The Fall of the Lakers

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1824691

Jackson - Said he is done

Shaq - has demanded trade

Kobe - opted out of this contract and will be free agent

:lol:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1824691

Jackson - Said he is done

Shaq - has demanded trade

Kobe - opted out of this contract and will be free agent

:lol:

Beat me to it :mad:

I can't believe how fragile some of their egos are; Payton whined all year, even though he knew what kind of offense Jackson plays, Shaq whines regardless, and who knows what Kobe really whats. Retool a little bit here and there, and the team would still be a contender, but instead they can't seem to want to get out of town fast enough.

I can't believe how fragile some of their egos are; Payton whined all year, even though he knew what kind of offense Jackson plays, Shaq whines regardless, and who knows what Kobe really whats. Retool a little bit here and there, and the team would still be a contender, but instead they can't seem to want to get out of town fast enough.
well, an offence built around malone and Payton isnt bad. But I think the Lakers will fight for the last playoff spot. Kobe is likely going to phoenix next year, and along with Marion and Staudamire will create the most exciting offence in the nba.

I wouldn't be so sure Kobe's leaving. No one can offer more money than LA, and at this point money has to be a big factor for him. He has no endorsements left, he's had to buy $4 million gifts to keep his wife in line, and she STILL might leave him and take another good chunk of change. There's no way he'll play somewhere for the veterans' exception (it'd take him 2 years of salary just to pay off the one gift). And the only teams with cap room pretty much suck, and they still can't give him more money than LA. It just doesn't make much sense for him to leave.

As for Shaq, I'm sorry but if you go by the salary cap rules, there's not even that many POSSIBLE trades allowed, nevermind ones that the Lakers would even consider. Mostly, the only trades possible are ones for superstars that aren't going anywhere, or multiple ridiculously overpaid scrubs that the Lakers would never take for Shaq in a million years.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1824691

Jackson - Said he is done

Shaq - has demanded trade

Kobe - opted out of this contract and will be free agent

:lol:

omg :amazed:

If both Kobe and Shaq go, I'll put money that T-Mac ends up in a Lakers uniform.

The only way Kobe stays with Los Angeles is if Shaq leaves. Kobe is tired of being second banana to Shaq, and wants to prove that he can lead a team without him.

Unfortunately for him, I seriously doubt that he can.

Fischer and Payton can opt out too. There's two starters right there. Despite Fischer on the bench this year, he still was the starter on a championship team before Payton arrived.

Hmm....Toronto needs a coach, a big centre and Kobe. :banana:

Hmm....Toronto needs a coach, a big centre and Kobe. :banana:
you'd have to mortgage the entire state of ontario to get those trio...LOL! :D

Kobe will be a Laker next season.Shaq will also.Malone will retire and Payton can go to Memphis,because Payton is a whining punk.

you'd have to mortgage the entire state of ontario to get those trio...LOL! :D

So Ontario is part of the US now?

He's going to Dallas.

They have a ton of contracts to offer the Lakers.

Something like two of Jamison, Dirk, and Walker works under the cap.

Fischer and Payton can opt out too. There's two starters right there. Despite Fischer on the bench this year, he still was the starter on a championship team before Payton arrived.

id let Fischer be the starter....Payton looked pretty old by the time the finals ended.

Well the way I see it, is that if both Shaq and Kobe go then I would bet they go after AI and TMac. I wonder what it would take to get Shaq though. That would have to be one helluva of a trade, so they would probably get something very good back in return. They could very easily have a brand new starting 5 next year :eek:

A Shaq/T-Mac trade would seem to make the most sense.

Not possible under cap rules. Orlando would need to throw in significantly more salary. Which might include contracts LA would be unwilling to take, so you can see the problem with trading big-salaried players. To get reasonable value talent wise, workable cap numbers, and bearable contract lengths ... it's very difficult.

For future reference, you can check trade possibilities here:

http://www1.realgm.com/src_tradechecker.php

So going by that, it would appear the only possible deal would be Hill and T-Mac for Shaq and possibly a guy like Malone. Am I wrong?


Malone exercised his option...he's a UFA.

He's going to Dallas.

They have a ton of contracts to offer the Lakers.

Something like two of Jamison, Dirk, and Walker works under the cap.

Dirk is the only real untouchable we have here in Dallas. But I'd do 2 out of Jamison, Walker, Finley for Shaq in a hearbeat.

good

good

Thanks for your well informed input :dunno:

Kobe is not going anywhere. He needs to be somewhere in the limelight, and the Lakers have basically done everything he wants so that he'll stay. Jackson is gone, Shaq will probably follow soon (they'll make a deal, he'll restructure a little to adjust cap numbers).

