i say that malone will retire if they don't win a title this year and in a few years gary payton will need a glove to grip the ball. If Malone doesn't retire after this year, he'll be using a cane to walk (for that bad knee of his) and to commit fouls. If kobes legal problems haunt him later in the off season, hes gone too. After a year Shaq will be lonely in L.A and be traded to a east team. Phil Jackson won't cover all 10 fingers and he'll retire too. The fate of the Lakers is in Kobes hands.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting worldchamps9903:</div><div class="quote_post">The fate of the Lakers is in Kobes hands.</div>Or the jury's.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting worldchamps9903:</div><div class="quote_post">i say that malone will retire if they don't win a title this year and in a few years gary payton will need a glove to grip the ball. If Malone doesn't retire after this year, he'll be using a cane to walk (for that bad knee of his) and to commit fouls. If kobes legal problems haunt him later in the off season, hes gone too. After a year Shaq will be lonely in L.A and be traded to a east team. Phil Jackson won't cover all 10 fingers and he'll retire too. The fate of the Lakers is in Kobes hands.</div> Malone will retire if they don't win a championship this year? So why did he and Payton sign multiyear contracts? Gary Payton will need a glove to grip the ball? Well he sure has a glove on defense. Malone will be using a cane to walk on that bad knee of his? Remember, if it wasn't for Scott Williams crashing on Malone's knee, he'd be in the starting lineup right now. Even after 18 seasons, he's still one of the healthiest people in the NBA. Every Laker hater wants to bring up Kobe's legal problems? That will all be taken care of, and I don't think Jerry Buss is that stupid of a person to let Kobe go in the offseason. Kobe should be able to test the free agent market, and eventually if things go well, he will return to the Lakers. Shaq lonely?? LOL, shows how much logic you have. Phil Jackson won't cover all 10 fingers? You better believe he'll top Red Auerbach. When the Laker starting lineup returns healthy, things will once again come back together, and watch out when May arrives. That'll be when they'll start making that playoff push.
I have a feeling Kobe will get off the hook, but that doesn't mean the Lakers' problems are over. I think Shaq will fade for the next couple years, but he'll retire before he's considered 'bad', or a footnote, so I'd pin his last year as 07-08. I think whether Karl or Gary stay just this year or two(b/c both can opt out of next year), I still don't think the Lakers are gonna win. They lost last year, and from there it was over: their image of invincibility in the postseason is gone, and the other teams feel they've boned up enough to take on the new look Lakers. So I wouldn't say that its all in Kobe's hands right now. I'd say its in his hands several years down the road to keep the Lakers a competitive squad.
LOL, I love this. Lakers best record in the league, everyone healthy, their considered the 'team to beat'. But when their star players go down with injury and lose games, their doubted of winning it all this season. Funny to me. Looks like Spurs are going to drop one to the worst franchise in the NBA. Their hopes of making the finals are over! LOL, I'm saying this because people come into the Laker forum doubting them of winning it all this season, because they only lost a couple of future Hall of Famers, well now 3.
