Most enlightening Shaq article ever

ialsohaveadream · 06-19-2004, 10:16 PM

I'd never even heard of Tom Friend (the author), but this is David Aldridge-level stuff. Some excerpts:

Quote:

They should appreciate the fact that he didn't rip Kobe's head off this year. Think about it. Bryant called Shaq "fat" before the season. He said that Shaq begs out of games with mysterious injuries and that if he leaves the franchise, it'll be because of the big fella.

Shaq, somehow, never retaliated. When Kobe was late for meetings all year and late for practices, Shaq never said anything. When Kobe had his own mysterious injury [the sliced finger], Shaq kept his mouth shut. When Kobe wouldn't shoot that day in Sacramento, Shaq didn't say a word.

And the reason is, he'd promised Malone and Payton back in November he'd stay off Kobe's case.

"[The rift] didn't flare up again, because I promised Karl and Gary and all my other teammates," Shaq said. "I was advised to be the bigger man. To be corporate. Because he's already going through a delicate situation [in Eagle, Colo.] and I don't want to add to it. So I said, 'Just be the bigger man.' I'm big. I'm corporate.

Funny, because it's true....

Quote:

"I could score 40 every night. If I shot the mother------ all the time. But you've got to keep Rick Fox involved, because you're gonna need Rick. You've got to keep D-Fish [Derek Fisher] warm. You've got to keep all these guys warm."

The writer loses some credibility with this part (because Grant Hill's contract + Juwan Howard's contract = about 65% of Shaq's contract)....

Quote:

And Orlando is the only place that makes sense. Orlando has the first overall pick to dangle, and a ton of other No. 1 picks to add to the package. Orlando has huge contracts to send back to make the deal work, like Grant Hill's and Juwan Howard's. Orlando is the place where Shaq still owns a home, and if Shaq comes, trust me, Tracy McGrady will rescind his trade request. This is the trade Shaq wants.

The article gave me newfound respect for Shaq. Ok, big fella....you can come home to Orlando now....if you can find a way.

slaus · 06-19-2004, 11:03 PM

27 million dollars is going to be tough to match. I wonder what happens if the Lakers dont grant his request to be traded. Do they play this out and let Shaq walk when he opts out? Its almsot better than getting junk in return.

CornMonkey · 06-20-2004, 02:58 AM

Shaq and TMac want to go to Dallas

if shaq gets his way, he's going to go to the MAVS...and he's taking tmac with him. i wouldn't mind having dirk here to LA.

drama...so much drama.

M_A_C · 06-20-2004, 06:40 AM

I would love to see Shaq come to the Nuggets to compliment Mello, but I don't know how that could happen.

ialsohaveadream · 06-20-2004, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornMonkey

Shaq and TMac want to go to Dallas

if shaq gets his way, he's going to go to the MAVS...and he's taking tmac with him. i wouldn't mind having dirk here to LA.

drama...so much drama.

That's probably one of the few places that Shaq COULD be traded to. The Mavs have a ton of bloated contracts they could trade, sorta like the Knicks....but at least the Mavs players have talent.

And Shaq would definitely be treated like a king by Mark Cuban. Cuban treats his players right.

redcolours · 06-20-2004, 08:20 AM

holy crap...shaq and T-Mac in Dallas? yeah, i too can somewhat see that happening, with Mark Cuban at the helm. he has enough money and guts to try ANYTHING crazy like that. IF (and only IF) that happens, i wonder if they can keep finley, nowitzki, walker, and nash. outside shooters that can be complimented with more game in the paint can be lethal.
but then again it can be another Laker scenario: great players in one team with a huge promise in the beginning, totally crumbling in the end.

ialsohaveadream · 06-20-2004, 09:30 AM

If I were Cuban, I'd ditch Finley and Walker and possibly Jamison in a hurry. Then just pick up a few role players to fill in the gaps, and you're golden.

Mike_N_Ike · 06-20-2004, 01:04 PM

Yeah I always thought Shaq was an integral part of that team in that he was a team leader. I was really hoping that they'd give more priority to Shaq than to Kobe when the time came, but I guess that's not going to happen.

Showtime · 06-20-2004, 03:59 PM

Look at this. How many people here who said Shaq was overated and only bullied his way are now hoping he joins their team.

Wonder if we can swing a trade for Yao....

It's too bad it has come to this, but rebuilding and doing it quickly will be exciting. I was hoping for Riley to come back, but his contract stipulates 10 seasons for his 20% stake in the Heat. He just finished year 9. Phil was gone, not just because of Kobe, but also because of his coaching or lack of coaching in the Finals.

If Shaq goes, more power to him. I just hope he gets as much money as he asked for here. If he takes less than what he says he's worth I'd be surprised. We really could of used a decent back up PF/center last couple of seasons. But no $$$ cuz of the cap.

I can't wait to see how this unfolds.

