Shaq Goes to Miami

[GameMaster]

Actual Article (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/basketball/nba/07/14/shaq.heat.trade.ap/index.html?cnn=yes)

Isn't Shaq pretty good? Why would the Lakers trade him? I don't much about the guys they're trading him for though. I do know that Shaq and Kobe haven't been working well together. Oh well, it'll be interesting to see what happens.

[Typhoid]

Isn't Shaq pretty good? Why would the Lakers trade him?


Its all about the money my friend, they need to dump some salary i heard, so they dumped Shaq.

[Fox 6]

I think Shaq also wanted to get out of L.A.

[Acebot44]

They traded Shaq because he wanted out. He hates Buss and Kupchak for firing Phil Jackson (even though Jackson sabotaged contract talk on purpose) and how they handled the team.

Lakers got Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and a first round pick. Plus, they got him out of the western conference. I like this trade because Odom is 24 and has a very bright future as well as Butler, but Grant brings with him a big contract too. I dunno, this is the Best Deal the Lakers could have gotten and I have to stay positive even though I doubt they will get back to the championship in a few years.

To put it simply; The Lakers did this for the next 10 years. I don't know what they are going to look like (Kobe and Fisher not resigning, Payton being traded, Malone retireing, George and Fox having surgery) at the beginning of the season, but I'm happy that I can no longer be called a Bandwagoner cus I'm a Laker fan :D

They'll get to the playoffs.

[Joeiss]

They are going to get their asses handed to them in the post. They probably have the worst 4 and 5 positions out of the contenders in the west. The Miami Heat will have a better record next year than the Lakers. Shaq will dominate the shrimp forwards of the East, and Wade will back him up.

[Acebot44]

Fisher, Malone, Horry, and Payton have been said to be interested in playing for the Heat :p The Heat's Division is the worst is the League but they seem to be the Best team in the East, no doubt.

It's still the off-season though, and there is still a chance that Malone will be back next year ( :-o ). Also, I'm pretty sure the Lakers are out to get either Theo Ratliff or Erick Dampier or another big man.. Both are good centers and strong defensive players which is mainly what the Lakers need in their new system. Also, Grant aint too bad.

Plus, they can ship Payton off cus he wants his contract to be bought out, so trading would be smarter. Butler and George are also vulnerable to being traded, but with George's current condition he's not much of a prize.

[TheGame]

They'll get to the playoffs.

If Kobe doesn't re-sign they won't be going to the playoffs.

Though this off season has made the east more competitive, and the west less competitive, there is no way I see them getting past:

-Rockets
-Kings
-Mavricks
-Phoenix
-Sacremento

Without Kobe... think about it, this off season has basicly been lakers building there team around players who lead weak team in the weak conference.

[Fox 6]

I thought Kobe was going to the L.A. Clippers? Either that or the prison team.

[Joeiss]

He is either going to the Clippers or the Lakers... He hasn't decided yet.

[Perfect Stu]

the Lakers aquired some incredible depth, though...if they can snatch a widebody then they'll still be a playoff contender (if Kobe resigns)

Miami will be good...excellent PG and C combo, which is RARE in the east. Detroit's still the team to beat in the east though

[Acebot44]

Kobe Stays (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1840336)

[dropCGCF]

Thank God, Vlade Divac can finally rightfully claim the championship that is his.

[Acebot44]

^^With The Lakers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1842289) :D .

I see them as legitimate contenders now.