Blazers called PHX about Shaq

This is from an article on espn. Written by Broussard. Not sure if this is just echoes from the trade deadline. Seems to be recent though.

Guessing Prz would be included. We'd need to send another $8m to make it work.

What say you?

 

If he can be homie Gs with Oden then yeah, sure.

 

While I suppose a platoon of Shaq and Oden at center would give us the biggest, strongest center rotation in the league, the center position isn't exactly a weakness for us.

The only things bigger than Shaq's ass these days are his ego and his contract. He's set to make $20 million next season, and is supposedly looking for a 2-year extension. We'd basically have to trade at least two players, likely more (Przybilla + Outlaw + ???) to get Shaq, and would use all of our cap space in the process - to upgrade a position where we're already strong.

And, Shaq has a history of bashing young big men (Howard and Oden) and in spite of his age seems very immature at times (How's my ass taste?). I'm not sure he'd make a good mentor for Oden - who he seems to view as a potential rival.

Of course, if we could then turn around a move Shaq for an elite PG or SF, that would be a different story.

BNM

 

If I recall correctly he intended to make Amare the greatest PF in the world when he came into Phoenix, despite it later not working out. I think if Shaq came in with that attitude it could work out. Not sure about the money issues, however.

 

No way Shaq accepts a backup role here to Oden, and play in Portland. I don't think our cap space plan was to get a Shaq with one year left either. It'd be a waste.

 

I actually thought Shaq played pretty well last year, he seemed like he still had gas in the tank. The thing I like about it is bringing in a dominant center to help teach our young guy. The thing I don't like about it is he would be taking PT from our big guy. At the same time, Shaq isn't going to play big minutes anymore. Probably 25 minutes a game. I don't know, its a mixed bag.

 

Shaq has already turned down coming to Portland once. We're too small-time for him.

 

Maybe he wants to prove he can win without Kobe.

Actually if his goal is to win one more championship before he retires, Portland may be attractive to him... but if I were him I'd try to get to Cleveland. He wouldn't get as beat up in the play offs with a high seed (until the ECF) because the lower seeds are so bad in the east.

 

And yes, I do know he won a ring with DWade instead of Kobe... it was a joke people!

 

I would be interested in Shaq if:

A) He was willing to mentor Oden.

B) He could accept a backup role.

If he is unwilling to accommodate those two points, it's a big fat no.

 

Big fat no, for big fat Shaq?

 

Obviously

 

according to Blazer management, they regularly call about the availability of just about everyone in the league and hypothetically discuss moving most anyone on their roster. KP claimed to be making/receiving 100+ phone calls a day every day last year about this time.

So Portland called about Shaq???

STOMP

 

That means we also called about Calvin Booth at one point? Awesome!

 

Hmm...that would certainly fit in with the "If you only knew who I was talking about" phrase. I certainly hope we don't get that fat ass though. I hate Shaq.

 

Shaq is one of the few players in the league I wouldn't want to root for, so it would be annoying if he joined the Blazers, especially in his diminished form.

That said, I would still root for him if he were a Blazer. I'd just rather not have to.

 

Key thing about Shaq.....his contract expires at the end of next season if I am no mistaken for the amount of $21m. Not a bad thing at all.

 

There are some teams/players that are treated more equal then others. I think it would help the Blazer brand in the league's eyes and around the country with casual fans/ratings to add the right familiar vet as they hope to advance into the playoffs next season.

I've never liked Shaq (for a lot of reasons) and think that his ego likely would have some issues taking a lessor role. They had him on shirtless pregame in the Phoenix locker room last year I couldn't believe what a fatass he currently is. But dude was 3rd team All NBA last year and of course is known by everyone. Do you think he might be motivated now that Kobe matched his 4th championship? Add Shaq and the Blazers are a featured team with storylines aplenty.

STOMP

 

Any clout we can gain with Stern and the refs is a good thing.

Also a 21 million 2010 expiring contract isn't a bad thing either.... Then we can bring in LeBron after we trade for CP3 and get D Wade to back up Roy.

Man I need to stop painting in hermetically sealed rooms!