<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ESPN.COM:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Shaq's highest-in-the-league salary. It's a robust $29.4 million for the 2004-05 season -- $32.4 million for 2005-06 -- making your run-of-the-mill, garden-variety trade impossible. Most teams would have to bundle so many players together just to get to Shaq's salary that they'd go into next season six or seven players short, as Orlando's general manager John Weisbrod told local reporters the other day. That doesn't mean they shouldn't think about it, only that it makes such a deal a real gamble. 2. The Lakers can't get snookered. It's crucial that Mitch Kupchak be able to hold his head up if a deal ultimately gets done. When the Lakers got Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from Milwaukee, they sent the Bucks several good players that helped Milwaukee make the playoffs for years, like Junior Bridgeman and Brian Winters. Kupchak has to get real value for the MDE -- Most Dominant Ever. But therein lies a problem ... 3. You can't get equal value for Shaq. There is no one like him on the face of the earth. The things he brings a basketball team are unique to the DNA of Shaq's biological father and his mother, Lucille Harrison. So no matter who the Lakers acquire, they'll be fundamentally changed as a franchise. They'll still be good, but no longer intimidating; a contender, but no longer feared.</div> Full Story
Yeah, I read that article earlier this morning. The only one that sounded good to me was the Indiana trade, and that was the most unlikely. The New Jersey trade ends up being a Shaq-for-Martin trade after the 2004-2005 season, and I just don't think it's enough for Shaq. I know it's hard to get equal talent for Shaq, but Martin will probably be signed to a max deal for that to happen, and I just don't think he's a max dollar player. The Cleveland trade seems rediculous, because after the 04'-05' season the only notable player they will have left is Boozer. I know it'll be tough trying to find a deal that would work good for the Lakers in the long term, but I just don't think any of those deals are worth it.
The Dallas Mavericks have thrown this trade scenario on the table for Shaq. Stackhouse, Walker (sign & trade), 5th pick and Howard for Shaq Personally I hate this trade for the Lakers. It leaves us without a center and 3 players who want to score and take upwards of 20 shots a game. Stackhouse and Walker are also defensive liabilities and undersized to play out West. I do like Josh Howard, but I don't think there's anyone in this year's draft to help the Lakers out with the #5 pick. The Lakers want Nowitzki if they do in fact trade Shaq to Dallas. I'd like to see us land Nash, Nowitzki, and Howard for Shaq. This would give us a core unit of Kobe, Nash, and Dirk to build around. The Lakers could go after a center via free agency or trade Payton or Nash for a big man. Potential Lineup PG - Nash/Payton SG - Kobe/Rush SF - George/Howard PF - Nowitzki/Walton C - Adonal Foyle !?!
^ What I heard was Nash (sign n trade), Walker (one year left on contract), #5 pick, and Josh Howard... Unless Okafor miraculously falls to #5, I wouldn't like that deal....the person I'm not feeling is Walker...I would much rather take Finley and his big long contract than Walker...
To me, the only trade that would be logical is for the other Oneal. But that's not happening and there is no logical trade IMO.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers want Nowitzki if they do in fact trade Shaq to Dallas. I'd like to see us land Nash, Nowitzki, and Howard for Shaq. This would give us a core unit of Kobe, Nash, and Dirk to build around. The Lakers could go after a center via free agency or trade Payton or Nash for a big man. Potential Lineup PG - Nash/Payton SG - Kobe/Rush SF - George/Howard PF - Nowitzki/Walton C - Adonal Foyle !?!</div> I'm right with you on that shape. But if we were to land Nash along with Dirk and Howard, I'm sure one man will be getting his mouth charged up and that's Gary Payton. I'm sure if Nash did come into the picture, he'd be worried about his starting position on the line, and I really don't think he'd want to come off the bench no matter how pathetic he looked last season. And what if the Lakers can't find any team willing to take Payton in a trade? It's highly doubtful knowing once again, how much he stunk it up in the playoffs when it matters most. Just horrible value overall to teams. Our projected lineup would look fanstastic, but for our center, why not go after possibly Erick Dampier? He improved himself last season, could've been an All-Star candidate if he wasn't playing for the Warriors, and he's a free agent looking to gain a contract up to 10 million dollars a year. I'm sure that's not expensive in our management's budget. And lastly, I was hearing Dallas is going to use their #5 pick to draft the 7'5" Russian. What do you think about that?