s_knight8

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-hyde11jul11,1,1978619.story?coll=la-head
lines-sports

On a sports morning to consider the shimmering future, but before we go
awash in superlatives, let's remember our manners. Let's do what's right.
Let's say thanks to those who put Shaquille O'Neal in Heat colors.

Thank you, Kobe Bryant, for being such an oppressive egoist that your desire
to throw Shaq overboard overcame your desire to keep winning titles.

Thank you, Laker owner Jerry Buss, for taking Kobe's side.

Thank you, Maverick owner Mark Cuban, for not including Dirk Nowitzki in
your trade proposal (though it probably wouldn't have mattered).

On Friday, gambling that this trade might happen, a friend of mine bought
two more season tickets. He beat the rush, as well as any increase in
prices. He feels like a lottery winner. Don't all sports fans in South
Florida today?

The Lakers' loss is the Heat's joy.

It's difficult to know what to say right now, except these two words:

Thank you.

joeg

LATIMES never got on Shaq's bad side because he was their INSIDE SOURCE
.... now their pissed they lossed their inside source...

jc martin

I don't see that given cap restrictions that Kobe and Shaq could have
continued to win championships. The Lekers no loger had the talent,
chemistry or psychology for it. Kobe is simply the best choice to keep
around and build a team around. Shaq has bettered Kobe career-wise, but
his lack of conditioning and age has made the Lakers decision a lot easier.

-JC

ken1959

Cuban was the smart one, and so were the Lakers in this trade. The Heat
gave up waaay tooo much. Yes, you build about Kobie. He 10 years younger?

What happens to the Heat when Shaq's body can't handle the punishment and
beging to break down further? He's already starting to miss more and more
games each season.

I would have supported the deal if Caon was left out if it. The Heat gave
up way too much youth in my opinion.

Ken

drg_75@pacbell.net

I agree that the Lakers probably wouldn't have won anymore
championships with Shaq and Kobe because they wouldn't be able to get
any help. But they had a much better chance of winning a championship
with those two on the floor than with only one of them, especially if
all they could get for Shaq was what they got. Plus, I really wanted
to see Shaq retire as a Laker. But if I had to choose, I would have
picked Kobe, even if he's the one forcing the decision.

dan

ken1959 <finfan1972@hotmail.com> scribbled:

he's played the same amount of games each of the last 3 seasons..

He's actuality only had 5 seasons, out of 12, where he's played over 70
seasons (well, 6, if you extrapolate the 50 game season). Since his best
overal season, (99-00..man he was a beast) he hasn't had a complete season,
but the # of games he's played have been the same

--

"if the women don't find you handsome, you haven't bought them enough
beer."

alson wong

Bzzzzt. If you look at the article's byline, you'll see that it was written
by Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

alson wong

The only way the Lakers could have kept Shaq would have been to sign him to
a maximum extension. This probably would force Kobe to leave, and would cap
out the Lakers until Shaq aged into his late 30s, making it nearly
impossible to rebuild.

chainsaw

Waay too much? You're nuts. The Heat are the clear
winners in this trade. They acquire a HOF'er for three
players none of whom have ever even been an AllStar.

The Lakers took it up the ass in this trade, and
they'll regret it this season.


I think you'll find that this coming season, Shaq will play
with a fierceness and purpose that he hasn't shown the last couple seasons.

Getting a great center is the hardest thing to do. Odom
and Butler are much more easily replaceable.

Next season the Heat's starting lineup could
look like:

Shaq
Eddie Jones
Dwayne Wade
Haslem
Rasual Butler

....and this is subject to improvement if they are able
to land, oh I dunno, Karl Malone with the MLE?

charlie board

About $30 million of cap room happens?