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The W - Basketball - What's next for the Lakers?
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ekedolphin
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Since: 12.1.02
From: Indianapolis, IN; now residing in Suffolk, VA

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#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.52
In this article, SI.com's Jack McCallum theorizes about the future of the Lakers.

I think it's a given that Shaq will be back, considering the fact that the Lakers probably couldn't trade him with his massive contract. Certainly they couldn't get fair value for him.

Phil Jackson, I would guess, probably won't be back... but where does this leave Kobe? It's been widely speculated that if Phil leaves, Kobe will stay... but I thought Kobe and Shaq were tired of being on the same team together.

I, for one, think it would be a hoot if Kobe signed with the Clippers.

But what about Karl Malone? Gary Payton? Derek Fisher? Hell, will half the team be different next year? Anyway... what are you guys' thoughts?

(edited by ekedolphin on 16.6.04 1653)


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Since: 10.8.02
From: Queen's University, Canada

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#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.19
Karl Malone is a good guy to have around, but Gary Payton is useless for what this team wants. If they were the Atlanta Hawks where just winning a couple more games would be an achievement, Payton would be fine if they got him at a good price. But for a team that wants to win championships, and can reasonably expect to do so, Gary Payton is not the guy to play the point. He was shown up against the Spurs, and he looked like he was standing still more often than not against the Pistons. He's a handicap against better teams, and that's not what a contender needs, name value or otherwise.

What I've heard about Kobe is that he's likely to leave regardless of what happens with Jackson because he and Shaq don't get along and he wants a team where he can be The Man, no questions asked. The Clippers are a team I've heard discussed more than once. They have the cap room, they have good players (Brand, Maggette) to compliment Kobe but who aren't established enough that they'd bring his role into question, and they're still in LA which seems to be a bigger sticking point on whether or not to opt out, moreso than whether he wants to be a Laker or not.

Whether or not Kobe leaves, this team has a lot of work to do. The Finals showed clearly that this is a two man team. And while those two men may have come close this year, take away one of those two and there's not much left. Really, if you take Kobe away and assume Payton won't be back, this team is no better than Shaq had when he first came to Orlando...except now Shaq himself is older, slower, and more injury prone. They need a bench. Hell, they need some starters too. As long as they have Shaq they'll be competitive, but in a lot of ways they'll be building from scratch for next year.



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rockdotcom_2.0
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Since: 9.1.02
From: Virginia Beach Va

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#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.49
Im surprised Nobody has mentioned Kobes impending RAPE trial? I figure that hes basically untouchable until that is resolved. Why would you sign a guy that could possibly been in in six months?



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Battlezone
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Since: 27.2.03
From: Seattle, Washington

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#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.39
The Coach: Phil's gone, I think that much is for certain. He'll take a year off and wind up with the Knicks. Jerry Buss will start sending truckloads (and likely draft picks) down to New Orleans to try and get Byron Scott.

The Superstar: Shaq isn't going anywhere, I don't think. Chad Ford over at ESPN Insider seems to think that he might make trade bait, but there's few teams that can afford him. Worse, as Ford points out:

    Originally posted by Chad Ford, ESPN Insider
    If Bryant leaves without compensation, Malone, Payton and Fisher will follow. The Lakers will be left with O'Neal, a bunch of role players and no cap room to sign a top-flight free agent. At that point they'll be forced to trade O'Neal, but his value will plummet as every team in the league tries to cash in on the fire sale.


The Hall of Famers: Karl will think about retiring this summer, but will make one more go of it. I have no clue where, as I don't think he'll be back. Payton will probably be back, because I don't think anyone's going to want to pay him what he wants. Plus, with Phil gone, he might get a chance to run the point the way HE wants to.

The X-Factor: Kobe has until the end of June to declare for free agency. But the trial will keep anybody from touching him until it's closer to conclusion, and who knows how long that will be. I don't think he'll go to the Clippers, because he's still competing with Shaq to be The Man, but I don't think he'll go to a smaller market like Memphis, which I've also heard. He wants to be Jordan so damn bad, why doesn't he go up to Chicago? I'm sure they'd LOVE him up there.



