<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Heat won't stink for next year, we already made the 2nd round of the playoffs this year and with our current roster we're pretty much a LOCK to win the SouthEast division which guarantees us at least a top 3 seed in the east which puts us in perfect position to at least make it to the 2nd round again. The Heat will be in the Eastern Conference Finals next season, with or without Shaq.</div> I know the heat won't stink....if you read my post correctly, I said that I hope that the heat stink just for next season becuz I thought the lakers might get the 2005 first round pick so they coudl get a better player. But from wat I hear that the pick would be in the first round of 2006 or later so it doesn't matter anymore.
I remember reading a quote on negotiation which basically said that a deal is fair when both sides walk away unhappy. While I've never really liked that quote because I certainly believe there is such a thing as a bad deal for both sides, I do believe this is one of the times when it suits. The Lakers should know that they're never going to get fair value for Shaq, its just not going to happen. It was thought that only three teams (Portland, New York, and Dallas) could take on Shaq's salary and sign him to an extension. But none of those teams had the pieces to make a deal work (or in Dallas' case, were unwilling to give up Dirk). Butler and Odom, while not necessarily being great fits with Kobe, are more talented than anyone any other team is offering. Miami fans should realize that while Odom, Butler, and Wade have terrific chemistry together, they'd never be serious championship contenders without a big man. And the only way for them to get a big man is through a trade because they're now too good to get one through the draft. And the only way they'd get a center of any value is to trade at least one of their core three. Now it's true that almost every center's production starts to fall off once he's 33-34 years old, but Shaq at 75% is still better than nearly every other center in the league. Once its time to start talking extension, Shaq will know that he's not worth 30+ mil. Garnett accepted a big pay cut to ensure that his team could compete for a championship, if Shaq wants to go for another ring before he retires, he'll do the same. He'll have enough star power to attract a good free agent in '06/'07, and the Heat should have enough cap space to sign one to a 9-12 mil a year contract. Wade will still be under his rookie contract, but by his fourth year in the league he should be one of the top combo guards in the league. I'd say trading for Shaq would give Miami a 3-5 year window to win a championship and then 2-3 more years of an over priced Shaq (who could certainly retire at any point which would wipe his salary off the books). That's a much greater chance to win a championship than they would have had just going with Odom, Wade, and Butler.
All in all i think this was a wonderful trade for the heat. I mean they put together a team full of scrap players and shocked the world during the playoffs last season. Consistency? would probally be the question concerning this team. and there youth in odom butler and age with Grant. all looks like negs to me. Hopefully the diesal can be dominant in the east with all those hug centers they got in the East. ( yeah right) I cant wait to see what happens.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Startellis:</div><div class="quote_post">All in all i think this was a wonderful trade for the heat.</div> The Heat hasn't even done anything yet, at all. This is just talk and nothing more.
http://www.georgebush.com/images/downloads...lsec_banner.jpg ewwwwwwww thats the most disgusting thing I've seen on this board
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Accord:</div><div class="quote_post">The Heat hasn't even done anything yet, at all. This is just talk and nothing more.</div> Not anymore, its pretty much a done deal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Not anymore, its pretty much a done deal.</div> Yeah, that's what I thought to. Didn't the Lakers approve of the proposal yesterday?
Well, this means Kobe is staying. So what the lineup will be? C: Brian Grant PF : Lamar Odom SF: Cook/George?? SG : Kobe PG: Payton It's predictable.
This trade may look very lopsided at first but don't forget, Odom had an AMAZING SEASON with the Heat, he almost single-handedly took the team to the playoffs(ok, u get the point) and for real, he's young and has world of talent and room to improve. For Shaq... he's been dominant for so long but now he's past his prime and he's gettin old. This wont be bad for neither team... it was over for Lakers from the start anyway, their dynasty is over, get over it... but now that Payton wants to stay also, he's gonna go back to his old form hopefully and Odom and Briant will be able to play off Payton's assists, it'll be a nice change. Not to mention this could possibly make Kobe stay a Laker for life... which I never really hoped for but why not man, why not, he still don't got Shaq, that's all that matters. Wow... WHAT AN OFF-SEASON!!!
This is a bad deal for the lakers. We get one guy who is a injury waiting to happen, another who is unproven and another who solid but has been known to have some issues off of the court, and give up the most dominent big man in the game today. That just isnt right. There must of been a better deal out there than this. Now we have to pray kobe signs with us, otherwise we are a lottery team next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Nuggets15:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, this means Kobe is staying. So what the lineup will be? C: Brian Grant PF : Lamar Odom SF: Cook/George?? SG : Kobe PG: Payton It's predictable.</div> What happened to Butler? If Lamar is going to play PF, Butler will probably be our starter at the SF spot. I think we'll get a center somehow though, so I think the lineup will be: C: ? PF: Brian Grant SF: Lamar Odom SG: Kobe Bryant PG: Gary Payton
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">If I were Kupchak I wouldn't deal Shaq to Miami unless it included Dwyane Wade. Wade is probably untouchable (as he should be) but if you want someone like Shaq on your team you have to make sacrifices. I'd rather see a trade of EJ, Grant and Wade before Odom, Butler and Grant. Maybe throw in a draft pick, too. Yes that does seem like a lot, but if you want to win a ring right away, you have to give up a lot to get the most dominant player in the game. I'm not saying this would happen, I just think that's what the Lakers should do if they want a deal with the Heat.</div> U have to understand that shaq is getting OLD, his growing weight, injuries, childish attitude, and enormous contract all point to the Heat wont give up on all young players for just to get shaq, Yeah, this deal is weak, especially our C, that was sick? I hope we could get Valade, even though he is old but he could help until we find the equivalent C who is able to replace shaq.
Odom is probably capable of Guarding KG. He's extremely athletic and he's just as quick if not quicker than KG. Plus, if Malone returns, which is still possible, he could guard him, cause, if I remember right, he absolutely shut him down in the WCF last year. And my thoughts on the line up, right now, not assuming a center is signed, but hopefully they do so. C: Brian Grant PF: Lamar Odom SF: Caron Butler SG: Kobe Bryant PG: Gary Payton Now, assuming we do get a center.... C: ? PF: Lamar Odom SF: Caron Butler SG: Kobe Bryant PG: Gary Payton Now, granted that both of these lineups are assuming that Payton doesn't get traded and that Kobe resigns, I think they'd each be pretty good. And I believe that, if the Lakers do get a center, they'd put Brian Grant on the bench and start Odom at PF and Caron at SF. Grant is getting up there in age and Odom did a hell of a job starting at the PF last year for the Heat. I think he would do a good job in the West due to the fact that he could use his quickness and all the other skills to take the Western PFs off the dribble and beat them to the hole for a score or dish it off. So, pretty much, either way you look at it, I see both Butler and Odom in the starting lineup, even if a center is signed. They're too good to bench. Butler, you may say had a bad year last year, but, he was injured for a while but, near the end, he looked like the Butler who had been the Heat's best player the year before. So, I think he's a lock to be the Lakers starting SF next year, along with Odom as the starting PF.