Phil Jackson has TEN fingers?!?....I don't think they make championship rings that fit the thumb. He does have ten rings though. Remember that he has one from his playing days in New York.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting starman85:</div><div class="quote_post">I have a feeling Kobe will get off the hook, but that doesn't mean the Lakers' problems are over. I think Shaq will fade for the next couple years, but he'll retire before he's considered 'bad', or a footnote, so I'd pin his last year as 07-08. I think whether Karl or Gary stay just this year or two(b/c both can opt out of next year), I still don't think the Lakers are gonna win. They lost last year, and from there it was over: their image of invincibility in the postseason is gone, and the other teams feel they've boned up enough to take on the new look Lakers. So I wouldn't say that its all in Kobe's hands right now. I'd say its in his hands several years down the road to keep the Lakers a competitive squad.</div> I agree with you completely on Shaq fading away more and more every year. His injuries are only going to get worse, and Shaq can't play on much pain. I really hope the Lakers don't sign him to that huge contract extention hes been wanting, because I don't see him ever being as dominant as he once was. As for Malone retiring after this year, That won't be happening unless he has a career-ending injury. He's close enough to that #1 scoring record, and I don't see him going out without a championship (whether its with L.A. or elsewhere.) I also do see Gary fading this year, as it's very obvious he isn't half the player he was last year. I'm not a guy to judge a player on a bad stretch either, I've felt his play has been disappointing since preseason. I still can't believe he's only getting a miserable 6 assists a game. Even before anyone got hurt he was hovering around 6.6 a game btw so dont try to pull that "its cause they're missing hall of famers" stuff. I still do think the lakers will pull it out this year, and possibly next year too. I'm a huge Laker fan, dont get me wrong. I just don't see the Lakers in a good shape 3-4 years from now with all the old guys ready to hit retirement and Shaq getting worse by the year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with you completely on Shaq fading away more and more every year. His injuries are only going to get worse, and Shaq can't play on much pain. I really hope the Lakers don't sign him to that huge contract extention hes been wanting, because I don't see him ever being as dominant as he once was.</div> So, what's the other option? Don't sign him, start Slava, then not have a chance at winning the title in the near future? Even if we signed someone else, nobody in this league can replace a guy like Shaq, and what he brings to the Lakers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">So, what's the other option? Don't sign him, start Slava, then not have a chance at winning the title in the near future? Even if we signed someone else, nobody in this league can replace a guy like Shaq, and what he brings to the Lakers.</div> Year by year, it's getting easier to replace Shaq, because he's not as dominant as the last. Shaq still has 2-3 years left on his contract if I remember correctly, so I'd let him play that out and then move on. Once his contract is up, they're going to have that 25mil avalible to try to grab possibly a All-Star free-agent. You do realize if Shaq's gone he frees up cap room so you can get new players, instead of going with Slava and others?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Year by year, it's getting easier to replace Shaq, because he's not as dominant as the last. Shaq still has 2-3 years left on his contract if I remember correctly, so I'd let him play that out and then move on. Once his contract is up, they're going to have that 25mil avalible to try to grab possibly a All-Star free-agent. You do realize if Shaq's gone he frees up cap room so you can get new players, instead of going with Slava and others?</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">Even if we signed someone else, nobody in this league can replace a guy like Shaq, and what he brings to the Lakers.</div> Yes, I am aware that they will have the cap to sign a All Star type player if you read my post, but I'm saying anyone who the Lakers could even think of signing, won't be a better player than Shaq. When healthy, he is the most dominant player in the league, if he gets everything together, he would still be a valuable force to have on this team, you can't let a guy like Shaq go. I don't know why were talking about the Lakers future 3 years from now anyways, a lot of things will change.
In addition to Golden State, I've also heard that the Lakers will show great interest in acquiring Yao Ming as a free agent after Shaq's deal expires. Of course Shaq is going to be near the end after the 05-06 season, after which I think he'll just decide to retire. The injuries will just get more and more nagging, and Shaq doesn't want to be remembered as an old, hobbling, has-been center. I don't think anybody wants to remember him that way, it was really sad to see Patrick and Hakeem struggling so badly at the end of their careers. I would love to see Yao in LA, though I would imagine Houston will do everything possible to keep him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, I am aware that they will have the cap to sign a All Star type player if you read my post, but I'm saying anyone who the Lakers could even think of signing, won't be a better player than Shaq. When healthy, he is the most dominant player in the league, if he gets everything together, he would still be a valuable force to have on this team, you can't let a guy like Shaq go. I don't know why were talking about the Lakers future 3 years from now anyways, a lot of things will change.</div> Well like I said in my post also, Shaq is not as dominant as the last year, and I don't see him being anything not replaceable in three years or so. Sure, even then he'll still probably be dominant, but not even near what he is now. We saw this with Hakeem and Ewing, and I really believe he will not be so unreplaceable. Hey, I could be wrong about him not being not too dominant, but we all know he won't be able to do what he did last year ever again. Shaq's ankles and knees are already starting to go out, as we saw last year when Shaq was having trouble with his knees. He won't be worth no where near what he would be getting paid if they signed a extention now. He'd be getting his usual 20+ mil while being not close to the player he is now. Locking into a center who is getting old less valuable by the year isn't the way to go, but thats just my opinion, and its all up to Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupcheck.