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Emo:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm right with you on that shape. But if we were to land Nash along with Dirk and Howard, I'm sure one man will be getting his mouth charged up and that's Gary Payton. I'm sure if Nash did come into the picture, he'd be worried about his starting position on the line, and I really don't think he'd want to come off the bench no matter how pathetic he looked last season. And what if the Lakers can't find any team willing to take Payton in a trade? It's highly doubtful knowing once again, how much he stunk it up in the playoffs when it matters most. Just horrible value overall to teams. Our projected lineup would look fanstastic, but for our center, why not go after possibly Erick Dampier? He improved himself last season, could've been an All-Star candidate if he wasn't playing for the Warriors, and he's a free agent looking to gain a contract up to 10 million dollars a year. I'm sure that's not expensive in our management's budget. And lastly, I was hearing Dallas is going to use their #5 pick to draft the 7'5" Russian. What do you think about that?</div> God, Pavel is a doof, a total Russian bust. He's got Olowakandi written all over him. Maybe worse cuz his attitude says it all. He dropped out of last year's draft cuz he didn't want to be just a first round pick. He also has little to no post moves. He hasn't played the game at all. But enough about Pavel the bust. I think it would be a catastrophe, huge, horrible trade if the Lakers don't get Dirk included in the trade. As Stephen A. Smith, my main man said, Shaq is the MDE still and anything less than Dirk included would be crap. I mean come on, look at what the Mavericks are offering: Walker- Obviously the oddball of the group. Castaway with a bloated contract Howard- Alright, but an overachiever at best. Long arms but not a star. 5th pick- in this draft, after 1 and 2, it goes downhill quickly. There's no bonafide sure thing in this draft. I expect the 5th pick to be a bench/role player or a potential/young player. If anything I wouldn't settle for anything less than Dirk, Daniels, 5 pick, and Walker.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MustardMan:</div><div class="quote_post">God, Pavel is a doof, a total Russian bust. He's got Olowakandi written all over him. Maybe worse cuz his attitude says it all. He dropped out of last year's draft cuz he didn't want to be just a first round pick. He also has little to no post moves. He hasn't played the game at all. But enough about Pavel the bust.</div> Gosh, if that's the case, we could probably be looking at another Slava Medvedenko. A man with size, can shoot the ball occasionally well, but sucks to the fullest on defense. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting MustardMan:</div><div class="quote_post">I think it would be a catastrophe, huge, horrible trade if the Lakers don't get Dirk included in the trade. As Stephen A. Smith, my main man said, Shaq is the MDE still and anything less than Dirk included would be crap. I mean come on, look at what the Mavericks are offering: Walker- Obviously the oddball of the group. Castaway with a bloated contract Howard- Alright, but an overachiever at best. Long arms but not a star. 5th pick- in this draft, after 1 and 2, it goes downhill quickly. There's no bonafide sure thing in this draft. I expect the 5th pick to be a bench/role player or a potential/young player. If anything I wouldn't settle for anything less than Dirk, Daniels, 5 pick, and Walker.</div> Exactly. If we're going to give value in Shaquille O'Neal, still the most dominant force in the league today, we better get value back in return, and Dallas just has no choice but to give up Dirk. If they're willing to offer Antoine Walker in this deal, we might as well cut off all negotiations at this point. Because for one thing, Walker is selfish. He whines and complains all the time about the tiniest thing, he doesn't play within any offensive system, and he shoots erratically from the perimeter. Easily can be a headcase for any basketball team, and if you ask me, we've had enough drama this season for headcases. We don't need this guy. About Josh Howard, straight up overacheiver at best. I think he fits very well with Dallas' fast-paced offensive game, but when it comes down to the Lakers slow well-maintained half court game, can he consistently score buckets when he gets opportunities? I doubt it. The Dallas Mavericks traded to get rights to the 7'5" Russian, and if you ask me, they're going to use him as bait to try and lure Shaq to Dallas. But what we already discussed earlier about this guy he has no meat. Sure he has size and believe me I like tall centers nowadays, but when you look like a Shawn Bradley stick figure, you'd look like a total bust in this league. And I wonder if in Russia they teach their players the meaning of defense? Because if we look back at Slava Medvedenko's style of play, I highly doubt it too. If anything, I would look at a trade concerning Nash, Dirk, and/or Michael Finley for Shaq. I think that'll look fair enough.