Where's he gonna go? Look who has cap room. Utah? Atlanta? the Clippers?

Phoenix might be a good fit if he wanted to leave.

But since he's going to stay...

LAKERS FANS: If you were Jerry Buss or Mitch Kupchak and had to move one of Shaq or Kobe (with their current contracts), who would you move and who would you keep?

LAKERS FANS: If you were Jerry Buss or Mitch Kupchak and had to move one of Shaq or Kobe (with their current contracts), who would you move and who would you keep?

You keep both!...and re-tool around them.If one has to go?...then Shaq,as he is the older of the two.

Dirk is the only real untouchable we have here in Dallas. But I'd do 2 out of Jamison, Walker, Finley for Shaq in a hearbeat.

of course you would,it would take Nowitzki for Shaq.Shaq is probably the most dominant player in the game.

of course you would,it would take Nowitzki for Shaq.Shaq is probably the most dominant player in the game.

yes, but only for the next one or two years tops. He's getting old, and it showed in the playoffs...he's not the dominant player that he was 3 years ago.

I'd keep Kobe, trade Shaq, and build a team around Kobe and Shaq's return. In addition to T-Mac, I hear Steve Francis might be available, the Lakers really need a point guard.

yes, but only for the next one or two years tops. He's getting old, and it showed in the playoffs...he's not the dominant player that he was 3 years ago.

I'd keep Kobe, trade Shaq, and build a team around Kobe and Shaq's return. In addition to T-Mac, I hear Steve Francis might be available, the Lakers really need a point guard.


T-Mac for Francis sounds good for both teams....T-Mac and Yao sounds like another version of Kobe and Shaq.

of course you would,it would take Nowitzki for Shaq.Shaq is probably the most dominant player in the game.

Remember that there are very few teams out there that have the talent/contracts to afford to trade for Shaq. That team also almost certainly need an owner willing to pay the luxury tax. I can tell you there is no way in hell Dirk is gonna get traded, unless its for Michael Jordan in his prime, and we all know that doesnt exist. Im sure the Lakers would be interested in something like Walker and Jamison for Shaq for 2 reasons. Jamison is a great player, and would get 20 pointss a game in La. Walker is a pretty damn good player as well, and his contract is up after this year, giving them salary cap space to go after someone like McGrady.

Remember that there are very few teams out there that have the talent/contracts to afford to trade for Shaq. That team also almost certainly need an owner willing to pay the luxury tax. I can tell you there is no way in hell Dirk is gonna get traded, unless its for Michael Jordan in his prime, and we all know that doesnt exist. Im sure the Lakers would be interested in something like Walker and Jamison for Shaq for 2 reasons. Jamison is a great player, and would get 20 pointss a game in La. Walker is a pretty damn good player as well, and his contract is up after this year, giving them salary cap space to go after someone like McGrady.

Actually, if they took on those contracts, they wouldn't have cap room even after Walker leaves, they'd still likely be well over it. Walker's a selfish gunner who plays no defense and shoots like crap. Jamsion's an okay player, but far from, "great."

Considering how few true centers there are in the league, if that's all the Lakers could get they'd be better off letting Shaq walk next year and having all that cap space.

Dare I even suggest the Clippers then become the better LA team???

Actually, if they took on those contracts, they wouldn't have cap room even after Walker leaves, they'd still likely be well over it. Walker's a selfish gunner who plays no defense and shoots like crap. Jamsion's an okay player, but far from, "great."

Considering how few true centers there are in the league, if that's all the Lakers could get they'd be better off letting Shaq walk next year and having all that cap space.

They HAVE to take on contracts that add up to about 30 million..what Shaq makes. Its in the CBA.

The fall of the Lakers started the day Jerry West walked away. This is just the end result.

The fall of the Lakers started the day Jerry West walked away. This is just the end result.


Yes, sir.


And Jerry West said he doesn't want Kobe.


Phil Jackson will eventually end up in Dallas because Mark Cuban could throw all kinds of money at him, and then sign a contract.

Shaq will end up somewhere in the east.

Kobe will re-sign with the Lakers.

Yeah they are not going to let Kobe leave.

They HAVE to take on contracts that add up to about 30 million..what Shaq makes. Its in the CBA.

Yes I know that. The point is that since they'll be stuck with a huge contract anyway, why would they want to use that cap space on a couple of overrated one-way players who have longer contracts than Shaq? Better to spend it on Shaq for one more year, and then when he leaves they'll have the cap space to spend money on whoever they want, because they sure as hell could sign someone better than Walker. And that's assuming Shaq leaves, because how many teams are going to have the cap space to sign him to a max contract next year anyway?