LOL@Shaq

[MrBug708]

Apparently he wants Dirk to be in Dallas if he's traded there. Not only does he want a pay raise when you are outta shape and havent started your extension yet, now you are dictating what the terms of your trade will be?

Quit being a baby. You make 28 million a year, sorry if the Lakers don't want to pay you anymore than that as is....

[Chubby]

Did he change his 1st name to Dominik?

[MrBug708]

Well, he likens himself to a General Manager since it was his brilliant work that scored them Gary Payton and Karl Malone.

[Philliesfan980]

Well, he likens himself to a General Manager since it was his brilliant work that scored them Gary Payton and Karl Malone.

Getting Payton and Malone was brilliant at the rates they got the both of them for.

[Franklinnoble]

Bah. If Shaq goes to Dallas, it will only be because the Mavericks have grossly overpaid for him, and they will finish much worse than they did this year.

Shaq is making way too much money, and he's just on the wrong end of his career for this trade to make any sense.

[MrBug708]

Bah. If Shaq goes to Dallas, it will only be because the Mavericks have grossly overpaid for him, and they will finish much worse than they did this year.

Shaq is making way too much money, and he's just on the wrong end of his career for this trade to make any sense.

While Finley isn't Kobe, they still have the depth around them that they should do well. Might crap the Top 4 in the Western Conference even!

[Tigercat]

MrBug, amazing how you so quickly turn on the only Laker player that played his hardest and gave a damn throughout the finals.

[MrBug708]

MrBug, amazing how you so quickly turn on the only Laker player that played his hardest and gave a damn throughout the finals.

It's amazing how quickly a player whose been with a team and a city whose loved him only to see him turn once he didn't get his way for a change. Plus there is that money issue. I mean, it's not like he's in the last year of his contract asking for an extension, he's in the first year of his EXTENSION! Obviously he and Kobe don't get along, but do you see Kobe complaining? I'd much rather have Shaq stay in LA and everything be as usual, but he wants out and he's complaining to the media. So much for honoring a contract you signed eh?

[Tigercat]

It's amazing how quickly a player whose been with a team and a city whose loved him only to see him turn once he didn't get his way for a change. Plus there is that money issue. I mean, it's not like he's in the last year of his contract asking for an extension, he's in the first year of his EXTENSION! Obviously he and Kobe don't get along, but do you see Kobe complaining? I'd much rather have Shaq stay in LA and everything be as usual, but he wants out and he's complaining to the media. So much for honoring a contract you signed eh?

And Kobe wouldnt pull the same thing if he was in the same situation? The only difference is that 1) The Management loves Kobe 2) Kobe is younger 3) Shaq is not only the better player, but, again, the guy who actually played his hardest when times were the hardest.

Are you personally handing out the money to either player? Again, given what happened recently, and that Shaq played like a MAN in the last game while others held their heads down, I'm just surprised you would turn on him so quickly.

Sometimes all you have at the end of a game is to have pride in how you played as a player, or as a fan to be proud of the players you cheered on the field/court. Shaq is the one Laker Laker fans had to be proud of. Its a shame that that hasn't at least given him benefit of the doubt until something actually changes.

[Chubby]

It's amazing how quickly a player whose been with a team and a city whose loved him only to see him turn once he didn't get his way for a change. Plus there is that money issue. I mean, it's not like he's in the last year of his contract asking for an extension, he's in the first year of his EXTENSION! Obviously he and Kobe don't get along, but do you see Kobe complaining? I'd much rather have Shaq stay in LA and everything be as usual, but he wants out and he's complaining to the media. So much for honoring a contract you signed eh?


You do realize Kobe voided his contract to be a FA don't you?

Shaq > Kobe but Buss has always favored guards more.

[MrBug708]

Perhaps, but wasn't Larry Brown's theory to stop everyone else and let Shaq do what he wanted to? That's great and all and I think Shaq is worth a lot of money, probably 28 million dollars worth as well, but c'mon, he wants a 7 year extension starting at 29 million a year. I'm not paying for Shaq's contract obviously, but I root for the Lakers and don't want to see what I saw the past 2 years. 2 superstars and a bunch of scrubs playing with Shaq. If we keep Shaq, the franchise is doomed.

