<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES -- Could that "Laker for life" thing Kobe Bryant was talking about Friday during All-Star weekend events suggest something else is up with the Lakers? Could it possibly mean . . . Nah. No way. They wouldn't. They couldn't. . . . Would they trade Shaquille O'Neal? Perhaps Bryant, whom Lakers insiders long have conceded is the favorite of team owner Jerry Buss, knows something no one else does. Especially with the cross-town rival Clippers being rumored as the destination for Bryant after he becomes a free agent this summer. Buss just couldn't take that, insiders say.</div> Link
If I had to make a choice between Kobe or Shaq at this point in their careers, I would take Kobe....but I think it would be an extremly dangerous move to trade Shaq at the end of the year.... first of all, they won't get equal value...secondly, their Championship "dynasty" run will surely end which will anger a lot of fans and players....and finally, a trade will show little loyalty for all Shaq has done for the franchise....
I think it is a reality...Shaq says it his his team but then he lets a little calf strain keep him out....Kobe is younger, if he is acquitted he will have a longer career pending injuries, Shaq is in the declining part of his career, I think Kobe hasnt even hit his prime yet, I think he is being held down by having Shaq on his team..If I had to choose one right now to build a team around it would be Kobe
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">If I had to make a choice between Kobe or Shaq at this point in their careers, I would take Kobe....but I think it would be an extremly dangerous move to trade Shaq at the end of the year.... first of all, they won't get equal value...secondly, their Championship "dynasty" run will surely end which will anger a lot of fans and players....and finally, a trade will show little loyalty for all Shaq has done for the franchise....</div> well where is the loyalty on Shaq's part? He is clearly not all about the team and he never has been. It's always Shaq first.....Shaq always says its his team and yada yada yada yada..yet he sits out in defiance of not getting an extension.....I get tired of hearing about all of Shaq's ****...Can't believe a word the guy says.
I would trade Shaq after this season, or maybe next also if I was a Laker GM. You obviously don't want to trade a core player during the season, but I think its time to move on from Shaq. I don't see the Lakers ever trading Shaq away, but its something I hope they would do.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">I would trade Shaq after this season, or maybe next also if I was a Laker GM. You obviously don't want to trade a core player during the season, but I think its time to move on from Shaq. I don't see the Lakers ever trading Shaq away, but its something I hope they would do.</div> Realisticly, if the Lakers get rid of Shaq, we won't contend for a championship anytime in the near future. If the Lakers re-sign Kobe, then they gotta give that extension up to Shaq. Because as long as those 2 players are here in LA, we're still top contenders to win it all. Yes it is time to move on, but our best bet is moving on WITH Shaq on this team, regardless of what the situation is. I say The Big Fella ends his career a Laker, you can't let the most dominant player in the game slip away like that. Let's not get it twisted though, Kobe is only 26 and at this point he is the guy to start building around, Shaq is hitting the end of his career, IMO he has about 3 or 4 good years left in him at most, and he's just not the reliable Center he used to be. Hopefully we're able to keep our hands on both of them. I can't immagine Shaq in another jersey anymore, he's been the man in LA ever since he arrived, and for all he has done with this franchise, trading would be the wrong way to go.
Naw the Lakers aren't going to trade him. If this were to SOMEHOW happen the Lakers would be in a real big whole. They'll probably end up like us.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">Realisticly, if the Lakers get rid of Shaq, we won't contend for a championship anytime in the near future. If the Lakers re-sign Kobe, then they gotta give that extension up to Shaq. Because as long as those 2 players are here in LA, we're still top contenders to win it all. Yes it is time to move on, but our best bet is moving on WITH Shaq on this team, regardless of what the situation is. I say The Big Fella ends his career a Laker, you can't let the most dominant player in the game slip away like that. However, if Shaq gets in the way of re-signing Kobe, then I'd have to say bye to Shaq. Kobe is only 26 and at this point he is the guy to start building around, Shaq is hitting the end of his career, IMO he has about 3 or 4 good years left in him at most, and he's just not the reliable Center he used to be.</div> Yeah, I also don't see them moving Shaq like I said earlier, but that's just something I had hoped they would do. Shaq clears up about 30million off your cap once he is gone, and though they won't be condenders for probably a year or maybe two, with that kind of money you can buy your way right back in. I think Shaq probably has two seasons at most of dominance, but I expect them to be filled with injuries yet again. I'd like to see us just move on from Shaq and build around Kobe.
The Magic could take him. TMac might just want to go to LA. If he does come though, Kobe would be sure to leave, no doubt. This trade sounds off though, hell, any rumor with Shaq in it sounds wrong.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting franchise3:</div><div class="quote_post">The Magic could take him. TMac might just want to go to LA. If he does come though, Kobe would be sure to leave, no doubt. This trade sounds off though, hell, any rumor with Shaq in it sounds wrong.</div> Your right man, it sure does sound wrong. But rumors are rumors, we all know Shaq is not going anywhere. T-Mac would only consider going to LA if Kobe were to leave, in that case, we could re-sign Shaq as well and not miss a peep.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PrimeTime:</div><div class="quote_post">Get KG or Duncan in return? I would do it! ~Out, Prime</div> Or, we can keep the sartcasticness out the door and have a serious talk. :headphone
Perhaps the Pistons want to trade Wallace to get Shaq. The Lakers have scoring people like Kobe and all that Wallace have to do is get the rebounds and blocks. Its not equal but still the best what they could do. Thats my opinion. I heard some people say that Yao Ming is an option but not to me.
If we trade Shaq, who would we get in return? Who has more value? Is there any other Western Conference centers that are close or around the level as Shaq? I don't think so. And I'm sure those other organizations have their big men locked up. I suggest the Lakers keep Shaq..because face it without him the Lakers are doomed, and a big piece of another championship run is lost...and everything he's done for this organization from '96 till now. If he ends up traded, Shaq just sees it as a slap to the face.
