Re: Shaq to Blazers NO, NO, how about a big fat NO. the ego on shaq is bigger than his actual body. he's not a mentor type and would do this team more harm than good. i don't understand the mindset of most of you on here. this team, even if you add shaq/nash is not winning it all this year. they are still green and need to learn how to win on the big stage. if we want to add a butler type player fine, but stop with this over the hill vetern crap.
Re: Shaq to Blazers No, I have too much respect for Joel to do that too him. Joel showed so much loyalty to the club, it would be a disgrace to trade him now that we are finally good again.
Re: Shaq to Blazers Yeah, because over-the-hill veteran winners have never been part of championship teams. They're all self-made players who find out how to win on their own. Oh, wait...I can't think of a single team in history that did that. But history is littered with guys like Kareem nearing 40 winning championships...old Robinson and young Duncan...Drexler going to HOU...etc.
What he listed is basically our core right now, all 24 and under. Its really insane becacuse 4/6 are technically rookies this year.
I like Shaq, respect his b-ball talent (although I think his size has a lot to do with it) and to some extent admire him. But I am not a Shaq fan or a supporter. The idea of Shaq to the Blazers, however, should be a no-brainer. The answer should be a resounding "I'm sorry! Thank you but NO THANK YOU." Why the negative response - especially with the allure of Shaq? Afterall Shaq is Shaq. Well, ... Shaq may want to make a run at another Chapionship and the Blazers are without a doubt the best team to do it with. But you are going to have many players over the next few/several years trying to hitch up with the Blazers to ride their coat tails to a championship. And if anyone could put the Blazers over the top this year or next year I am sure it would be Shaq. But what then? Shaq is too unaffordable. I don't mean just salary wise because we all know Paul Allen could easily pay his $21 million pay check (not a real good idea to do so, though, but that is just my opinion). What I am referring to is by buying Shaq now, for a win now, we would be selling the future and the number of championships that we would undoubtedly walk away with. Getting Shaq would surely cost us Joel and Joel is worth a lot more than Shaq. Shaq is no longer in his prime. He is getting ready to hang it up and retire. On the other hand, Joel looks like he is still in his prime and hasn't peaked yet. This has to be one of his best years, if not the best. And I think there is more to come from him. Also, a deal for Shaq might cost us Outlaw. Now I know there are more than a few "non-Outlaw fans" out there that want to see him gone (I'm not one of them) but for KP's sake, do it for someone who is either an up and comer or who is just entering his prime and can make the team better for several years to come. Frankly, I like the team we have now - at least 10 out of the 15. If we could get Shaq for Diogu, Frye, and Bayless, I might reconsider but I fear the answer to that proposal would also be a big "NO" back from Phoenix. Carry on Blazers! JAFO
I would rather have one of the stud small forwards- Wallace, Butler, etc- but I have to admit that the trade would be a good deal- Shaq is playing better than he has in years and would be the perfect mentor for Oden. We also get an expiring contract of 21 million next year that we could potentially use to trade for someone good. Pryzbilla is planning very well- but not to Shaq level- not even close this season. Does Shaq make us instant contenders? It would probably make us favorites to win our division, but not to Boston or LA level this year. So what? I would settle for being the 2nd best team in the west this year.
Re: Shaq to Blazers you honestly think this team is ready to win a championship this season? really, you think shaq pushes us over the edge? i'm all for adding a veteren at the right time but this isn't it. old robinson hadn't won it all until young duncan got there and houston was the reigning champs, how did he push them over the top?
Re: Shaq to Blazers That's pretty much how I feel. I think if we add a couple vets it could put us deep into the playoffs, but I'm not sure if we're ready for a championship run just yet. Give Oden another season or two, and that might be the case though. I'd really like to get a better vet point guard, and maybe a vet small forward. Other than that, I feel very confident with this roster. There's only a couple holes.