-jel

slaus · 06-20-2004, 04:05 PM

I dont think Houston would move Yao given he's over 10 years younger than Shaq. Plus the contracts dont match up at all since Yao is still on his rookie contract and Shaq's cap number is close to 28 million. I dont think the Rockets are saddled with that many bad contracts.

BTW, no one in this thread hoped he joined their team. No one said they were a Mavericks fan and thats really the only team thats been brought up

ialsohaveadream · 06-20-2004, 04:34 PM

I said he could come home to Orlando, but I'm a Heat fan.

And Riles is ours, jel.

kei2 · 06-22-2004, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slaus

BTW, no one in this thread hoped he joined their team. No one said they were a Mavericks fan and thats really the only team thats been brought up

In another thread somebody mentioned that it's always better to trade away a player a year early than a year late... the converse is true in this case too: it'd be worse to trade for a player a year early than a year late. Shaq claims he has 7-8 good years left, but I think that's closer to 2 years. He's not really trying to slim down, which will continue to present him with lower body problems (big toe etc.). He's a good player, still dominant at this point, but his contract is huge. What team would want to clear all its cap space just for one big man? I'm glad the Warriors aren't trying to find a way to bring him here. I'd much rather they figure a way to get McGrady here or something. Not that it'd make us into a winning franchise, but it'd be much more entertaining.

06-20-2004, 06:40 AM	#4
M_A_C Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, CO, USA Posts: 1,391	I would love to see Shaq come to the Nuggets to compliment Mello, but I don't know how that could happen. __________________ Meatwad make the moneys SEE! Meatwad get the honeys G!

06-20-2004, 08:20 AM	#6
redcolours in living colour Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: above a raging c Posts: 1,739	holy crap...shaq and T-Mac in Dallas? yeah, i too can somewhat see that happening, with Mark Cuban at the helm. he has enough money and guts to try ANYTHING crazy like that. IF (and only IF) that happens, i wonder if they can keep finley, nowitzki, walker, and nash. outside shooters that can be complimented with more game in the paint can be lethal. but then again it can be another Laker scenario: great players in one team with a huge promise in the beginning, totally crumbling in the end. __________________ there are pictures, but no,nothing happens on my site.

06-20-2004, 01:04 PM	#8
Mike_N_Ike Captain Join Date: May 2000 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 1,676	Yeah I always thought Shaq was an integral part of that team in that he was a team leader. I was really hoping that they'd give more priority to Shaq than to Kobe when the time came, but I guess that's not going to happen. __________________ -Mike

06-20-2004, 03:59 PM	#9
Showtime Lakers fanatic Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: L.A. ->SoCal<- O.C. Posts: 7,338	Look at this. How many people here who said Shaq was overated and only bullied his way are now hoping he joins their team. Wonder if we can swing a trade for Yao.... It's too bad it has come to this, but rebuilding and doing it quickly will be exciting. I was hoping for Riley to come back, but his contract stipulates 10 seasons for his 20% stake in the Heat. He just finished year 9. Phil was gone, not just because of Kobe, but also because of his coaching or lack of coaching in the Finals. If Shaq goes, more power to him. I just hope he gets as much money as he asked for here. If he takes less than what he says he's worth I'd be surprised. We really could of used a decent back up PF/center last couple of seasons. But no $$$ cuz of the cap. I can't wait to see how this unfolds. -jel __________________ NBA REPORT 10-11/ The 3-Peat! 1948 1949 1950 1952 1953 1954 1972 1980 1982 1985 1987 1988 2000 2001 2002 2009 2010 Reigning NBA CHAMPS!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-19-2004, 11:03 PM	#2
slaus Commander Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,189	27 million dollars is going to be tough to match. I wonder what happens if the Lakers dont grant his request to be traded. Do they play this out and let Shaq walk when he opts out? Its almsot better than getting junk in return.

06-20-2004, 02:58 AM	#3
CornMonkey Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: in front of my computer Posts: 2,503	Shaq and TMac want to go to Dallas if shaq gets his way, he's going to go to the MAVS...and he's taking tmac with him. i wouldn't mind having dirk here to LA. drama...so much drama.

06-20-2004, 09:30 AM	#7
ialsohaveadream Fleet Admiral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: FL Posts: 8,077	If I were Cuban, I'd ditch Finley and Walker and possibly Jamison in a hurry. Then just pick up a few role players to fill in the gaps, and you're golden.

06-20-2004, 04:05 PM	#10
slaus Commander Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,189	I dont think Houston would move Yao given he's over 10 years younger than Shaq. Plus the contracts dont match up at all since Yao is still on his rookie contract and Shaq's cap number is close to 28 million. I dont think the Rockets are saddled with that many bad contracts. BTW, no one in this thread hoped he joined their team. No one said they were a Mavericks fan and thats really the only team thats been brought up

06-20-2004, 04:34 PM	#11
ialsohaveadream Fleet Admiral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: FL Posts: 8,077	I said he could come home to Orlando, but I'm a Heat fan. And Riles is ours, jel.

User Name
Password
Remember Me?