<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Representatives of Shaquille O'Neal and the Heat met in Miami on Friday to begin negotiations on a new contract. The Heat want to move O'Neal's annual salary to the low-to-mid $20 million range. That's a steep decrease from the $30 million he is due next season under his current contract but one that would be made up in an extension of four or five years. Barring a quick settlement, negotiations are expected to continue on the West Coast either this weekend or the following.</div> Source This could get interesting, the Lakers offered Shaq $29Million, and he turned it down. Now the Heat are trying to pay Shaq even less.
Saw this one coming. Eventhough Miami took Shaq in and said they were going to pay him the money he wanted, I knew once the extention talk came around they'd try to low ball him. Now it's time to wait and see if he blows up on the Heat like he did with L.A..
I'm extremely thrown back by this. Weren't the Heat planning on making him the highest paid player per season a while ago? I do not see Shaq backing down from the money amount he wants he did not do it for Los Angeles were he won three titles, and he will not do it for Miami. If he flip-flops on the money amount he is asking for I will lose respect for him, because he will become to a certain point a hypocrite within his own right from the way he did the Lakers.
Shaq's got a great chance to win a championship in Miami next year. I think it's more about him winning more than the money this point in his career. He's already set for life. I expect him to take the pay cut.
He didnt even want to be in LA. He loves Miami so im pretty sure he will take the pay cut. he will probably say "I love to play here so i dont mind".
ya shaq love it here no matter how much they pay him, also if shaq leaves just for money you dont understand THIS CITY WILL GO PHYSCO. If shaq were to leave Miami there wouldnt be 1 person in miami who would respect him
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">ya shaq love it here no matter how much they pay him, also if shaq leaves just for money you dont understand THIS CITY WILL GO PHYSCO. If shaq were to leave Miami there wouldnt be 1 person in miami who would respect him</div> Exactly, if he does leave us for the money, i will have to apologize to all the Shaq haters and join them. Let's see what answer we get from him.
This offers Shaq some contractual security in promising four or five years. Honestly, in four or five years, Shaq will have fallen off significantly. So in the long run this may hurt the Heat, but they are willing to take that risk for the direct reward of a championship. If this doesn't workout, I'm wondering which team will be able to take up Shaq's huge salary and/or offer him a long term deal. Cause while every team may want him, only a select few are viable options.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Saw this one coming. Eventhough Miami took Shaq in and said they were going to pay him the money he wanted, I knew once the extention talk came around they'd try to low ball him. Now it's time to wait and see if he blows up on the Heat like he did with L.A..</div> Exactly. I cant wait to see what he decides to do. When he left the Lakers, they still had a championship team that could have won the following year. He left because he didnt get the contract he wanted. Lets see with Miami. Miami can win it all next year, but will he go with the huge paycut? haha.
Shaq didn't win this year, so he doesn't deserve the big bucks, he is getting older and should sacrifice some dough and stay with the Heat.
I don't get why he cares about the dough.. I mean he' slaready set for life and 8 million is liek nothing for the big fella... I'd cry if I was offered half a million! LOL. I know he'll stay, he loves D-Wade, and he hated Kobe. He didn't leave the Lakeshow b/c of the money he left cause PJ left and Kobe was there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hungi1115:</div><div class="quote_post">btw, why was my post deleted</div> Because it was baiting.
Hungi you never stop with the stupid posts. Now back to the topic at hand. I thin Shaq should and will take a pay cut to stay here. Both he and the Heat have said that they want to keep him there so hopefully it will all work out.
My guess is they'll offer him something else in compensation, something along the lines of a future front office job or part ownership. Pat Riley is gonna do everything he can to keep and get the most out of Shaq.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't get why he cares about the dough.. I mean he' slaready set for life and 8 million is liek nothing for the big fella... I'd cry if I was offered half a million! LOL. I know he'll stay, he loves D-Wade, and he hated Kobe. He didn't leave the Lakeshow b/c of the money he left cause PJ left and Kobe was there.</div> I agree, Shaq is set for life and should take a paycut or sign on for less years to give the Heat a chance to win in the future with Wade or Wright. If Shaq is willing to take a massive paycut the Heat have a chance to bring in a stronger supporting cast and give Shaq the opportunity to win 1 or 2 more rings. I think a 1 year deal at $30Million should be offered and if he can bring the title to Miami they agree to extend him another 2 years at $30Million.
If Shaq does not take this paycut I will lose even more respect for him. He is set for life and money should not be an option for him. If he loves Miami like he claims to, he will take the paycut to win. I don't see him leaving Miami, but I could see him sitting out until they did settle on a contract. Whatever happens, Miami's future is still bright no matter what with Dwyane Wade. I think they will dish Shaq 26 mill because they want that title immediately, but I don't see them winning it if the Pistons don't change their lineup, and the same for the Spurs.