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BOSsportsfan34
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Since: 2.1.03
From: MA

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#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.72
    Originally posted by Battlezone
    The X-Factor: Kobe has until the end of June to declare for free agency. But the trial will keep anybody from touching him until it's closer to conclusion, and who knows how long that will be. I don't think he'll go to the Clippers, because he's still competing with Shaq to be The Man, but I don't think he'll go to a smaller market like Memphis, which I've also heard. He wants to be Jordan so damn bad, why doesn't he go up to Chicago? I'm sure they'd LOVE him up there.


I'd say Memphis could be a possibility. While they aren't under the cap enough, they could do a sign-and-trade. Jerry West traded for Kobe once before, can he do it again?



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Kawshen
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Since: 2.1.02
From: Bronx, NY

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#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.41
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5236840/

c&p'ed from another board...
1) First priority is the coaching position. Hope to address it within the next few days to weeks....a little contradiction to Phil who said he'll give management a decision by July 1st. Sounds like Doc Buss and Kupchak have been planning for a while now.

2) Plans to keep Kobe. Will not even consider doing a sign and trade. If Kobe wants out, then he leaves on his own.

3) SHAQ....Kupchak supposedly really danced around the issue of trading Shaq. Saying Shaq has a say in what he wants the organization to do.

(Frosty informed me of wording it wrong. Sorry about that.)

(edited by Kawshen on 18.6.04 0006)


Roy.
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Since: 25.2.04
From: Keystone State

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#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.71


He's the most dominating big man in the NBA, but who's going to want to give up the house for him? Questionable conditioning, questionable motives, and cranky. Plus, the guy's liable to up and retire in a year or two. Whoever gets him better get a steal, because I don't think that giving up young stars and prospects for Shaq is a smart move.



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Big Bad
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Since: 4.1.02
From: Dorchester, Ontario

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#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.51
I think Bill Simmons put it best about Shaq....he's the most indispensable player in the NBA because the Lakers know that if they ever dealt him or cast him away (ESPECIALLY in favour of Kobe), then Shaq would dedicate the rest of his career to busting his ass and getting back in prime form just so he could destroy and humiliate L.A. on a regular basis.



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Quezzy
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Since: 6.1.02
From: Pittsburgh, PA

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#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.20
    Originally posted by Big Bad
    I think Bill Simmons put it best about Shaq....he's the most indispensable player in the NBA because the Lakers know that if they ever dealt him or cast him away (ESPECIALLY in favour of Kobe), then Shaq would dedicate the rest of his career to busting his ass and getting back in prime form just so he could destroy and humiliate L.A. on a regular basis.


So trade him to the East, you'll face him twice a season, but not have to worry about getting eliminated from the playoffs unless it's in the Finals, and that might never happen.

If I were Fisher, i'd get out of there why the getting is good, he's won 3 titles, and while Kobe and Shaq were the superstars Fisher was a very significant part of it, so he should feel good about his career to this point but move on knowing that this is the end. If Fisher was to leave, then maybe the Lakers try and persaude Payton to stay? Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with Payton.


Are there any big free agents this year for the Lakers to go after if they see their team fall apart?




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BigVitoMark
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Since: 10.8.02
From: Queen's University, Canada

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#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.18
I don't think it's a matter of whether the free agents are out there, it's what the Lakers have in cap room that is the issue. Shaq's contract is huge, and losing Malone and Payton (if Payton goes too) isn't going to open much space. Even if Bryant goes they won't be able to bring back equal value with the room that they have. Speculation is already starting that this could be a pretty lean year for the Lakers, and I think if they're going to make another run they're going to have to find more guys willing to do like Malone and Payton and take contracts well below market value for the chance to play with Shaq and contend.



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Roy.
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Since: 25.2.04
From: Keystone State

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#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.71
http://sports.espn.go.com/ nba/news/story?id=1824691

Phil's gone, Kobe opted out, and Shaq's apparently so mad that he's requested a trade. I didn't think that would happen.