Kobe has had PLENTY of chances to complain about everything and anything. He's shown up at games after being on a plane and court for the whole day. He can take those days off and come back when he's rested, but he plays 110% all of the time. Shaq has a hurt calf or injured pinky toe and misses 2 weeks. Kobe has a separated shoulder and plays 2 days later. I guess that shows effort right there. Yes Kobe had a bad finals and we can turn this into a Laker hater thread if we'd like, but it happens. 3 rings worth of efforts gives him the benefit of the doubt.

[MrBug708]

You do realize Kobe voided his contract to be a FA don't you?

Shaq > Kobe but Buss has always favored guards more.

Kobe did void his contract. But if he comes back, it's irrelevant

[Chubby]

Kobe did void his contract. But if he comes back, it's irrelevant

a) if he doesn't the Lakers are screwed. Buss will have backed the wrong horse and lost both stars and his coach/boyfriend-in-law

b) How is Shaq greedy but Kobe isn't?

[jbmagic]

Kobe and fisher Both have option year...they can test the FA..they have that right..there no void in contract...

[Chubby]

Kobe and fisher Both have option year...they can test the FA..they have that right..there no void in contract...

option/void what's the difference? I couldn't think of the right term. Needless to say Kobe didn't take the option and is now a FA.

[MrBug708]

Kobe isn't asking for 30 million a year and shouldn't a Top 5 player in the NBA make around what his peers make? not saying Kobe isn't greedy, but compared to Shaq?

[MrBug708]

Kobe and fisher Both have option year...they can test the FA..they have that right..there no void in contract...

The difference being? Semantics?

[Chubby]

Kobe isn't asking for 30 million a year and shouldn't a Top 5 player in the NBA make around what his peers make? not saying Kobe isn't greedy, but compared to Shaq?
Who is Shaq's peer?

To my knowledge, Kobe hasn't made the NBA change the rules to deal with him.

[Neuqua]

Kobe isn't asking for 30 million a year and shouldn't a Top 5 player in the NBA make around what his peers make?

Kobe isn't asking for 30 million because he can't. The CBA won't allow it, Shaq does have that right however because his contract was grandfathered in.

[MrBug708]

Who is Shaq's peer?

To my knowledge, Kobe hasn't made the NBA change the rules to deal with him.

If Shaq's worth this much money, why isn't ANY team offering this much to him? Or trading other superstars for him....?

[Neuqua]

By the way, I am actually on the side of the Lakers on the Shaq issue, I think he's crazy too demand such a big extention for the years he wants. However, my issue here is that I think Kobe is every bit as selfish, if not more than Shaq is.

[MrBug708]

Shaq knows that if he doesnt get a trade and extension now, when he opts out of his contract after next year, the FA market will give him money, but not a 7 year contract in a few years....

[Chubby]

If Shaq's worth this much money, why isn't ANY team offering this much to him? Or trading other superstars for him....?

That may be because of this tiny thing called a contract he has with the Lakers and something called tampering. Just a guess tho. :D

You didn't answer my question, who is Shaq's peer?

[The_herd]

Well, he likens himself to a General Manager since it was his brilliant work that scored them Gary Payton and Karl Malone.

It was Buss that wanted them after Malone expressed interest in taking a paycut and playing for the Lakers if they could get Payton as well. Buss then asked Shaq to sell them both on the idea. Shaq was told if he can bring them both in that he would "be taken care of" during the season.


Perhaps, but wasn't Larry Brown's theory to stop everyone else and let Shaq do what he wanted to?

Nope. Brown's theroy was not to double anyone and rely on team D. He played both Shaq and Kobe straight up with Wallace and Prince for much of the series. If he was so concerned about Kobe I don't think he would have put Lindsey Hunter on him straight up for a stretch in game 4.


If Shaq's worth this much money, why isn't ANY team offering this much to him? Or trading other superstars for him....?

Chubby touched on this and I've stated this in other threads. There is no way the Lakers will get equal value for Shaq. The economics of the league will not allow it to happen. Plus, no team is going to destroy its future to bring him in. The Lakers aren't in the power position in this situation because everyone knows that its going to be tough to get Shaq and Kobe on the same floor next season.