<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ORLANDO -- Having made it onto Shaquille O'Neal's wish list, the Heat is not getting too carried away with playing fantasy basketball. As dissension between the Lakers and O'Neal seemingly continues to grow, <u>the massive center has made it known that a trade to the Heat would meet with his approval.</u> In position to opt out of his contract after the coming season and therefore leverage a potential trade to a team of his choice, O'Neal has added the Heat to a list that previously included Dallas, Sacramento, Orlando and New Orleans. "I wouldn't make too much of it," Heat General Manager Randy Pfund said as his team opened summer-league play at the Magic's training facility. "Whenever there's a big name that's on the market or a free agent, you always look at the possibilities. But how something could happen like that..." With O'Neal to earn $29.5 million next season, a Heat proposal likely would have to start with power forward Lamar Odom, small forward Caron Butler and shooting guard Eddie Jones or center Brian Grant. "I'm a little hesitant to talk about it specifically," Pfund said. "Let's put it this way, in general, players of that dollar, to get the right combination, I think is pretty hard."</div> Here. I would find a way to do this deal as long as it wouldn't involve Odom or Wade. Shaq for Brian and Eddie plus someone like Caron and then just give them Zhizhi as the icing on the cake.
I don't think this deal would work at all. Why would Eddie Jones go back to the Lakers and also, there is no possible way that the Lakers would want to do this.
No chance in hell if you're not going to include Odom or Wade. Besides, a deal including one of them is pretty hard to pull off. Much harder without them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers have fielded about 17 or 18 offers, narrowed them down to about five or six and are now looking at a deal with the Miami Heat that would include former Clipper Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and probably a first-round draft pick, sources said. Odom is considered a base-year compensation player, meaning only a portion of his $9 million salary for next season is available. But all of it can be used by July 14. Grant makes $13.2 million. The Lakers would like rookie sensation Dwayne Wade, but the Heat won't part with him, sources said. "It's not going to be a fair deal all the way around," a Lakers source said. To make any deal work, the Lakers would have to come within 15 percent plus $100,000 of O'Neal's $27.6 million salary for next season. </div> http://www.pe.com/sports/lakers/stories/PE...q_08.a13af.html After Darko gets his, Wade gets his championship the next year? Would be a nice deal, even though I don't want to part with Odom, this allows for a lot. If we can still swing the Drew Gooden deal with Caron Butler: PG - Wade SG - Jones SF - Butler (Rasual) PF - Gooden C - Shaq if not....... PG - Wade SG - Jones SF - Butler (Caron) PF - Haslem C - Shaq This lineup will definately win some games, first place in the East baby.
I don't know about this... if it doesn't win championships within the first 3 years, the future isn't bright. Shaq will only be in this league for a couple more years before he's done. Odom still has potential to become truly great, and will be in the league for a very long time...
I think it would be a huge mistake. The Heat have an unbelievably talented young nucleus which made the playoffs this pasty season. Not to mention they started the season what? 0-7? And still got the 4th seed in the east, not to mention challenge the #1 seed in the conference semis. Trading for Shaq would ultimately cripple the franchise simply because there are no guarantees to how long Shaq will continue to play, as well as if he would even sign an extension with the Heat in 2 years. The team right now is talented, young, athletic, and hungry to continue past the results of this past season. However, I do believe trading for an inside presence or finding one through free agency would be ideal (someone like Vlade Divac or another Center/Power Forward would be ideal).
Now that Mark Blount is gone, resigned with the Celtics. What do we have left in options for a big man inside? We really need to find one, and he doesn't have to be Oneal.
Etan Thomas and...........E---t--a---n Thomas.. lol Foyle is also gone, and Dampier is too much money, we have no one. I can't watch Brian Grant at center again
Chris Mihm is another option to look at. About Shaq, uhh no thanks. Throwing away emerging superstars in Odom and possibly Butler as well is not worth it.
Well... seriously guys, we need a C badly... another year with a 6-9 C just wont cut it and we wont get past the 2nd round of the playoffs. we desperatly need a big man.
