Over the last few seasons we have seen a decline in Shaq's game due to injuries, the "Zone" defense, and terrible officiating. The Diesel is signed through the 2005-06 season, where he's estimated to make $32.4M. If the Lakers cannot win the title this season should the Lakers consider trading Shaq or should they extend his contract out?
I would give him a short term contract extention, but if he can't keep his game up i could see the lakers trading him in the future.
I would let Shaq play out his deal,and depending on the state of the team, negotiate an extension during the 05-06 season. I don't trading Shaq as a possiblity right now, the Lakers could never get equal value.
I would negotiate an extension. I mean, who would want to trade the most dominant center in the league? Plus just like what Ogshowtime mentioned, if you trade him, would the Lakers get a fair value? The answer is no. There's nobody else on Shaq's level that can complete a fair trade.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">I would negotiate an extension. I mean, who would want to trade the most dominant center in the league? Plus just like what Ogshowtime mentioned, if you trade him, would the Lakers get a fair value? The answer is no. There's nobody else on Shaq's level that can complete a fair trade.</div> If you are looking for a fair trade now..then yea...but if you are looing for one down teh road...a player who could blossom into a superstar..then i would consider trading him
Why is it either trade him or give him another contract extension? He has yet to finish the first season of his current extension...
If his contract runs out in 05'-06' I wouldn't extend him yet either. I thought it was rediculous for Shaq to be complaining and wanting an extension before this season, and I wouldn't do it until after next season. Why give him a huge deal right now, when the extension takes effect 3 or more years down the road? If we extend him now, the deal will be much larger in money, and you don't want to go extending a contract for a guy like Shaq so long before. Shaq will be 34 in that year which the extension will kick in, and will be turning 35. Do you really want to give a guy a 20+mil extension when he's already been having ankle and knee problems at 30? He should definately be resigned, but we don't want to go through the same problems New York and Houston did, which was to pay an old big injury-prone center HUGE bucks. Extending the contract and taking up so much of the salary cap will not be good for their future, and you won't be seeing L.A. winning any championships with a thin lineup they will probably end up having because of cap problems.
i think shaq has a good 4 years of dominance left in the league and i think he will retire as a laker.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CANT STOP ME:</div><div class="quote_post">i think shaq has a good 4 years of dominance left in the league and i think he will retire as a laker.</div> NO WAY!!!! 2 years of "dominance" /faking injurys left. the lakers should be called the FAKERS. kobe cut his hand on purpose cause the lakers or should i say the FAKERS need a reason to lose. If they were so good they could win a championship with 1 all-star. the spurs did it right? when the lakers lose a player they should call it "the domino effect" cause when 1 goes down, the whole team falls with him!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spursfan2theend:</div><div class="quote_post">NO WAY!!!! 2 years of "dominance" /faking injurys left. the lakers should be called the FAKERS. kobe cut his hand on purpose cause the lakers or should i say the FAKERS need a reason to lose. If they were so good they could win a championship with 1 all-star. the spurs did it right? when the lakers lose a player they should call it "the domino effect" cause when 1 goes down, the whole team falls with him!</div> Yeah, we just love making excuses for losing, hey since Kobe's back now how about Gary slip on a banana and break his leg?? Stupid post.
@spursfan2theend I only have one thing to say to you. Go to the Spurs forum and stop saying sh*t about Lakers. Yeah like Kobe would really cut his finger on purpose not to play. Why would he??
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OgShowtime:</div><div class="quote_post">I would let Shaq play out his deal,and depending on the state of the team, negotiate an extension during the 05-06 season. I don't trading Shaq as a possiblity right now, the Lakers could never get equal value.</div> I agree with OgShowtime on this one, it would depend on where the team stands at that point. At the worst, Gary, Karl, and Kobe could be gone by then. It would be ridiculious to get rid of him before that, because we still may be able to contend for championships. I say hold on to him, and possibly give him that extension in the 05-06 season.
i would let him go ... although he is too valuable when he's fit, there are other good centers that we give us another new breeze to our style and yeah ... if the lakers dont win this season everything is gonna be a question anyway, jackson is going, kobe might be ... payton, malone ....
kobe.. laker 4ever sh*t is just a way to shut up the media, he's probably going to be gone by the end of the season phil.. unless they win a championship this season, phil's out gary..well with all of this controversy going on, i'm pretty sure he won't sign with them, next year karl.. unless they win championship, say goodbye to him I say you give shaq the extension, because the Lakers will be one of the worst teams in the L. I mean, the reason why they needed malone and payton was due to the lack of help on the court and shakobe did practically everything. Just face it, they had no depth last yearand so now they will be one of the worst if they don't sign shaq
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MaGIC:</div><div class="quote_post"> I say you give shaq the extension, because the Lakers will be one of the worst teams in the L. I mean, the reason why they needed malone and payton was due to the lack of help on the court and shakobe did practically everything. Just face it, they had no depth last yearand so now they will be one of the worst if they don't sign shaq</div> Shaq is still signed for two more years.
shaq should stay Well shaq is getting older, and as a laker fan, I hate for this day to come. I really would like Shaq to stay and even finish his career, but he cant have his contract extended with the money he wants, its insane, when his contracts over he'll be like 37 or 38, He cant think hell be as dominate at that age as he was 5 yrs. ago.
An extension but not for the amount of money he's asking for. I'd try to sign Kobe first, give him a max deal and then work in Shaq's request. I would not consider trading Shaq unless he was absolutely intent on leaving via free agency, then I would have to sign and trade. But that would be absolutely the last resort. As bad you all think Shaq is playing, he's still better than 90% of the players out there AND effective for at least the next five years. Keep in mind that the Lakers WILL be over the salary cap if they sign both Kobe and Shaq, it's just a matter how much and whether Buss is willing to pay for that, or rather if Laker fans are willing to pay for that.
I cant see Shaq being anything else but a laker (a fat one at that) the fitness issue may shorten his dominance.Its do or die time for him now,he doesnt have long.At his size ,people just dont understand his vulnerabilty of his career.minor injuries could be disastrous.
