NBA: Shaq to Miami Heat for Odom, Grant, Butler, future pick [UPDATE: Gary Payton to leave if Shaq goes]

[iamme]

7/12 update: in the latest installment of "As The Lakers Turn", Gary Payton is reported to push for a contract buy-out if Shaq is traded: LINK.

i wonder what K.Malone will do.....

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7/11 update: LINK "I can confirm that all the parties have agreed to the deal," O'Neal's agent, Perry Rogers, told the Washington Post in a telephone interview Saturday night. "It's all pending [league] approval, but I can say everything has been agreed to."

looks like it's a done deal. i don't know if this is a wise more for Miami. they are giving up A LOT of talent for Shaq. guess we'll wait and see.

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7/10 update: look like shaq has approved the trade

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1836585

Odom has upped his game and trade value during the season and playoffs. this would be an interesting shift of power across the east/west.

imo, bad trade for the Heat. Shaq only has a few effective years left. whoever trades for Shaq should be in position to make a title run within those years. i can't see Miami in that position.

 

[cw42]

they don't compare to shaq as MDE, to LA it's still unfair.

 

[maddogchen]

thats not enough for shaq. who would be their center? brian grant? who would be their PF? Medvedenko?

 

[anxi80]

welp odom returns to l.a., and this time to play for a good team!

 

[Nikamichi]

If you didn't put possible trade, I would've thought it was official.

Steal for the Lakers, Odom put up superstar numbers during 1st rd playoffs this year.

But then again, it's definitely not a lopsided trade either. Even though Shaq may have 2/4 yrs max left in him, having a guy like Wayde is almost as good as Kobe (tho nowhere near). If the trade went down, they could easily make it to the ECF.

 

[andylawcc]

ha, Odom back to LA and Shaq back to Florida.

 

[gunblade]

And people will then get to watch Lakers spank by Rockets.

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
ha, Odom back to LA and Shaq back to Florida.

yep, same state, different teams.

 

[Ranger X]

I seriously hope the Lakers aren't going to start Grant at center if this trade goes through. He will get slaughtered .. I mean, playing for an eastern team he was able to get away with being an undersized center but in the western conference, it is a whole different story.

So it'll be

PG - Payton
SG - Kobe (maybe) / Rush
SF - Odom
PF - ??? Medvedenko? I hope not
C - Grant

I don't like this lineup.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: Ranger X
I seriously hope the Lakers aren't going to start Grant at center if this trade goes through. He will get slaughtered .. I mean, playing for an eastern team he was able to get away with being an undersized center but in the western conference, it is a whole different story.

So it'll be

PG - Payton
SG - Kobe (maybe) / Rush
SF - Odom
PF - ??? Medvedenko? I hope not
C - Grant

I don't like this lineup.

holy n00b/oldman lineup. (assuming Kobe is out)

hey, did Rick Fox get traded (yet)?

 

[cHeeZeFacTory]

shaq in the east automatically makes miami a top contender in their conference...there is no real center in the east, well mayb 'Z' in cleveland...

 

[fs5]

possible, but I doubt it'll happen.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

I think the lakers need to get more for that...i dont like the grant part of the trade

 

[PlatinumGold]

wouldn't the lakers still have cap room after this trade to get a serviceable center?

 

[Sureshot324]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
wouldn't the lakers still have cap room after this trade to get a serviceable center?

They should, considering that Shaq's salary alone is about 2/3 of the cap.

 

[konichiwa]

Originally posted by: cHeeZeFacTory
shaq in the east automatically makes miami a top contender in their conference...there is no real center in the east, well mayb 'Z' in cleveland...

Let's not forget that Detroit's showing against the Lakers demonstrates you don't necessarily NEED a real center to beat LA.

 

[Dragnov]

Originally posted by: konichiwa

Originally posted by: cHeeZeFacTory
shaq in the east automatically makes miami a top contender in their conference...there is no real center in the east, well mayb 'Z' in cleveland...

Let's not forget that Detroit's showing against the Lakers demonstrates you don't necessarily NEED a real center to beat LA.

Just a bunch of tall, lanky dudes.

 

[prontospyder]

Originally posted by: maddogchen
thats not enough for shaq. who would be their center? brian grant? who would be their PF? Medvedenko?

Malone can play PF.

 

[Pretty Cool]

Local radio stations in LA are reporting that this is pretty much a DONE DEAL. Included will either be the 1st round pick or Caron Butler.

Based on past history, the Lakers could have:

-Coach unavailable because of poor health
-Player banned for life for substance abuse
-Player out for the year because of injury
-Franchise player in jail

Plus,

-Malone will ge gone, either to another team or retires
-They are stuck with an old Payton
-Fisher will end up starting in Houston

As the Big Nasty would say, the drunk ODB has completely lost it.

 

[Dragnov]

PG - Payton/Vujacic (Fisher?)
SG - Kobe/Rush
SF - Odom/George/Walton/Butler
PF - Cook (Malone? Horace Grant? Medvendenko?)
C - Brian Grant (???)

Thats actually a pretty good team right there.. young w/ lots of depth and versatility.
Obviously needed some bigs but are there any decent ones left that they can afford?

I hope it goes through w/ Caron Butler then they can package some combination for a decent big guy. But then again they can always trade the extra #1 pick.

 

[Dragnov]

double.

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: Sureshot324

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
wouldn't the lakers still have cap room after this trade to get a serviceable center?

They should, considering that Shaq's salary alone is about 2/3 of the cap.

I'm sure Shaq takes up the Lakers' "Larry Bird exception".

According to ESPN, it's basically Pat Riley's call on this deal.

I would find it completely hilarious if Kobe walks (or the unlikelihood of a conviction in the trial).

 

[AntMan530]

this will be awesome if everything goes through. i can see rick fox coming back and making a solid impact on the team. especially with kobe out, he could be an all star.

 

[Excelsior]

I like Miami.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: AntMan530
this will be awesome if everything goes through. i can see rick fox coming back and making a solid impact on the team. especially with kobe out, he could be an all star.

i'm looking for sarcasm, but i don't see it.....maybe my sarcasm alarm is broken.

rick fox, an all-star?