<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">O'Neal canceled his scheduled exit interview Friday, apparently upset at remarks made by Kupchak, who left the door open to trading the star center if he demanded it while saying Bryant would never be traded. ESPN.com's Marc Stein has learned that the Lakers' big man, who can opt out of his contract after next season, has demanded a trade. </div> Kobe Opts out, Jackson offically gone, Shaq wants out
Well seems like the lakers are getting what they wanted or at least kobe is phil jackson resigned and now shaq wants out if kobe doesnt resign with the lakers now I would lose alot of respect for him. Basically because he is destroying a dynasty and hall of fame trio and now he has gotten what he wants there would be no reason for him not to resign with them.
omg, what else can go wrong tonight, its on 9:30 here, and ive read that jacksons gona, and my favorite player wants to be traded. This is gettin bad.
It would be interesting to see who the teams trade in exchange for the most dominant player. Perhaps they can be a caliber of Jermaine, Webber, Baron etc. I know for a fact that he wants to go to a team that have a high chance for a championship next season. He's not going to a team that is starting from scratch. My preference is for him to stay. I have never known a franchise superstar who demanded a trade with the exception of Tracy McBaby. They're not even suppose to be traded, and if they demand a trade, they're not even going to be traded. He's a Laker for life, book it. Showtime era ended in circa 1990, and there wasn't a championship for the next 10 years. Perhaps this un-rumored demand is showing a sign of another long time drought for the Lakers. The Lakers are going to see a next set of championships anyways, and how long it will take won't matter.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">It would be interesting to see who the teams trade in exchange for the most dominant player. Perhaps they can be a caliber of Jermaine, Webber, Baron etc. I know for a fact that he wants to go to a team that have a high chance for a championship next season. He's not going to a team that is starting from scratch. My preference is for him to stay. I have never known a franchise superstar who demanded a trade with the exception of Tracy McBaby. They're not even suppose to be traded, and if they demand a trade, they're not even going to be traded. He's a Laker for life, book it. </div> Does he have a say in where he gets traded? If so that would limit what L.A. can get in return from him. But from what I know he doesn't have a say in that, so hopefully he'll end up on a bad team and not make the playoffs. That way we won't have to worry about seeing him in the playoffs and dropping 60 on us out of anger.
^lol. He wont be a laker for life. A feeling tells me that. He?might be coming back some time when the manager changes ... apropos management, why do they actually stay and let phi jackson go? if lakers are rebuilding what about rebuilding the management also??
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Does he have a say in where he gets traded? If so that would limit what L.A. can get in return from him. But from what I know he doesn't have a say in that, so hopefully he'll end up on a bad team and not make the playoffs. That way we won't have to worry about seeing him in the playoffs and dropping 60 on us out of anger.</div> Orlando will be a good fit for him. I saw an article about the possibility of Orlando trading Grant Hill's contract and Juwan Howard for him. Shaq has a home in Orlando and there he will be reunited with good friend T-Mac. But I think he's got to quickly address Orlando before T-Mac himself gets traded. If Shaq gets there, T-Mac will shut his mouth, apologize for asking to be traded and stay there, and the team will still draft Emeka Okafor and this could be a championship team next year (sorry Detroit) and in fact a dinasty for the next two, three years!
Food for thought. What if Shaq gets traded back to Orlando for the number 1 overall pick, plus cash, plus some players or straight up for Mcgrady and a 2nd rounder. At least the Lakes won't be losing him. Also what if Kobe Stays? You'd have Kobe playing the 2 and Mcgrady at the 3. I think McGrady might also improve his defense too.
^ Nope, that definitely aint gonna work. Kobe wants to be the ONLY leader on the team...T-Mac would wanna have his own way of doing things. I could never see that happening.
Man, Shaq not a Laker? If he goes anywhere I would like to to be in Orlando. But will LA get anything good in return? Grant Hill and Juwan Howard just isn't going to cut it.
Yeah I also just read that article saying the #1 pick, Juwan Howard, and Grant Hill for Shaq. When I read that I honestly started laughing. Howard, a guy known to disappear when u need him the most, and Grant Hill who has a huge contract and hasn't even played in over a year for Shaq? Don't even joke about that.. Shaq to Orlando: Not happening.
Here's something that I chuckled about when I read the latest Shaq article on ESPN: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq also thought Kobe was inappropriate when he said he didn't like Phil "as a person" this year. "Me being a professional, that wouldn't happen with me, because I was raised under discipline," he said. "Of course, you'll have your disagreements and all that. But if I didn't like the man like that, I wouldn't make it a national thing. Like I said, I'm loyal. Because I could never get over the hump, and Phil's the man that brought me over. Period. He's the best at what he does. Track record proves it. He has 9 [titles], going on 10."</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=1824721 Isn't this the same guy who has continuously bashed Laker GM Mitch Kupchak this season? I don't mind him doing the things he does, but all his comments seem to be so hypocritical - as well as that article. The article along with Shaq's quotes seems to make Shaq the good guy time and time again, acting as if he has done nothing wrong himself. He has blasted Phil in the media in the past years as well as Kupchak. The article also mentions the Kobe-Shaq fued, and the only side it showed of the article was Shaq being blasted by Kobe. Does anyone remember that Shaq was the one to start that fued, in what was the hardest time of Kobe's life? I'm not trying to defend anyone or criticize Shaq here, but damn that article was all supporting Shaq and made out to look everyone else look like the bad guy. That's the kind of garbage I hate seeing whenever stuff like this happens - crappy articles.
We'll till Kobe says something in reaction to what Shaq has said we will never know. But They do have a point. Shaq is on his way out and Kobe is the future. The Lakers will do him dirty like they did Wilt and Kareem. Bit its all for the good of the Laker ball club. There are only a hand full of teams that can make this trade and are still competitors for the championship. Kings, Mavs, Knicks, Pacers, Hornets and Orlando (yes orlando can do it cause they are in the east and if they can keep TMac) comes to mind. Plus those teams are in the east and there isnt much comp over there other then the Nets, Pacers, Hornets (but they will be in the west), Miami, and any team that made it to the playoffs this year. Picture Shaq in Miami or any other team. He can elevate a team with just his pressence. The whole gameplan changes when you play against Shaq makes it dangerous especially if he has shooters around him
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NJNetz:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers will do him dirty like they did Wilt and Kareem.</div> The Lakers never did "dirty" to neither of those players. The Lakers traded FOR Kareem when he was in his late 20's and kept him until he retired in his 40's. Same for Wilt, they traded FOR him and he retired as a Laker. The Lakers have been very loyal to their players in the past, and this would be a first if they trade their superstar away at the end of his career.
I meant that the way the bucks got their title with Kareem and Philly got their title with Chamberlain (sorry for the mistake). So we will see how loyal the lakers are with Shaq who the lakers would have not won the title if he did wasnt there. Its my opinion but Shaq would have won the title if kobe wasnt there. But Kobe was drafted and Shaq jumped on the showtime express even though they were far from showtime. Shaq left orlando when they still had a possible chance of winning a championship but never gave the team a chance. So you would kind of expect that from Shaq had no loyalties. Plus now a days in the NBA there is no loyalty
