand them an extra 10 games a year along with any close playoff games. I don't think they will ever be the same. Because the real maestro left town last year. Jerry West is the primary reason for the success of the Lakers. They can say all they want about PJ's psychology and Buss' money, but West is the reason that ship held together for so long and so well. I bet he is laughing up his sleeve in Memphis. He'll probably try to turn up the heat on that team significantly by negotiating with Kobe and offering trades for a resigned Kobe. This along with the Clippers should be enough leverage to tell the Lakers to take a hike or do what he wants, which is to dump Shaq granddaddy.
Don't forget to mention Phil Jackson. I think the Laker organization is willing to part with BOTH Shaq and Phil Jackson to retain Kobe, which I think is really smart at this stage, Kobe is only 25 and Shaq is what 32, 33, can't hit a free throw, can't play the pick n' roll.
I don't think it's really Shaq's fault. Sadly, big men who don't get the ball enough end up being disinterested and lose motivation. Whenever Shaq gets off to a good offensive start, it usually brings out his effort and intensity on the defensive end as well. It's really all or nothing with Shaq. He'll give you 40 pts, 15 boards and 5 blocks in a game or he'll get you 20 pts, 10 boards, and 1-2 blocks while allowing his man to hit wide open jumpers all day. Bottom line is that the Lakers, specifically Kobe and GP, do not do a good enough job of feeding Shaq the ball. They have given him some horrible entry passes. Moreover, they should never pass the ball to him when he's 10 ft from the basket. They need to deliver it to him when he does have good position before the 3 seconds are up. The Lakers timing and accuracy of the entry pass has handcuffed Shaq. Moreover, they severely lack a good spot-up shooter. With that being said, I think it'd be hard cap-wise for LA to get equal return for Shaq, with his 25 mill contract. It means LA would prob have to take back some bad contracts.
The playoffs aren't even over and already rumors are abounding that Shaq is going to Orlando for the #1, Hill, and salary fodder.
I think it would be a huge mistake to trade Shaq, but the sports writers in LA agree with jopatmc: Bill Plaschke, LA Times
I hope you're right and they do trade Shaq. He's probably the least annoying of all the Laker personalities. He doesn't really deserve having to associate with Jackson, Bryant, Malone, Fox, and Payton. It'll be nice to watch LA drop to the middle of the pack without him. And though Shaq isn't what he once was, he'll probably still be the best center for a few seasons to come.
They'd be smart to move him, he's rather clearly in sharp decline. Career: 27 ppg, 12 rpg, 2.6 bpg Peaked in 99-00 (first LA champ) 30 ppg, 14 rpg, 3 bpg Similar numbers the next year, but now: 22 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg Next year, he's due $29 million, and then 32 million. If you were Jerry Buss, would YOU want to give him an extension? Evan
Why do people use stats to determine that Shaq is going downhill? Of course his PPG will go down if he is playing with 3 other future HOF players. If Shaq was physically unable to push guys around inside, then you have a point. Last time I checked, Shaq dominated inside easily. Don't blame Shaq for Kobe or whoever not passing him the ball. Did you guys really expect his shots and ppg to go up this year?
I don't need one stat to determine that he is going downhill. He lays around on the defensive end, won't come out and bust up the pick and roll, doesn't hardly jump until he gets to the postseason. The whole season for Shaq is screw off time just so he can save his strength and stamina for the post season. What's next, he'll start declining in the post season. He's clearly overweight. And he is surviving so far on reputation and the fact that he is a marketable attraction. Once the league figures out it doesn't need him because it can market Garnett, and Kobe, and Lebron, etc., he will not be getting nearly so many favorable calls or non-calls such as he did last night, and his stats will decline greatly and he will be gonzo because he won't be able to take getting the calls against him that go for him now. Shaq is in clear decline................................and even he knows it. No statistics needed.
His stats were dropping before Payton and Malone came to town. What do you want me to say, just look at him (which you should try, btw)? If you think Shaq's still in his prime, go ahead...... Evan
When did Shaq have a shot beyond 5 ft? Besides that I agree that the Faker would be wise to clear him out, if he were a race horse they would shoot him this summer, then maybe stuff him…
Yeah Buss has already said it at a Suns game this year that signing Kobe is his number one priority and at the same time said he would move Shaq and Phil if they were not happy here. It would SEEM that Buss will do what ever it takes to keep Kobe here, including trading Shaq if thats what Kobe wants.
I don't always trust sportswriters, but many seem to agree that retaining Kobe and dumping Shaq would be the viable option for the Lakers. The danger of this is, of course, whether Kobe's next team is the Cell Block Butt Busters, which won't be determined until later this summer or early fall. I guess a Shaq trade would wait til then.