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Kawshen
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Since: 2.1.02
From: Bronx, NY

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#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.41
As of 10PM EDT (from ESPN):

- Phil Jackson is no longer the Head Coach of the Lakers but offered another position in the organization (unknown at this time).
- Shaq wants out and has requested to be traded.
- Kobe has opted out.

(edited by Kawshen on 18.6.04 2203)



ekedolphin
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Since: 12.1.02
From: Indianapolis, IN; now residing in Suffolk, VA

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#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.52
And with that, we're apparently looking at the end of the fourth Lakers dynasty. I count the other three as being the George Mikan Era, the Wilt Chamberlain/Jerry West/Elgin Baylor era, the Showtime Era, and now the Shaq and Kobe Era.

The hell of it is... they're just two championships away from tying the record of their historical rivals, the Boston Celtics. But the Lakers might very well reach post-MJ-Bulls levels of ineptitude, especially if all four of the Lakers' future Hall of Famers don't return.

Granted, I can't think of a scenario in which Shaq could possibly be traded, what with his massive cap number and uncertain future.



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Jaguar
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Since: 23.1.02
From: In a Blue State finally

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#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.87
Don't the Bobcats have some special deal with contracts they get traded?

-Jag





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Since: 10.8.02
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#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.18
I think Shaq would rather be miserable on a lesser Lakers team that at least is in LA than play for a horrible expansion team in Charlotte, NC. But that's just a guess.



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BOSsportsfan34
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Since: 2.1.03
From: MA

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#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.71
    Originally posted by ekedolphin
    And with that, we're apparently looking at the end of the fourth Lakers dynasty. I count the other three as being the George Mikan Era, the Wilt Chamberlain/Jerry West/Elgin Baylor era, the Showtime Era, and now the Shaq and Kobe Era.

    The hell of it is... they're just two championships away from tying the record of their historical rivals, the Boston Celtics. But the Lakers might very well reach post-MJ-Bulls levels of ineptitude, especially if all four of the Lakers' future Hall of Famers don't return.

    Granted, I can't think of a scenario in which Shaq could possibly be traded, what with his massive cap number and uncertain future.


I wouldn't call the Wilt/West/Baylor era a "dynasty". They only won 1 title, and I think Baylor had already retired by then.



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Since: 6.1.02
From: Pittsburgh, PA

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#17 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.20
There were rumors of Kobe going to the Magic for McGrady, is it possible to trade Shaq instead? Do the contracts not work out? Does SHaq not want to go back to Orlando? Do they not want him back?

ANyway, if Kobe is gone and Shaq some how gets traded and they both end up in the East, along with the Pistons win, will that make the East the better conference again?



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Kawshen
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Since: 2.1.02
From: Bronx, NY

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#18 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.41
Shaq is a tad upset at the Laker organization.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ nba/columns/story?id=1824721




ekedolphin
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Since: 12.1.02
From: Indianapolis, IN; now residing in Suffolk, VA

Since last post: 490 days
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#19 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.52
I think it'd be cool (and bizarre) to see Shaq in a Magic uniform once more, particularly on nights in which they bust out the ol' pinstripes.

But Quez, you've gotta be crazy if you think Orlando's gonna trade T-Mac for Shaq. I think Shaq has already reached his full potential (which don't get me wrong, is extraordinary), but T-Mac has yet to find out how high he can go. Shaq's on the downturn of his career; T-Mac's only gonna be get better.

No way can I imagine Orlando giving up McGrady for the chance to re-acquire O'Neal. Unless the Magic really are as stupid as recent years have led many to believe.

Nope... if anyone gets McGrady, I think (and hope) that it'll be the Pacers. The Pacers have got such an extraordinarily deep team now that they can stand to trade two or three guys to acquire McGrady and still have a very solid backup corps.

Make it so, Larry and Donnie!



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Since: 19.6.04
From: Illinois

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#20 Posted on | Instant Rating: 0.00
Does anyone think that Kobe and Shaq and Phil will go to Chicago,I saw a magizine that said,Shaq in Chicago.And Shaq said he wants Phil as a coach. Could it be?


Chicago will live again!!!!!!!!!!!



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